# data[].attributes.body
Bonheur, Kristoffer. "Advantages And Disadvantages Of Liquid Cooling | Version Daily." Version Daily. N. p., 2016. Web. 13 Dec. 2017.

# data[].attributes.body
Liquid Cooling vs. Air Cooling: Which Performs Better?"Liquid Cooling Vs. Air Cooling: Which Performs Better?." Corsair.com. N. p., 2017. Web. 13 Dec. 2017.

# data[].attributes.body
McCarthy, C.McCarthy, Christopher. "Air-Cooled Computers Vs. Liquid-Cooled Computers." AVADirect. N. p., 2015. Web. 13 Dec. 2017.

# data[].attributes.body
News - EKWB"News - EKWB." ekwb.com. N. p., 2017. Web. 13 Dec. 2017.

# data[].attributes.body
Why Liquid Cooling? - EKWB

"Why Liquid Cooling? - EKWB." ekwb.com. N. p., 2017. Web. 15 Dec. 2017.

# data[].attributes.body
Should You Cool a CPU with Air or Liquid? - NZXT Blog"Should You Cool A CPU With Air Or Liquid? - NZXT Blog." NZXT Blog. N. p., 2017. Web. 13 Dec. 2017.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Massive, monolithic air coolers - and even some smaller, more affordable ones - are still extremely popular in the marketplace. While system integrators have largely moved away from shipping air coolers in their high performance systems as the weight of a massive air cooler can cause damage to the motherboard in shipping, enthusiasts still keep the torch burning. And there are absolutely reasons to go with air cooling: a good entry-level air cooler is typically about $20 less expensive than an entry-level liquid cooler, and has the potential to be quieter to boot.

Where air coolers run into trouble is the sheer mass of a high performance air cooler, coupled with a potentially fraught installation process. Air coolers can cause clearance issues with DRAM with tall heatsinks or even other components.

I tested our current premium line of liquid coolers - the Hydro Series H80i GT, , and - against three of the most popular air coolers on the market. This testbed was used:

Corsair Graphite Series 760T with 2x SP140L and 1x AF120 as intakes
Additional SP140L added as an exhaust with air coolers and top-mounted radiators
Top cover panel removed for all testing

"Competitor 1" retails for ~$90 and is absolutely massive. While installation wasn't too difficult, it wound up essentially resting against the backplate of the GeForce GTX 980 in our test system. Removing either component wound up being an exercise in frustration. It's loaded with heatpipes and uses two 150mm fans.

"Competitor 2" is typically found for between $30 and $35 and is extremely popular among budget users. It's not especially large and only has a single 120mm fan on it, but the design is efficient and prior to coming to Corsair it was my personal go-to.

"Competitor 3" has an MSRP of $89.99 and is somewhat rarefied on American shores but very popular in Europe. It features a pair of 120mm fans, but installation was so involved that I had to actually remove the testbed motherboard from its chassis, and the Graphite Series 760T isn't exactly cramped.

And the basic specifications for the H80i GT, H100i GTX, and H110i GT:

Hydro Series H80i

Hydro Series H100i

Hydro Series H110i

120mm x 49mm Radiator

240mm x 25mm Radiator

280mm x 25mmm Radiator

2x 120mm SP120L PWM Fans

2x 120mm SP120L PWM Fans

2x 140mm SP120L PWM Fans

MSRP $99.99

MSRP $119.99

MSRP $129.99

During testing, the system was idled for 15 minutes to reach a stable temperature, then stress tested for 15 minutes with OCCT. The average of the eight peak core temperatures was recorded. Ambient temperature remained roughly 19C in the lab.

I started testing with the CPU cooler fans set to run at 100% and the processor at stock speeds.

The Intel Core i7-5960X is rated to dissipate 140W at stock speed, which is basically where the Intel Core i7-4790K stops. That said, the 5960X also has better thermal interface material and lower heat density; this is why reviews of coolers on an i7-4770K or i7-4790K are often less reliable, as they don't adequately stress the coolers and those chips are at the mercy of their own heat transfer issues long before a cooler's real potential is revealed.

