THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIQUID COOLING YOUR PC
THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE having a custom-built liquid-cooled PC. There’s something about configuring every last element of your rig that gives you an incredible feeling of satisfaction. Compare it to restoring a classic car. You know each and every component that you’ve bought, how it works, how you installed it, where the problems might lie, how to fix it when it goes wrong, and best of all, you know that it’s going to perform better than it did before, and it’s unique. Much like that restoration, with liquid cooling you become attached to your work; it suddenly has a personality, a soul, a temperament, and it’s a machine that you’ll remember for years to come.
Yet deciding to embark upon this advanced mode of PC building can be daunting. It requires in-depth knowledge of a vast multitude of parts, intricate experience and instinct that sometimes can’t be taught. And, of course, there’s plenty of room for failure, especially when mixing electricity and H2O.
That said, we recommend that every PC enthusiast and system builder tries liquid cooling at least once. A lot of these problems can be overcome with some smart planning, time, and a little knowledge. And better yet, the benefits to your system extend far further than just looks. Whether it’s the extra overclocking headroom or the reduced overall noise, we believe it’s well worth the investment. In fact, that last part is probably the biggest bugbear you’ll find when it comes to liquid cooling your rig: cost. However, the reality is that you really don’t need to spend all that much on it. You can easily convert a fully built system to liquid cooling, chilling both the GPU and the CPU with copper components, for just a little over $400. That’s still a fair amount of cash, sure, but not quite the $1,000-plus spec lists that we often throw at our builds. Of course, with more investment comes better performance and an easier build process, but that’s not always necessary, and a bare minimum loop when it comes to fittings and complex components will likely yield similar if not identical results if configured correctly.
This issue, we’re going to divulge all of our liquid-cooling secrets and give you the deepest-level low-down, so you can decide whether it’s worth making the commitment to build your own unique rig that’s perfect for you.
Parts & Options
When it comes to planning your loop, the range of products available—from fittings to tubing, and radiators to reservoirs—makes for a daunting prospect for the uninitiated. So, let’s break down exactly what you’ll need, and what you can buy to perfect your liquid-cooling loop.
Tubing Types: Soft Tubing
Typically manufactured from PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, soft tubing is flexible, easy to cut, affordable, and comes
