Water cooled gaming PC...is it worth the risk?

Hi all, a question for you wise ones if I may....

I'm in the process of choosing a pre-built gaming pc, my first one in thirty years....but a lot of the ones I'm seeing are water cooled.

First thing going through my mind is that water and electricity do not mix. I've seen vids on YouTube where a leak has killed a computer. Whilst the average streamer can afford to replace a £1000 computer, I can't.

Then there is the maintenance of the liquid, is it a hassle or easy?

I guess I could ask the company building it for the same specs but just not water cooled if I'm worried about it?

Any opinions most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

CX.

a reply to: CX

I fitted and used to use one, if you're into gaming and your computer has a tendency to overheat then I would recommend water cooling, I found it to be very good, but as I said, only if you think you need it, not for novelty or just to say you have one.

I would also suggest that malfunctions are extremely rare, and could be a result of improper installation, plus there's also such a thing as a guarantee or warranty

1) - The cause of meltdowns is overclocking components
2) There is no need for overclocking in these days . Unless for "bragging rights"
3) Water cool if you want , I say get after market coolers for CPU and GPU . Leave the water cooled systems for us pros

Hades , the fans on my Nvidia 1080 dont even kick in till 60 deg C

As mentioned above, should be no problem. Especially with pre-built systems which also has the warranty.
Improper DIY installation by novice is the only real risk

I say go for the liquid nitrogen cooling option.

Then you're gaming like a boss.

You can overclock to like 60,000% and lightning bolts of coolness will shoot off your S# then.

a reply to: CX

I haven't taken the plunge into water cooling yet, but when I set up our latest builds, I made sure our cases could handle having a basic liquid cooling system installed in case we ever needed to go there.

From what I've seen, the self-contained systems tend to be pretty reliable, but I haven't really delved to deeply into that area of research just yet.

a reply to: CX

Forget liquid cooling unless your surname is Cray. It is an unnecessary expense for a PC.

Depends on what kind of user you are.

Light to moderate AIO water cooler like Coolermaster or Corsair (whatever your prefered brand)

Hardcore Gamer go custom loop.

Anywater liquid cooling solutions don't necessarily use water do to corrosion factors in the blocks.

Some type/brand of addative goes in the mix.

For newbies.

AIO ( all in one) cpu/Gpu water cooler's with a case that is designed for water cooling.

Once you've gotten your feet wet go from there.

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
I say go for the liquid nitrogen cooling option.

Then you're gaming like a boss.

You can overclock to like 60,000% and lightning bolts of coolness will shoot off your S# then.

Cry-cooling needs to be left up to experts. Above my pro status.

originally posted by: neo96
Depends on what kind of user you are.

Light to moderate AIO water cooler like Coolermaster or Corsair (whatever your prefered brand)

Hardcore Gamer go custom loop.

Anywater liquid cooling solutions don't necessarily use water do to corrosion factors in the blocks.

Some type/brand of addative goes in the mix.

For newbies.

AIO ( all in one) cpu/Gpu water cooler's with a case that is designed for water cooling.

Once you've gotten your feet wet go from there.

All that was well and good for 15 years ago and the need to seriously overclock.
Unneeded expense today
The pros have a good laugh behind folks' back with that
Although it does help the stores.....
After market coolers are all that is needed
Unless you are trying for a record
I held a record a long time ago
An AMD clocked at 600 running at nearly 2 ghz
And yes , it was water cooled.
And refrigerated with an old dorm refrigerator cooling unit...
Those were the days , I tell ya...

a reply to: Gothmog

Didn't I say that?>

For newbies. AIO ( all in one) cpu/Gpu water cooler's with a case that is designed for water cooling. Once you've gotten your feet wet go from there.

Water cooling is more an aesthetic choice these days. For people who want a clear case with all kinds of colors and stuff on the inside. Pretty over practical.

A half way decent air cooler is all you will ever need if you just want to game. The tech is just better nowadays, so it is not needed anymore. Overclocking is only needed if you are in a specific niche of chasing the oneupmanship dragon.

a reply to: karmicecstasy

Would it be bad to mention that I like pretty colors, my case has a window, and my fans are all purple LED ones?

originally posted by: neo96
a reply to: Gothmog

Didn't I say that?>

For newbies. AIO ( all in one) cpu/Gpu water cooler's with a case that is designed for water cooling. Once you've gotten your feet wet go from there.

Yes .
And that was what I was responding to
Absolutely no need to water cool
Hasnt been for many years
And , like I said earlier as an example : The fans on an Nvidia 1080 dont even come on until 60 degrees C
The system will not even thermal trip until the CPU reaches 90 degrees C
The glory of modern day components
I would forgo the water cool and go for a nice acrylic case with lots of lights (and fans in front rear , side and top .)
Shiny....

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: karmicecstasy

Would it be bad to mention that I like pretty colors, my case has a window, and my fans are all purple LED ones?

Not at all.
I have one the large side case fan has fiber optics . Looks like the lights spread out as the fan is turning
Once ran a led to each pin of my CPU
What a rush....

a reply to: ketsuko

Nope, not bad at all. That is actually pretty cool. At least in my eyes. If you are building a system yourself. It is one of the perks. You get to customize it to your own personal tastes. I go on Youtube and view all the cool colorful custom builds people make all the time.

My current build is not colorful but my next one will be. My pretty over practical comment was more for the OP. Who is getting back in after 30 years with a pre-built.

I've used AIO's from corsair on the last few machines I've built(for myself). Well over a decade of use between all of them and never a single problem.

My latest PC also incorporates a AIO on the GPU(from the manufacturer the Sea Hawk line).

I don't overclock, but the main benefit for me is how quite these are. My gaming PC at home, under full load, is near silent. My gaming PC at work still has a fan GPU and under load it can be somewhat distracting even after all these years(it is about 4 feet away on a stand that is head height).

I was going to go with a full custom loop on the above mentioned home machine, I decided that cost, complexity, maintenance and possibility of leaks was not worth it. Especially since I had no intention of OC'ing anything.

I'm a big fan of AIO's, It's nice to see that market getting bigger(namely some card co's integrating them into GPU's).

I've built a few PC's in the past. Personally, I prefer the all-back silent sound-proofed cases. There isn't need for water cooling. I did once get an old military style themed case with mesh style vents at the top for the Intel water cooling solution. That system sounded like an industrial threshing machine.

Don't bother with fancy memory sticks with odd fins and spikes. They won't fit with many cooling fans for the CPU.

Cray used 3M's Fluorinert

I've built a few PC's in the past. Personally, I prefer the all-back silent sound-proofed cases. There isn't need for water cooling. I did once get an old military style themed case with mesh style vents at the top for the Intel water cooling solution. That system sounded like an industrial threshing machine.

Don't bother with fancy memory sticks with odd fins and spikes. They won't fit with many cooling fans for the CPU.

I've built a few PC's in the past. Personally, I prefer the all-back silent sound-proofed cases. There isn't need for water cooling. I did once get an old military style themed case with mesh style vents at the top for the Intel water cooling solution. That system sounded like an industrial threshing machine.

Don't bother with fancy memory sticks with odd fins and spikes. They won't fit with many cooling fans for the CPU.