Right away you can see that our coolers offer a minimum of 2.8C better performance at this low heat load. You'll see the H80i GT and H100i GTX trading blows, too; this is normal. These two coolers actually have roughly the same surface area, but the H100i GTX spreads it out, requiring less static pressure from the fans. This isn't relevant when you're running the fans full bore, but...

...when you run them at lower speeds, the H100i GTX separates from the H80i GT. Running the fans at low speeds only costs you about 3C on the Hydro coolers, but the air coolers all run hotter and take a harder hit.

Part of the explanation for this is the active cooling in a Hydro cooler vs. a conventional air cooler. The air cooler relies on heat pipes to transfer heat into the fin array, while a Hydro cooler has a pump that actively moves coolant through the radiator and waterblock.

The fact remains that almost all of these coolers are still overqualified for a 140W processor. The i7-5960X is notorious for drawing massive amounts of power and generating tremendous heat when overclocked, so we'll do just that and ramp power consumption up another ~110W.

With fans maxed out, the Hydro coolers retain their lead while two of the air coolers start to seriously buckle, running more than 10C hotter than the H100i GTX. We're at the point where we're reaching the limits of what the i7-5960X can transfer to the cooling device and certainly the limits of two of the air coolers.

Even if we slow the fans down, the Hydro coolers are still able to provide silent but efficient performance for the i7-5960X and a stable 4.3GHz while Competitors 2 and 3 are actually speed throttling.

Air cooling's best and brightest can get within striking distance of our H80i GT, but typically trails between 2C and 3C. The answer is pretty clear: Hydro series liquid cooling starts where air cooling gives up, offering quiet and efficient performance where the competition stops. And end users concerned about potential leaks need not worry; all of our coolers are leak tested before they leave the factory, and if one of our coolers does leak inside your system during the cooler's five year warranty period, we'll warrant against damage to your components on a case by case basis.

Corsair Hydro series liquid cooling offers a whole lot of upside and very little in the way of drawbacks. If you haven't checked it out yet, you can visit our cooling page here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Liquid Cooling vs. Air Cooling: Which Performs Better?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Massive, monolithic air coolers - and even some smaller, more affordable ones - are still extremely popular in the marketplace. While system integrators have largely moved away from shipping air coolers in their high performance systems as the weight of a massive air cooler can cause damage to the motherboard in shipping, enthusiasts still keep the torch burning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Before we dive too deep into the different cooling systems available for configuration in a custom computer, let's take a step back and look at why we need cooling systems in the first place...

Electronic devices, like monster gaming computers, convert energy into calculations. The result? Heat. Electrons to be specific. The more heat, or electrons pumping through each component, the less productive it will perform. Most new CPUs will clock themselves down and eventually shut off before any issues can arise - But still, as experienced PC users know, you can always increase the CPU's performance by overclocking. Overclocking requires more energy and, in turn, results in a increase in heat. The counter to overheating is to better equip your system with the correct cooling techniques. Cooling your system to optimal temperatures will result in peak efficiency from your system.

