Difference of cooling choices

[muhammad.rafli2801]

What is the difference between liquid cooling and water cooling?

 

[Lutfij]

Please read the watercooling sticky, in my sig space.

 

[gareththegiant]

Liquid cooling uses a loop of liquid running between a pump, heat plate and radiator.

The pump moves liquid down to the heat plate attached to your CPU (can also be GPU, RAM e.t.c. but most often CPU) where it transfers the heat to the liquid this then goes to the radiator where attached fans cool the liquid much like in a fridge or car engine.
Here is a good description.

https://computer.howstuffworks.com/liquid-cooled-pc.htm

Air cooling uses flowing air to cool. Cooler air picks up the heat from a component and either airflow from case fans or natural convection (as heat rises) carries the hot air away.

This is the most basic method of cooling, and costs the least. However, better air-cooling solutions can get bulky and heavy.

 

[rubix_1011]

Liquid cooling and water cooling are effectively the same thing. However, there are subtle differences in how each are viewed by the PC cooling community are a bit different:

Liquid cooling - often refers to smaller scale coolers, such as AIO (all-in-one) coolers that are self contained, liquid cooling loops. Think Corsair H-series, NZXT Kraken, etc.

Water cooling - typically refers to larger cooling loops that typically include a standalone pump, coolant reservoir, individual cooling blocks, radiators, tubing and fittings which are each individually selected and purchased separately, or as part of a kit.