What Liquid Cooling System Should I Use?

[baxtergoose]

I recently upgraded my custom build with a new ASUS Maximus VI Hero and Intel i7-4770k and I plan to overclock. Let me just state that I do NOT want air cooling due to the shear size and cosmetics of it. So first order of business is this: I only need to cool the CPU because my MSI Twin Frozr III Radeon HD 7950 has a really nice air cooler so, I'm wondering if I should buy a ready to go system, such as the H100i, or should I build a liquid cooling system myself. Next order of business is what should I get depending on a prebuilt or hand made system? If it's a prebuilt system I'm interested in a H100i for my HAF X case but I'm up for options! If it's a hand made system I'm at a loss because I am new to water cooling and I have no preference or sway in the matter of what products to buy as my reservoir, pump, and radiator. I really would like to hear your opinions and I would like to keep the cost at around $100 but I know that the hand built can get costly so I'm willing to go up to around $150. I hope you are able to help me with this decision and I thank you for reading this whole essay!

 

[nukemaster]

I am betting in that price range the H100i would be a great idea(just remember to dial down the fans in the Link software).

Alternatively the Swiftech H220 if you can get them in your area.

Self builds or custom water coolers are better for sure, but will tend to cost more.

Some of the water cooling experts will not doubt be in soon enough to give you further suggestions.

 

[Som3one]

Regarding AiO liquid coolers the performance order is something like this:
Swiftech H320, NZXT Kraken x60 > CM Glacier 240 > Swiftech H220 > Corsair H100i/H110.

After that there are also single rad AiO which I personally would choose which is why I didn´t include them in the list.
Now, this looks like the H100i is the worst pick which wasn´t my intention. Those AiO are so close together in delta T´s.
Really depends on how much you are willing to pay, how much room you have in your case and if you want to expand your loop lateron which you can only do with the Swiftech and CM coolers.


As for a custom loop:
Those will outperform all of the above at much lower noise. But at a higher price and more needed to install and maintain those.
There are quite some good starter kids out there like the ones from XSPC.

 

[Sam66er]

Go for H80i not H100i because H100i is too bulky and the result is behind H80i. consider NZXT kraken X60 which better then H80i. You will not regret choosing this two model.

 

[KaiserPhantasma]

Go for H80i not H100i because H100i is too bulky and the result is behind H80i. consider NZXT kraken X60 which better then H80i. You will not regret choosing this two model.

mind sharing any chart/videos/tests stating about the NZXT kraken X60>H80i>H100i statement you made?
it got me curious
because I think you can't compare the H80i against the kraken and the H100i because its just a 120mm rad (kind of unfair)

 

[nukemaster]

I have never seen a review that places the H80i above the H100i for performance.

While the H80i rad is thicker it also has a lower fpi(should be able to get by with less static pressure yet comes with 2 high pressure fans.) that does not allow it to get close to the h100i.

On this topic it is still more than a match for a mid-high level overclock even with slower fans.

If the H100i pump is as quiet as the H80i(same pump as far as i know) noise should not be an issue with the right fan profile.

I have only had 2 off these all in ones. An H80i(i can not hear it at all with the fans off, if I place my ear to the rad, I can hear a very quiet flow sound) that was on sale for a great price and fits my case well and an LQ310 from zalman. The LQ310 performance is not bad for a 120mm(and the thin rad + longer flexible hoses are very helpful), but the pump is the loudest thing I have ever heard(sounds like a hard drive and needs quite a voltage drop to make it more quiet, but still no silent). I did rma it and the new one sounded almost the same.

 

[baxtergoose]

First, you can't buy the Swiftech H320 in the US. That leaves me deciding between the Glacer 240L, Kraken x60, and the H100i. The Glacer 240L is great in the way that you can expand upon it which is very useful but, I don't need to expand as far as I know of. The Kraken x60 comes with great cooling and a large radiator but, I know that it will require modding to fit the dual 140mm radiator into my HAF X. Last comes the H100i, it is at the bottom of the 3 in terms of cooling but it's advantage is that it is on sale for $100 so, is the $30 or $40 difference worth it in terms of cooling?

 

[Sam66er]

My answer base on my own judgement and friends feed back .... I do have a few forum with testing chart showing all type of cooler under OC load test result. Below is the link :

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6830/cpu-air-cooler-roundup-six-coolers-from-noctua-silverstone-and-cooler-master/4

 

[ohyouknow]

Glacer 240 is the same as the Swiftech H220 and I would go with that for an AIO. Although unfortunate as I believe CM voids any warranty with the glacer if you tinker with it as opposed to Swiftech and the H220. I have the H220 and it's great.

Unless you build a custom loop, AIO are extremely close in performance. The extra 30-40 you spend will probably net you 1-3 degrees in better performance. Add in the fact that you probably want to upgrade to better/quieter fans down the road and that initial cost is a drop in the bucket.

Either way, my suggestion is still the Glacer.

 

[Som3one]

Last comes the H100i, it is at the bottom of the 3 in terms of cooling but it's advantage is that it is on sale for $100 so, is the $30 or $40 difference worth it in terms of cooling?

The Glacer is 40 bucks more expensive than the H100i, right?

I personally don´t have experience with the Glacer only with the H220 and the H100i.
But I would go for the Glacer.