Now that we understand why the PC can overheat, the question becomes what is the best way to keep our PCs cool, air cooled computers vs. liquid cooled computers? Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple.
The Difference
The key to understanding air cooling is very simple - fans. A good air cooling system involves a plethora of fans including case fans, graphics card fans, and CPU fans with a strong heatsink on the bottom. All of these fans work cohesively to keep the vital components in the system at an optimal temperature level.
Liquid-Cooled
Liquid cooling is a little more complicated. Referring back to high school chemistry, there is a term called thermodynamics. Thermodynamics states that heat moves from warmer objects to colder objects. This is the same principle that goes into liquid cooling a car for example, or in our case, a computer. In a liquid cooled system a thermally conductive material, such as copper, transfers heat from a warm component to the liquid in the tube. The liquid then moves to the actual cooling device which absorbs the heat from the liquid. The liquid loops back around and continuously repeats this process keeping the desktop at a cool temperature to perform at its' peak level.
The Decision
There are a few main factors that each user must take into account when deciding between liquid-cooled or air-cooled. Putting these factors into a prioritized list based on what is most important may help you decide which cooling system is the right choice.
Noise Level
Most avid computer users can attest - there is nothing worse than an obnoxiously loud computer. Thankfully in 2015, we are past the days of lawn-mower loud. Still, the audible noise level plays a huge role in the PC experience. Most times the noise is coming from the computer's cooling system. As discussed previously, air cooling is done through the use of multiple fans within the chassis working towards cooling all the different critical components inside. As a result of the fans working hard to keep the system cool, they tend to make a humming sound, an annoyance in any quiet workspace or small residential setting. Depending on the number of fans, and the degree of overclocking occurring, the noise can be anything from a soft hum to what seems like the equivalence of a plane takeoff. Liquid-cooled systems, on the contrary, tend to be whisper quiet, sometimes completely silent, dependent on the configuration. Since most of the cooling function comes from the liquid tubes absorbing the heat, only one or two fans is necessary for the process. The fan, which is attached to the radiator, isn't required to spin as fast because of how cool the system is from the liquid already. If noise reduction is what you're looking for, liquid cooling might be the best integration to your next system.
Space Race
Liquid-cooled systems also have an advantage over air-cooled systems in the real-estate department. In most scenarios, an air cooling system will take up a good amount of space in the chassis due to the high number of fans used. The more advanced air coolers you upgrade to, the more space they will end up having to take up. This tends to be especially problematic in smaller PC form factors. Liquid-cooled configurations will usually only take up one fan slot or, at most, two fan slots. It is possible to run into space issues with a liquid cooler's radiator, but contrary to air cooling, it is easy to overcome due to the mobility of the device.
Effectiveness
When it comes to the overall effectiveness, both configurations are legitimate contenders - depending on the internal components of the computer. If you have a rather complex custom computer, you may want to consider leaning towards the liquid cooling to ensure the most optimal cooling for your system. Air cooled systems can have trouble effectively cooling down specific components, which can cause serious issues with extremely overclocked processors or in rigs with multiple graphics cards. Liquid cooled systems, on the other hand, are able to reach the components that need cooling most, keeping the system at premier temperatures for overclocking and bench marking.

A simple way to compare the effectiveness is to consider this: the most entry-level liquid cooling system will be just about as effective as an advanced, high end air cooled system.
Price
If cost is a big factor in the decision making process, consider leaning towards the air cooling option. Starting at around $30 for a basic setup and reaching upwards of about $90 for top tier air cooling systems. However, massive fan systems on the market that, while they may be loud, will still be less expensive than a liquid cooling system. Liquid cooling systems can be very expensive, not to mention it's easy to get a little carried away when planning your configurations. Starting around $60 for an entry-level all-in-one liquid cooling loop and ranging anywhere to over $1,500 for the most advanced, fully custom loop.
Troub leshooting/Maintenance
Inevitably both systems will require at least some degree of troubleshooting along the cooling path; how much can the system handle is a primary factor to what needs to be in consideration before making a decision. Air cooled system troubleshooting tends to be, for the most part, pretty straight-forward. If a fan fails, replacing it can be fairly inexpensive. When using a liquid cooling loop, PC users need to be well versed on understand the all the parts functional parts involved in a liquid-cooled system including: hoses and joints, barbs, radiators, water blocks, pumps, and o-rings. Often times, troubleshooting may mean draining the entire system to solve the issue. Maintenance is another key factor really only experienced with air cooling and liquid cooling. Dust, debris, and cobwebs (if you haven't run your pc for a while) could pose an issue when using an air cooled configuration... although utilizing fewer fans equals utilizing less air, which means less dust, which is located in the air. :) With a liquid cooling configuration, you may find yourself having to periodically (6-12 months) topping-off the fluid levels.

Keeping all of these factors in mind, remember that optimizing the PC is the end-goal here - how will you be using the PC? Hardcore gaming, graphics rendering, or simply surfing the web... the usage will be the key determining factor on how much cooling your PC will really need. The options are there, and so is the science behind it. The decision is up to you. ;)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Air-Cooled Computers vs. Liquid-Cooled Computers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The BackgroundBefore we dive too deep into the different cooling systems available for configuration in a custom computer, let's take a step back and look at why we need cooling systems in the first place...Electronic devices, like monster gaming computers, convert energy into calculations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Why do we even need to cool anything?

