Water Cooling Question

lil domii

Seven Guru + GFX
Power User
hi everyone,
i know that water cooling is less noisy, takes up less room and cools more efficiently. but how much do the temperatures drop on average from standard air coolers? i want to have a go at decent overclocking when i build my new rig ;)
(not what it drops down to, how much it cools down :p)
thanks,

Dom
 

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Hello lil domii,
I overclock all my rigs, (check my specs), but i have yet to be convinced that water cooling is worth the expense, my temps never go above 50C under load and that is on air cooling.
If you can keep your temps down to an acceptable level, then it doesn't matter how you do it.
I like the fact that if my cooling goes wrong, it can be fixed with another fan or heatsink, in minutes.
Dont get caught up in the hype.
Any way, thats my 2 bobs worth, good luck.
 

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hi everyone,
i know that water cooling is less noisy, takes up less room and cools more efficiently. but how much do the temperatures drop on average from standard air coolers? i want to have a go at decent overclocking when i build my new rig ;)
(not what it drops down to, how much it cools down :p)
thanks,

Dom


Stick with air for your first time around to get the hang of Overclocking. It's cheaper, easier and you can still get a good overclock.

Watercooling is only necessary when going for very high (4ghz+) overclocks with voltages that exceed the 'max safe' values.
 

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    Samsung Story 2TB USB 3.0
as others have said, its not a big drop really, 5-6c some claim up to a 10c drop.......

i also would never go WC, my air config is 2nd to none :) (if you dont mind a little noise, but while gaming with the headset it makes no odds)

i have a CM590 case with a full front grill, ive removed all standard CM 120mm fans & replaced all of them with server fans (2x 120x38mm delta's @ 135CFM each...... 3x 92x38mm AVC @ 100CFM & vantec @ 113CFM

all wired into a ''lamptron military bay bus controller''.....

while idle i run only one fan, the CPU fan @ 20%, & the rig is silent @ the flick of a switch im pulling 300CFM through the front of my case...:eek::eek: @ about 50db

this setup cost peanuts compared to a decent WC setup & mine probably performs better...

now this is a far less hassle & ''better performing'' setup than water, its just obviously louder... but a WC setup is not silent unless you keep your rad in another room, the 3x 120mm fans are still audible...

check out my idle & load temps...;)

idle....

yee.PNG

load...

vantec.JPG
 

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    ME.....
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    Q9450 @ 3.6ghz
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    XCILIO 850w
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    unknown ATX
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    Arctic cooler pro 775
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    2mb
I've seen different outcomes with watercooling. If you don't set it up properly, then you get bugger all in terms of temp drop. If setup properly, then you can get quite a considerable drop in temp.

The PC a mate of mine has has watercooling in it, just one to cool the CPU. He had his radiator next to his PC under his desk, so was still sitting at 30C idle and in the 40s for load temps, which is pretty much what I get on my CPU on air cooling. He then moved his PC on to his desk and put his radiator on to his window ledge and that's when the temps really dropped.

At idle his i7 920 sits at 19-20C, it's been overclocked to 3.4GHz. At load, it gets to about 35C when running prime95, which leaves a lot of headroom for more overclocking when he upgrades his RAM from 1333MHz.

I'll try and get some screenshots when I see him.

Edit: He's posting the screenshot himself.

Edit: Just watched him take that screenshot and when prime95 has stoppedbenching , the temps drop back down to idle in pretty much a few seconds.
 
Last edited:

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    ASUS Xonar DX
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    Dell 24" S2409W & Dell 20" E207WFP
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    1920x1080 & 1680x1050
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    750GB Western Digital Caviar Black & 500GB Samsung
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    750 watt Thermaltake Toughpower
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    Coolermaster Dominator 690 Nvidia Edition
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    Zalman CNPS9700-NT Cooler, 6x 120mm Chassis Fans
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    Logitech G11 Keyboard
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    Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (2007 edition)
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    100Mbps
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    abit airpace 54mbps wireless PCI-E x1 card
Im the guy "Everlong18" was talking about, at Idle my CPU sits at 15-22c and at Load the highest any core gets to is 37C.

load.jpg
 

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    Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.4Ghz
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    Asus P6T6 WS Revolution x58
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    6144mb Corsair XMS3 DDR3
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    3x XFX 8800 Ultra XXX
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    Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe
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    1920 x 1080 / 1680 x 1050
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    2 x seagate 500Gb NCQ
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    Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1250w
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    Thermaltake Armor+
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    Water Cooling
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    Razer Lachesis
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    100 mb/s
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    Razer destructor mousemat
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ok, thanks everyone, sorry for the mid-late reply, i have taken in wht you said, and will just get a £10 air heatsink. :)

Dom
 

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  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 5735z Laptop
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    2.0 ghz intel pentium dual-core processor t4200 800mhz fsb
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    Acer CathedralPeak Rev
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    4gb
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    Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500
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    Realtek
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    15.6" HD CineCrystal LCD
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    160gb stock drive. ATA
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    Stock Notebook
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    Stock
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    PS/2
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    No idea

