Features - QOTW: CPU Cooling - Liquid or Air?

[HEXUS]

Let's hear it, how do you cool yours?

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[cjs150]

Liquid - but only if you cool the GPU the same way.

To be honest air cooling is simpler, less likely to go wrong and, for CPU only cooling, just as quiet as liquid at least until you overclock.

By cooling GPU with liquid as well on a proper loop, you get better performance and much less noise

[eatonm62]

Liquid for me with a monster rad so my PC is quite idling and gaming.

[Spreadie]

Liquid - but only if you cool the GPU the same way.

To be honest air cooling is simpler, less likely to go wrong and, for CPU only cooling, just as quiet as liquid at least until you overclock.

By cooling GPU with liquid as well on a proper loop, you get better performance and much less noise

+1

Full loop and enough rad to withstand load temps at low fan speeds. Some AIO coolers may cool more efficiently than HSFs but are not quieter.


p.s. Why can't I vote in the poll?

[Tarinder]

+1

p.s. Why can't I vote in the poll?

I seem to be able to, perhaps you can try again?

[Scainer]

I just don't like to mix electricity with water, or maybe its cos i'm cheap.

[Noxvayl]

I am in the process of transitioning to liquid cooling. I ordered a Swiftech H220 and some Noctua NF-F12 fans and installed it on Monday this week; unfortunately the pump has got some air trapped in it causing it to make enough noise to be audible through the case which is highly annoying. Contacted Swiftech asking for advice and got some instructions for getting rid of air bubbles but unfortunately the problem persists despite my efforts.

When I get a replacement I'll have a liquid cooler for my CPU and plan to expand it later on when I upgrade my GPU.

[OilSheikh]

I use N2

[Roobubba]

Running a Prolimatech Megahalems to keep an old i7 860 2.8GHz running at 3.8GHz even in this heat.

I'd be tempted by GPU/CPU single loop water cooling if there was a graphics card sold with all the bits required. I really can't be bothered to work out what pump/pipes/reservoir etc etc etc to get. AIO water cooling is all very well but doesn't benchmark much better, if any better, than a high end air cooler - which I already have.

[petrucius]

DIY liquid is expensive. Closed loop is expensive and only as good as high end air coolers but on a higher price. So I'm for the air.

[Mas8304]

Everything in my PC is cooled by air. I would love to cool all of my components with liquid coolers, but I'm currently saving money for a new rig, since mine is ancient.

[NecronomicoN]

There needs to be a distinction made between air (traditional), liquid (AIO), and water (custom). AIO coolers are so filled with inhibitors that they could only be called water-based.

I prefer to use air coolers as paperweights. They were once an art form, and it saddens me to see them falling into mundanity.
AIO coolers are just plain ugly to me. And it really, really bothers me that reviewers don't open up the block/pump and snap some pictures. What are they hiding? Do it after the testing if you fear destroying the unit. We disassemble PSUs. Why is this different?
Water is what I prefer. Just clean distilled water, and silver. I base my GPU decisions on whether or not a block is available for the card. (It bothers me that the cooler was not removed from the KFA card that was reviewed here yesterday. Don't care about the air cooler. Is the PCB reference, just done in white?)

[CK_1985]

Have always been an air-cooling person, and am far too scared/lazy to try proper water cooling. However, with the rise of all-in-one closed loop water cooling I have now taken the plunge (pun only partially intended) and bought a Corsair H60.

So I voted for water, but only just!

[naturbo2000]

CPU - air (its a Sandy i5 in a laptop, so quite cool and quiet enough thankyouverymuch)
GPU - liquid (it's an eGPU 560ti448 - it's the second noisiest component I've ever owned (X1800XT wins), and an AIO cooler means I can game in peace).

[DGWalker]

Antec KUHLER H20 920. Double thick radiator has kept my CPU temp at 40°C or lower since I got it. I'm sold.

[minicale]

I wouldn't mind doing watercooling but I would want to go for a dual 120 or 140 rad and they just cost too much to warrant getting it over a decent air cooler like the CM 212 evo I use.