One of the biggest enemies of all desktop computers is heat. Due to the impedance of the electronic circuits in chips, heat is generated as a form of energy loss. Heat must be dealt with and there are two ways to go at it. There is the cheaper and more commercial use of an air cooler, which resembles a heat sink and a fan. The other way to tackle the issue is to use liquid cooling. For a liquid cooling solution, you would need water blocks on the parts you wish to cool, a water pump, a water-to-air heat exchanger (radiator + fan) and a reservoir for the liquid.

Air cooler - fan and a heat sink (left) and liquid cooler - water block, radiator, pump and fans (right)

Liquid cooling components for desktop computers were not commercially available until the end of 1990s. Everything was homemade, mostly out of car radiators, aquarium pumps, homemade water blocks, all connected with various PVC or silicone tubing.

Very old and simple liquid cooling parts.

Over time, the rise of desktop PC computing power has brought along higher thermal dissipation of chips. It has led to the growing popularity of liquid cooling as well. Today we can all pick up high performance commercial liquid cooling components from a local retailer or buy them from online stores.

Modern CPU water block, with sophisticated flow design.

Better performance and silent beauty

Nowadays, there are two main reasons why people turn to liquid cooling. The first one is performance and the other is aesthetics. There is also a third reason, quiet operation, which is not always necessarily involved. That brings us to the choice of components for liquid cooling. If you choose quality parts, pumps and fans, you can achieve high performance and silent operation. EKWB provides the liquid cooling market with top quality components for almost every part in your PC.

The branch of aesthetics is very broad and subjective. It stretches from a simple, clean build to elaborate mods with multiple graphic cards, hard tubing, etc. The use of liquid cooling provides countless options for customizing, which leaves the end user with a unique setup. We could directly connect certain water cooled builds to „art". Nothing gives more pleasure than owning or building your own unique liquid cooled setup. See our "Featured builds & mods" section for more.

A work of art from watercooled.ch that shows the beauty of liquid cooling.

What is the science behind it?

There are three basic states of matter: gas, liquid and solid. For a start, air is more of an insulator than it is a conductor. Liquids and solid materials are better conductors of heat.

In conventional "fan-plus-finned-heat-sink" air-cooled heat exchangers, the primary physical limitation to performance (i.e. achieving low thermal resistance) is the boundary layer of motionless air that adheres to and envelops all surfaces of the heat exchanger. Within this boundary layer region of "dead air", diffusive transport is the dominant mechanism for heat transfer. The resulting thermal bottleneck largely determines the thermal resistance of the heat exchanger. No one has yet devised a practical solution to the boundary layer problem. Another long standing problem is inevitable fouling of the heat exchanger surface over time by particulate matter and other airborne contaminants (dust). The third major obstacle concerns inadequate airflow to the heat exchanger resulting from restrictions on fan noise. (Koplow, 2009)

In comparison to air, liquid cooling is 2-10 times more effective in transporting heat away from a source to a secondary cooling surface, where the ratio depends on the way it is utilized. An ideal coolant has a high thermal capacity, low viscosity, and low cost, and should be non-toxic and chemically inert (not causing corrosion in the cooling system). The most common coolant is water because of its availability, low cost and high heat capacity. It is usually used with additives, anticorrosives and/or biocides.

Without you having to attend fluid dynamics lectures, we will try to explain the physics behind water cooling. Cooling with liquid does not set us free from the „boundary layer" problem we have mentioned as the major flaw of air cooling.

Liquid, by the laws of fluid dynamics, tends to flow in layers, the so called „laminar flow". The liquid closer to the walls of the tubing and the walls of the water block almost stands still, creating a thin layer of insulator. On the other hand, the liquid in the middle has less drag and flows the fastest.

Laminar flow is not something that you want in your water block. The opposite to laminar flow is turbulent flow which can be (as studies show) 1-5 times more efficient at transferring heat. There are two ways to increase turbulence; one is to increase the flow rate and the other is to use jet plates in the water block, or other forms of turbulators.

So in short, water is transfers heat more efficiently because of its high thermal capacity. Using a high flow rate of coolant through an efficient water block will beat any air cooler.

What is the loudest and the hottest part of a gaming PC?