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 5735z Laptop
    CPU
    2.0 ghz intel pentium dual-core processor t4200 800mhz fsb
    Motherboard
    Acer CathedralPeak Rev
    Memory
    4gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD CineCrystal LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    160gb stock drive. ATA
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    Stock Notebook
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    Stock
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    No idea
On watercooling
 

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    Custom
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    Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.4Ghz
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    Asus P6T6 WS Revolution x58
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    6144mb Corsair XMS3 DDR3
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    3x XFX 8800 Ultra XXX
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    Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe
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    Iiyama prolite 24" / Dell Ultrasharp 20" widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 / 1680 x 1050
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    2 x seagate 500Gb NCQ
    PSU
    Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1250w
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    Thermaltake Armor+
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    Water Cooling
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    Razer Lycosa Mirror
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    Razer Lachesis
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    100 mb/s
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    Razer destructor mousemat
    Steel series siberia headset
    Logitech z-5500
I've seen different outcomes with watercooling. If you don't set it up properly, then you get bugger all in terms of temp drop. If setup properly, then you can get quite a considerable drop in temp.

The PC a mate of mine has has watercooling in it, just one to cool the CPU. He had his radiator next to his PC under his desk, so was still sitting at 30C idle and in the 40s for load temps, which is pretty much what I get on my CPU on air cooling. He then moved his PC on to his desk and put his radiator on to his window ledge and that's when the temps really dropped.

At idle his i7 920 sits at 19-20C, it's been overclocked to 3.4GHz. At load, it gets to about 35C when running prime95, which leaves a lot of headroom for more overclocking when he upgrades his RAM from 1333MHz.

I'll try and get some screenshots when I see him.

Edit: He's posting the screenshot himself.

Edit: Just watched him take that screenshot and when prime95 has stoppedbenching , the temps drop back down to idle in pretty much a few seconds.

hello harry........ ;)

yes there's certainly more than a few crap WC loops about.

Im the guy "Everlong18" was talking about, at Idle my CPU sits at 15-22c and at Load the highest any core gets to is 37C.

View attachment 17202

Welcome kungpow1975......:)

those are some nice temps mate, what kind of cooling setup is built on the rad..??, how far away is the rad from the tower..??
 

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System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    ME.....
    CPU
    Q9450 @ 3.6ghz
    Motherboard
    P5K PREMIUM
    Memory
    8GB 1066mhz buffalo firestix
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD 5970
    Monitor(s) Displays
    20'' syncmaster
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
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    160GB 7200RPM SEAGATE BARRACUDA IDE
    160GB 7200RPM SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA 2
    PSU
    XCILIO 850w
    Case
    unknown ATX
    Cooling
    Arctic cooler pro 775
    Keyboard
    logitech EX110
    Mouse
    logitech cordless optical
    Internet Speed
    2mb
Its the "Black ICE GT eXtreme 480" 480mm Radiator, with a "Laing DDC-1T Ultra 18w" Pump, and The "Laing DDC Top Reservoir", with a EK-Supreme Plexi S1366 Block. The Radiator Has 4x Xigmatek 120mm orange/White Fans (See Pics Below!!!).

10420_168022714201_821214201_369970.jpg


As you can see the radiator is right next to the tower.
 

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System One

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    Custom
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    Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.4Ghz
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    Asus P6T6 WS Revolution x58
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    6144mb Corsair XMS3 DDR3
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    3x XFX 8800 Ultra XXX
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    Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe
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    Iiyama prolite 24" / Dell Ultrasharp 20" widescreen
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    1920 x 1080 / 1680 x 1050
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    2 x seagate 500Gb NCQ
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    Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1250w
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    Thermaltake Armor+
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    Water Cooling
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    Razer Lycosa Mirror
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    Razer Lachesis
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    100 mb/s
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    Razer destructor mousemat
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He was too lazy to take a new photo. He currently has his radiator sat on his window ledge with the fans blowing cold air from the window through his radiator ;)
 

My Computer

System One

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    Custom Built
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    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
    Motherboard
    XFX MB-750I-72P9 NF750i
    Memory
    4096MB Corsair XMS2 PC-5400
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    ASUS Nvidia Geforce GTX470
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    ASUS Xonar DX
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    1920x1080 & 1680x1050
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    750GB Western Digital Caviar Black & 500GB Samsung
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    750 watt Thermaltake Toughpower
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    Coolermaster Dominator 690 Nvidia Edition
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    Zalman CNPS9700-NT Cooler, 6x 120mm Chassis Fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G11 Keyboard
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    Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (2007 edition)
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Other Info
    abit airpace 54mbps wireless PCI-E x1 card
Heres the new pictures as Harry pointed out that i was too lazy.

