Build Advice Liquid Cooling or Air Cooling for a CPU?

[GBDev]

Hello,

I was thinking about building a PC but I'm having issues on 4 key points:

1. Should I use Liquid Cooling or Air Cooling?
2. Which Air/Liquid cooler should I use that is efficient, silent, works well, and is a good price?
3. Is there a risk of leaking with CPU coolers and how common is it?
4. Do Liquid coolers leak on the long run? would there any process to keep it from leaking, say 6 years later when im still using the PC?

I was looking to get the i7-14700KF CPU and I am not interested in overclocking now or in the future as I do not want to take any risks. I would like some advice on which Air/Liquid cooler I should use, and Why that cooler was chosen. I had in mind 2 coolers I would also like some advice on:

1. Gigabyte Aorus ATC800
2. Xigmatek Frozr-o ii 360

What are your thoughts on these coolers? is there something better within the same budget?

Thanks in advance

 

[LinuxDevice]

I can't answer it all, but I am a complete fan (pun intended ) of liquid cooling due to the combination of really good results AND being much quieter.

That said, the sealed loop units are far less likely to leak, and will perhaps last longer without maintenance. Someone else will have to explain that, I have not used a wide enough range of liquid cooling to answer.

 

[GBDev]

I can't answer it all, but I am a complete fan (pun intended ) of liquid cooling due to the combination of really good results AND being much quieter.

That said, the sealed loop units are far less likely to leak, and will perhaps last longer without maintenance. Someone else will have to explain that, I have not used a wide enough range of liquid cooling to answer.

Althought you cannot answer all my questions I still appreciate you taking the time to answer me Can you give me an example of a sealed loop unit? I'm not quite sure what you mean, thanks!

 

[Phaaze88]

I was thinking about building a PC but I'm having issues on 4 key points:

1. Should I use Liquid Cooling or Air Cooling?
2. Which Air/Liquid cooler should I use that is efficient, silent, works well, and is a good price?
3. Is there a risk of leaking with CPU coolers and how common is it?
4. Do Liquid coolers leak on the long run? would there any process to keep it from leaking, say 6 years later when im still using the PC?

1)They both have pros and cons that make it so one isn't absolutely better than the other... i.e., you can use either one you want/prefer.
2)IMO, this doesn't matter a whole lot, because you're going to tune the fans until you hit your comfort zone anyway. I mean, what cooler with 1500rpm or higher fans ISN'T going to be audible?
3)Unless you go about swinging it around like a lasso, I wouldn't worry about it. Sometimes, crap happens, like this one:

Question - GPU RMA has been rejected ?

Hello, I bought a 3080 not too long ago, and it randomly stopped working, I sent it in for RMA, but they sent it back as rejected due to oxidiation. View: https://imgur.com/4BydFHk This is the picture they sent as proof, not sure how this would happen, it's where you would hook up water...

forums.tomshardware.com

They're leak-resistant, not leak-proof.
4-A)No.
4-B)No.

I had in mind 2 coolers I would also like some advice on:

1. Gigabyte Aorus ATC800
2. Xigmatek Frozr-o ii 360

What are your thoughts on these coolers? is there something better within the same budget?

The number of times I've seen the 1st one mentioned on this site, I could count on my hands... the 2nd one, probably never.
Where are you shopping from? This is going to affect suggestions/recommendations.

 

[GBDev]

1)They both have pros and cons that make it so one isn't absolutely better than the other... i.e., you can use either one you want/prefer.
2)IMO, this doesn't matter a whole lot, because you're going to tune the fans until you hit your comfort zone anyway. I mean, what cooler with 1500rpm or higher fans ISN'T going to be audible?
3)Unless you go about swinging it around like a lasso, I wouldn't worry about it. Sometimes, crap happens, like this one:

Question - GPU RMA has been rejected ?

Hello, I bought a 3080 not too long ago, and it randomly stopped working, I sent it in for RMA, but they sent it back as rejected due to oxidiation. View: https://imgur.com/4BydFHk This is the picture they sent as proof, not sure how this would happen, it's where you would hook up water...

forums.tomshardware.com

They're leak-resistant, not leak-proof.
4-A)No.
4-B)No.



The number of times I've seen the 1st one mentioned on this site, I could count on my hands... the 2nd one, probably never.
Where are you shopping from? This is going to affect suggestions/recommendations.

Thank you so much for your response! I'm currently shopping at a local store in my country but I think I've found the answer to my question after searching thoroughly. Thanks to all the replies though

 

[LinuxDevice]

Althought you cannot answer all my questions I still appreciate you taking the time to answer me Can you give me an example of a sealed loop unit? I'm not quite sure what you mean, thanks!

The one I use, which is quite good, and inexpensive, looks like it is out of stock from where I originally purchased it:
CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML240L

This is a general search at NewEgg for "closed loop":
https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?d=closed+loop

Even if you don't purchase there you can get an idea of price and check reviews of various models.

 

[geofelt]

1. I am not a fan of liquid cooling when a good air cooling will do the job.

2. I see no reason for a aio with a 14700K.
Only if you are seeking record overclocks or are running multithreaded batch apps would liquid be needed.
For gaming:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNFgswzTvyc

A top twin tower cooler like the Noctua NH-D15s has the same cooling capability as a 280 sized aio.
There are cheaper units, but none as quiet or easy to install.

3. aio coolers are not likely to leak, but when they do, it is disastrous.

4. The problem with aio coolers is not leaking, but air intrusion. Air intrudes through the tubes in time requiring a replacement. Or, the mechanical pump fails or collects debris.
Plan on 5 years.

The Gigabyte Aorus ATC800 is undersized with only 120mm fans that can ramp up and be noisy.
The NH-D15s uses a 135mm fan. About $100.

As an aside, do not penny pinch saving $25 on a F version. Thei7-14700K version gives you integrated graphics which can be a life saver if you should ever have a graphics issue