The segment where liquid cooling can throw in the biggest punch today are graphic cards. High-end graphics cards can generate twice as much heat as high-end CPUs, making the GPU often the number one heat source in a computer. Any full cover water block takes care of high temperatures, extends the lifetime of the GPU and gets rid of the "my-stock-fan-just-died" problem, which is very common. With liquid cooling you can raise the clock of the GPU and get better performance in games, and we all love high frame rates and smooth gameplay! Below you can see the clear difference between NVIDIA® TITAN X graphics card that uses stock air cooler (left) and the same card that has EK Full-Cover block installed. More on how to get better performance out of your graphics card in one of our next blog posts!

TITAN X with stock (air) cooler on the left and TITAN X with EK Full-Cover water block on the right.

How much does it cost?

Liquid cooling does come with a price tag, like everything that is good. There are no shortcuts in life and therefore, there are no shortcuts in cooling either. If you want the best performance and best visual effect, it will cost more. There are two ways you can start your first liquid cooling adventure. You can buy a pre-assembled and pre-filled All-In-One or AIO solution or you can buy each individual part yourself and assemble a custom loop on your own. If you are interested, but don't know which solution fits your budget, click here.

Should I buy an AIO solution or assemble a custom loop? More in our next blog!

Are there any disadvantages?

Liquid cooling usually takes more time to set up. But it's no harder than building a PC and you can use the regular tools as with assembling a PC. EK offers very detailed instructions with all of its components and kits and even this blog was created to help you take your first steps and educate you about all things liquid. The most common fear in the beginning is the fear of water spills and leaks. Such things can happen, but components today are much more reliable than they were a decade ago when everything was more or less DIY. In the future we'll also show you why you don't have to worry if you spill anything and how to test everything before you run your first liquid cooling loop. Once liquid cooling is installed, you can pretty much run your computer like you would normally do. Occasional inspections of the loop are recommended and we do provide you with maintenance tips here.

Conclusion

Consider this article an introduction to the basics and benefits of liquid cooling. We did not wish to go into too much detail on any subject (the part about fluid dynamics was not elaborate, trust us). There will be more articles to come, which will be more thematic and targeted. Whether you are just reading about liquid cooling for the first time or you are a veteran with your own water cooling setup, you should stick around with us. We will talk in detail about literally everything that is involved in liquid cooling, and we will do some myth-busting too, since there is a lot of contradictory information on the internet.

Until next time, stay cool!

PS: If you like the cover photo, follow Malik Customs!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Air Cooling vs. Liquid Cooling - ekwb.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One of the biggest enemies of all desktop computers is heat. Due to the impedance of the electronic circuits in chips, heat is generated as a form of energy loss. Heat must be dealt with and there are two ways to go at it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Improve computer power with slim design

Your GPU usually takes up two slots and by having multiple GPU system build you can quickly run out of free PCI-E slots.

By removing the stock cooler and installing a water block, you can change your graphics card(s) into a single slot component, thus allowing double computer power in the same cubic footprint.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Your GPU usually takes up two slots and by having multiple GPU system build you can quickly run out of free PCI-E slots. By removing the stock cooler and installing a water block, you can change your graphics card(s) into a single slot component, thus allowing double computer power in the same cubic footprint.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Liquid cooling or water cooling is an alternative to traditional air cooling. It involves circulating coolants across specific components of the personal computer to remove excess heat. Take note that every computer generates heat but certain circumstances such as unfavourable external environment or using too much processor resources can result in overheating. Too much heat can kill a PC and this is why a cooling system is a fundamental component.

Computers from established manufacturers such as HP and Lenovo are well-equipped with air cooling system specifically built for their particular hardware specifications. But tweaking an existing cooling system or installing a new one is an essential part of building a customised PC. This is where the choice between liquid cooling and air cooling comes into play.

Advantages: Liquid cooling versus air cooling a PC

1. Less clutter and more space: Traditional air cooling uses fans. A typical air-cooled PC has several fans installed inside the PC case. These include fans for drawing air inside and outside the case, specific fans for the graphic card, and other specific fans for the CPU or processor.

More fans are needed for a customised PC with multiple GPU system and/or an overclocked CPU to improve heat removal. This means consuming more real estate inside the PC case resulting in a messy and bulky PC setup.

One of the advantages of a liquid cooling system is that it does not take too much space because of its smaller real estate profile. This allows building a computer with a slimmer profile. More hardware components can also be installed in place of fans, thus allowing double computer power in the same real estate.