Radiator
IMGP0057.jpg

CPU Block
IMGP0058.jpg

PUMP and Reservoir
IMGP0059.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P6T6 WS Revolution x58
    Memory
    6144mb Corsair XMS3 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    3x XFX 8800 Ultra XXX
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Iiyama prolite 24" / Dell Ultrasharp 20" widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 / 1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    2 x seagate 500Gb NCQ
    PSU
    Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1250w
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    Thermaltake Armor+
    Cooling
    Water Cooling
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    Razer Lycosa Mirror
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    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    100 mb/s
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    Razer destructor mousemat
    Steel series siberia headset
    Logitech z-5500
Damn,how much is water cooling?
 

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    1440 X 900
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    1TB

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 5735z Laptop
    CPU
    2.0 ghz intel pentium dual-core processor t4200 800mhz fsb
    Motherboard
    Acer CathedralPeak Rev
    Memory
    4gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD CineCrystal LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    160gb stock drive. ATA
    Case
    Stock Notebook
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    PS/2
    Mouse
    Synaptics TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    No idea

My Computer

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    Self Built
    CPU
    i7 3770K HT ON 4.7GHz
    Motherboard
    P8Z68 Deluxe Gen 3
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    8GB G.Skill Ripjaws X 2133mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    2x Gigabyte GTX 670 OC WindForce SLI
    Sound Card
    X-FI Forte + ATH-AD900
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    x2 Dell U2410 / 58" Samsung / "40 Sony
    Screen Resolution
    1920*1200 / 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2x Intel 520 240GB * Crucial M4 128GB * 2x Samsung F3 1TB (RAID 0) * 2x WD Caviar Blacks 2TB (RAID 0)
    PSU
    Corsair AX1200W
    Case
    Lian Li PC-V1020A
    Cooling
    NH-D14: 3x140mm Gelid Wing 14: Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme
    Keyboard
    Topre Realforce // Ducky Shine Cherry MX Black
    Mouse
    Razer Imperator + Thermaltake Theron
    Other Info
    Laptop Specs:
    Clevo Sager P170HM //
    17.3 Matte 1920x1200 //
    i7 2720QM // 8GB 1333mhz //
    Dedicated GTX 485M //
    240GB Intel 520 + 750GB + Blu-Ray //

    Samsung Story 2TB USB 3.0
Thanks Smarteyeball, i have to give everlong18 some credit as he helped me build it.
 

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  • Manufacturer/Model
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    CPU
    Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.4Ghz
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    Asus P6T6 WS Revolution x58
    Memory
    6144mb Corsair XMS3 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    3x XFX 8800 Ultra XXX
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Iiyama prolite 24" / Dell Ultrasharp 20" widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 / 1680 x 1050
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    2 x seagate 500Gb NCQ
    PSU
    Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1250w
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    Thermaltake Armor+
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    Water Cooling
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    Razer Lycosa Mirror
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    100 mb/s
    Other Info
    Razer destructor mousemat
    Steel series siberia headset
    Logitech z-5500
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 5735z Laptop
    CPU
    2.0 ghz intel pentium dual-core processor t4200 800mhz fsb
    Motherboard
    Acer CathedralPeak Rev
    Memory
    4gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD CineCrystal LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    160gb stock drive. ATA
    Case
    Stock Notebook
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    PS/2
    Mouse
    Synaptics TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    No idea
Hi, as a Watercooling user it may seem a bit weird for me to be saying this, but a Air cooler for around £60 will be much better than any watercooler for the same price, so i would reccommend the air cooler. What smarteyeball said about watercooling is correct, the more you invest in it... the better it is. i would say go for air cooling if your budget is around £60
 

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System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P6T6 WS Revolution x58
    Memory
    6144mb Corsair XMS3 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    3x XFX 8800 Ultra XXX
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Iiyama prolite 24" / Dell Ultrasharp 20" widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 / 1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    2 x seagate 500Gb NCQ
    PSU
    Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1250w
    Case
    Thermaltake Armor+
    Cooling
    Water Cooling
    Keyboard
    Razer Lycosa Mirror
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    100 mb/s
    Other Info
    Razer destructor mousemat
    Steel series siberia headset
    Logitech z-5500
My old Aircooler before i switched to watercooling was excellent.

it was the "Asus Triton 81". Its £37-£45 at the moment and is dual fanned. The only problem is it has fixing clips instead of screws. but once you figure out how to secure them, it goes on fine and it keeps the CPU relatively cool
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P6T6 WS Revolution x58
    Memory
    6144mb Corsair XMS3 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    3x XFX 8800 Ultra XXX
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Iiyama prolite 24" / Dell Ultrasharp 20" widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 / 1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    2 x seagate 500Gb NCQ
    PSU
    Coolermaster Real Power Pro 1250w
    Case
    Thermaltake Armor+
    Cooling
    Water Cooling
    Keyboard
    Razer Lycosa Mirror
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    100 mb/s
    Other Info
    Razer destructor mousemat
    Steel series siberia headset
    Logitech z-5500
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