The Ultimate Guide To PC Liquid Cooling: Everything You Need To Know!
There are many Liquid cooling products, and it can be difficult to tell the difference between them. The market is flooded with choices, with products that are too expensive to afford.
There are also some cheap brands that may not last you for a long time. It’s important to know what features matter most to you and your budget so we have compiled the best liquid cooling for PCs:
Last update on 2023-11-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Although liquid cooling technology is becoming increasingly popular among gamers, enthusiasts generally prefer using custom-built rigs rather than pre-assembled kits.
There are numerous reasons why people opt to build their own liquid-cooled systems, including customization options, flexibility, and cost savings.
After all, buying a readymade kit only gives users access to specific models and specifications. With a DIY setup, however, consumers can choose whatever components suit their needs best.
Additionally, building a dedicated liquid cooling system lets enthusiasts fine-tune their rigs to fit particular uses.
When decidiing on whether or not to liquid cool your pc be sure to check out some in depth videos like these ones from JayzTwoCents like his Tutorial and how to plan a system.
Below you will find a quick guide to everything liquid cooling.
AIO Liquid Cooling
AIO liquid cooling is one of the most popular and effective forms of liquid cooling for PCs. AIO stands for an all-in-one, meaning that the components are already integrated into a single unit.
This makes it easier to install and maintain than traditional in-house liquid-cooling systems. These pre-fabricated units often come with a built-in reservoir, pump, radiator, and fans.
AIO liquid cooling systems are also relatively quiet compared to air-cooling methods. The fans used are usually larger than the traditional fan towers found in air coolers, and they move more slowly.
This means that noise levels remain low even when running at full power. However, due to there being a pump, you will hear a consistent hum from it moving the liquid around.
Last update on 2023-11-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Prebuilt Liquid-cooled PCs
For the most dedicated PC enthusiasts, a fully liquid-cooled PC is the ultimate way to cool your components and customize your PC.
This type of setup normally requires in-depth knowledge of liquid cooling components as well as careful installation however you can find a lot of modern companies that sell prebuilt liquid-cooled PCs.
Fully liquid-cooled PCs use multiple radiators, pumps, and reservoirs to dissipate heat away from individual components like the CPU and GPU.
This type of computer cooling system is highly effective and usually eliminates the need for a higher fan speed, resulting in a much quieter system.
The downside is that it’s more expensive than other types of liquid cooling systems, as well as being more complicated to install and maintain. If you’re looking for ultimate performance from your PC, a fully liquid-cooled PC is the way to go.
Finally, it’s important to remember that liquid cooling systems require maintenance and upkeep like any other computer components.
Regularly inspecting your system for leaks or blockages will ensure that temperatures remain in check and prevent any damage from occurring. With proper maintenance, liquid cooling systems are a wonderful way to not only keep your PC cool even at max overclocking but also make your PC unique to you.
Although it’s amazing to have liquid cooling come with your prebuilt it does take up a large chunk of your budget as it’s a quite niche market. For those of you looking to get the most out of your money we suggest you check out our Top 5 gaming computers for less than £1000.
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Liquid Cooling Kits
If you’re interested in doing liquid cooling on your own, then liquid-cooling kits are the way to go. Liquid-cooling kits come with all the components you need for a custom liquid cooling system such as pumps, reservoirs, radiators, and fans.
It’s important to do your research before purchasing a kit as some may not be compatible with certain components in your PC.
However, if you’re willing to put in the extra effort, a liquid-cooling kit can be one of the best ways to keep your system running cool and quiet.
If you want to go the extra mile you can piece together your kit individually (usually saving you a bit of money however can be more complicated as checking all the different components for compatibility can get overwhelming) allowing for the ultimate customisation of your Gaming PC.
CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR HAND-PICKED LIQUID-COOLING KIT
Tubing & Fittings
When it comes to Tubing for liquid cooling it is important to keep in mind that there are 2 main types you can go hardline and soft tubing. Soft Tubing is the most popular choice as it is easy to install and often cheaper.
Hardline tubing offers a much more professional look as you can create straight lines, however, it is much harder to install and requires some extra tools.
Fittings are what connect the tubes to your other components, these come in a variety of sizes and shapes meaning you will have to check your components for compatibility.
In most cases, G1/4″ is the most common size for fittings. It’s important to check your components as some may require a different size fitting such as G1/2″.
They can also come in different types depending on how they attach to tubes. These are normally barbed or push-in, however, there are also different fittings for soft and hard tubing.
So make sure you check the type of tubing you are using before purchasing any fittings.
Finally, it is important to keep in mind that liquid cooling can be quite expensive as there are many components required and they must all be compatible with one another.
Last update on 2023-11-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
CPU & GPU Waterblocks
To regulate the temperature of your processor and graphics card, you must attach water blocks to them. However, be mindful when selecting a unit – diverse shapes and sizes exist so ensure that it is compatible with your hardware before buying one.
This difficulty manifests itself more often for GPUs as various producers utilize different PCBs which could mean an incompatible size or screw structure. Be sure to check these details beforehand!
Some water blocks are also equipped with RGB lighting for an added touch of customisation to your system and it is important to check if these are compatible with any other lights you have installed in your PC as not all of them can be synced together.
For those of you struggling to know if you’re picking the perfect GPU waterblock be sure to check out this amazing video from EK Waterblocks here.
Pump & Reservoir
The pump is one of the most important components of a liquid cooling system as it is responsible for circulating the coolant around your PC. As such, you should take some time to research different pumps and decide which is best suited for your needs.
The same goes for the reservoir which can come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on how much liquid cooling you are planning to do.
The bigger the reservoir, the more coolant it can hold meaning that you will need to make sure that your pump can handle the load without overloading.
Finally, make sure to check if your pump and reservoir are compatible with your other components.
As mentioned earlier this can be especially difficult as some components may require different G1/4″ fittings or they may be too large to fit within the designated space within some desktop cases.
Last update on 2023-11-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Radiators & Fans
As the coolant circulates your system, it needs an efficient way of dissipating heat to keep all components running at optimal temperatures. This is where radiators and fans come into play as they are responsible for cooling the liquid before it returns to the pump.
Radiators come in a variety of sizes and materials with the bigger ones generally being more effective. As for fans, they are responsible for pushing air over the radiator to dissipate heat.
It is key to make sure the radiator is made of the same material as your water blocks as if you mix them it could potentially lead to cross-contamination and the degradation of materials within your liquid-cooling components.
When it comes to choosing a fan you should consider factors such as decibel levels (noise) and static pressure which relates to how much air can be moved by the fan.
Finally, you should also consider the number of fans required for your system as this will depend on the size of your radiator and which direction your case is facing. Generally speaking, having more fans equates to better cooling performance but comes at the expense of increased noise levels.
Last update on 2023-11-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Water Cooling Liquid (coolant)
The last, and arguably the most important part of a liquid-cooling system is the liquid or coolant. This is what does the cooling and it’s important to choose one that will not only keep your components running at optimal temperatures but also won’t damage any of them over time.
There are two main types you can go with, Distilled Water and Pre-mixed cooling solutions. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so it’s important to do some research before you make your purchase.
Distilled Water is the cheapest option and doesn’t contain any additives which could damage your components over time. However, this also means that you will need to add biocide to stop bacterial growth.
Pre-mixed coolants have already been mixed with additives and biocides, however, they are normally more expensive than distilled water. On top of that, they can often lead to the discolouring of the tubes as the pigment in them can fade after long-term use.
It’s important to check the manufacturer’s recommended ratio of coolant to water as this will vary between products and make sure that the type of liquid you choose is compatible with all of your other components.
Last update on 2023-11-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