2. Noise-free PC operation: Fans generate noise that becomes more audible when the PC is overworked. The PC becomes noisier with too much fans. Another one of the advantages of a liquid cooling system over air cooling system is that it does not generate the same noise. It is actually relatively silent.

Take note that liquid cooling uses a motor to circulate the liquid coolant around or across specified PC hardware components. The system also includes a very low-powered fan and some hybrid systems integrate small fans to improve ventilation inside the PC case. Nonetheless, both the motor and low-powered fans do not generate discernible noise.

3. Better overclocking potential: Overclocking a CPU or raising the frequency of the processor chip beyond the stock frequency is popular among computer hobbyists and builders. However, doing so results in too much power consumption and heat generation.

Another advantage of liquid cooling is that it is more efficient in removing excess heat. This advantage comes from the fact that water or any liquid coolant has higher heat capacity, density, and thermal conductivity than air. This allows the system to transfer more heat over greater distances.

4. Cooling specific components: A higher degree of cooling specification is another one of the benefits of liquid cooling. This means cooling specific components of the computer to a greater degree than in traditional air cooling.

Remember that air cooling units are bulky and most setup focuses on placing the fans on the GPU and CPU. Users can cool specific computer components by placing fans near them. But these would make the entire PC setup messier and bulkier.

Liquid cooling allows heat removal not only from these critical spots. Users can choose to cool specific components that are also prone to heating such as hard drives, voltage regulator modules, and power supplies. Remember that a liquid cooling system is more compact and consumes smaller real estate than an air cooling system.

Disadvantages: Liquid cooling versus air cooling a PC

1. More costly or expensive: One notable disadvantage of liquid cooling over air cooling is that it is considerable costly to set up. Fans are prevalent in the market and this overabundance of supply means they are cheap.

The components of a liquid cooling system can be expensive. Parts obtained from cars and aquariums, among others are the basis of earlier liquid cooling systems. Several companies nowadays are selling specific liquid cooling components for personal computers.

Expenses for building a liquid cooling system from scratch can range from USD 300 to USD 500. It is worth mentioning that a complete air cooling system can cost at around USD 100 to USD 200.

However, there is an option for buying self-contained liquid coolers. The price of these starts at USD 60. This system is similar to an air cooling system but there is a limit to the degree of modification compared to a full-blown liquid cooling system.

2. Complex to install: Setting up a liquid cooling system from scratch can be tricky because it requires a certain degree of understanding in the fields of electronics and thermodynamics. This is another considerable disadvantage, especially for newbies. Take note that a good liquid cooling system should remove excess heat effectively and immediately.

Installing the components of a liquid cooling system also requires more involvement than installing a typical aftermarket air cooler. Remember that a fan only needs to sit atop a GPU or CPU or alongside a PC case. The components of liquid cooling requires connecting tubes and wires, understanding the placement of loops and radiators or fan.

Safety is also a primary and critical consideration. One must ensure that the entire system is resistant from any possible leaks by testing it outside the PC before implementing it inside. Drops from water or any liquid will certainly damage electronic components and manufacturers do not entertain warranty claims based on water-based incidents.

3. Susceptibility to leaks: Poorly implemented liquid cooling system is likely to result in leaks. Note that water or liquid coolant can accelerate the corrosion of metal parts and damage electronic components. Pressure inside tubes can also build up due to too much heat absorbed by the liquid resulting in leaks.

The aforementioned means that another disadvantage of water cooling is that it is not suitable for newbies or those who have little to no experience in building a customised PC. One must ensure that fittings and the entire assembly are free from error. There should also be some form of contingency in terms of a leak. Even a single drop of liquid can ruin an electronic component.

Susceptibility to leaks thereby make liquid cooling unfavourable. Installing a liquid cooling system might actually be comparable to solving a problem that does not exist. A poorly implemented system runs the risk of frying expensive hardware components.

Conclusion: Which is better? Liquid cooling or air cooling?

Setting up a liquid cooling system might be one of the hallmarks of building a customised personal computer. Those who are serious with their custom-built PC should carefully consider what cooling system works best for them.

Choosing between liquid cooling and air cooling boils down to requirements or the usage needs. A standard air cooling system is certainly a practical and effective solution for PC users with average PC usage requirements. The same is true for individuals who have limited financial resources.

A liquid cooling system is ideal for very powerful personal computers built to carry heavy processing tasks such as gaming and audio and video processing or for an overall computer setup that features an overclocked CPU or a multiple GPU system.

Remember that preventing a computer from overheating by removing excess internal heat is an essential maintenance consideration. CPUs can and GPUs can literally burn. Effective cooling can also extend the lifespan of other computer components such as voltage regulatory components and memory.

As a side note, liquid cooling works well than air cooling because it allows relocation of heat from source to a more efficient location for cooling. The liquid acts more of a heat carrier and liquid cooling is designed to remove heat from areas where air is hard and ventilation are hard to introduce.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Advantages and disadvantages of liquid cooling | Version Daily

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Liquid cooling or water cooling is an alternative to traditional air cooling. It involves circulating coolants across specific components of the personal computer to remove excess heat. Take note that every computer generates heat but certain circumstances such as unfavourable external environment or using too much processor resources can result in overheating.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
[cta id="374901" vid="0"]

Regardless of the type of PC you decide to build, you're going to have to cool the CPU. And while there are many different types of PCs you can build, there's only two ways to cool a CPU: either with air or with liquid.
So what's the best way to cool a CPU?
The Pros and Cons of Air Cooling a CPU

Most CPU's include a stock air cooling solution that that exhausts air onto the CPU. While this type of cooling is satisfactory for casual PC users, gamers often upgrade to aftermarket air coolers that provide higher cooling efficiency. Some of these builders also upgrade because these CPU coolers often look better and makes their PC more unique.

Aftermarket air coolers provide improved performance over stock air cooling solutions by using copper base plates to spread heat through pipes. To increase heat dissipation even further, aftermarket air coolers include high performance fans that carry hot air away from the CPU through specially designed fins. For most gamers, an aftermarket air cooler will provide more than enough power to keep their CPU running at optimal temperatures.

Air cooling isn't without its drawbacks though. Some of these aftermarket air coolers are massive and won't even fit inside a lot of PC cases unless you're using a case specifically designed to accommodate larger CPU cooling options. You should also keep in mind that some fan options could also run louder than stock air coolers.

The Pros and Cons of Liquid Cooling a CPU

Liquid cooling is the best way to cool a CPU because water transfers heat much more efficiently than air. Liquid cooling also makes your PC run quieter because you won't have fans constantly running at a high RPM. However, liquid cooling a PC can also be dangerous if water leaks onto hardware.

To keep things safe and simple, I recommend an all-in-one liquid cooler that provides all the benefits of water in one convenient package. This type of liquid cooling includes everything you would get out of a custom liquid cooling solution without the need to bend tubes, adjust fittings, or drill holes in your PC case. All-in-one liquid coolers are also conveniently available in a variety of different sizes so you'll be able to find exactly what you need.

All-in-one liquid coolers aren't just limited to your CPU either. With the addition of a liquid cooling mounting kit, you'll be able to reap the same benefits of water on a GPU. And as any gamer can tell you, cooling a GPU is often more important than cooling a CPU during intense gaming sessions.

What's the Best Way to Cool a CPU?

Both air coolers and liquid coolers provide increased cooling performance over a stock CPU cooler. However, the cooling solution you decide to use inside your PC build will usually depend on a variety of different factors to go alongside performance.. Things like price, compatibly, and looks will usually also play a role in your decision.

And while liquid cooling does outperform air cooling in various scenarios, you should probably base your decision on what you actually need. There's no reason to use liquid cooling if your CPU doesn't run hot and there's no reason to use an aftermarket air cool if you're not even gaming. The important thing is that you figure out what hardware you need for the PC you're using.

There's really no "best" way to cool a CPU because their is no "best" way to build a PC. Every PC is unique to its builder's needs and the CPU cooler is just one of many different choices you have the power to control. So I guess the best way to cool a CPU is up to you!

The following two tabs change content below.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Should You Cool a CPU with Air or Liquid? - NZXT Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
cta id="374901" vid="0"] Regardless of the type of PC you decide to build, you're going to have to cool the CPU. And while there are many different types of PCs you can build, there's only two ways to cool a CPU: either with air or with liquid.