Water cooling system for computer. Water cooling for computer

The development of technology inevitably leads to the fact that the main components of personal computers become more productive, and therefore “hotter”. The stations require highly efficient cooling. As an excellent option for solving this problem, we can offer it for a PC.

Main advantages

Such a system has a number of advantages compared to traditional air cooling. First of all, you should remember the high thermal conductivity of water compared to air, and this has a positive effect on the entire cooling system. The next nuance concerns high-performance coolers, which create a lot of noise when passing large masses of air. With water cooling, noise levels are minimized during operation of the entire system. Modern PC water cooling is characterized by ease of installation and high performance. Despite the fact that such a system is quite expensive, it is becoming the choice of many, that is, its popularity is constantly growing.

general characteristics

A water cooling system for a PC is a collection of elements used to transport water as a coolant. It differs from traditional air heating in that all the heat is first transferred to the water and then to the air. When using such a system, all the heat generated by the processor and other fuel elements is transferred through a special heat exchanger to water. This component is called a water block. The water that is heated in this way is transferred to the next heat exchanger - the radiator, where its heat is transferred to the air, leaving the computer. A special pump, usually called a pump, is responsible for the movement of water in the system.

Installing water cooling for a PC provides many benefits due to the fact that it is higher than air, which ensures more efficient and faster heat removal from the cooled elements, which means lower temperatures. All things being equal, this type will always be much more effective in comparison with all others.

The water cooling system (for PCs, etc.) has proven to be a fairly reliable and productive solution over the entire period of its use. Even when used in various systems, devices and mechanisms that are demanding on the reliability and power of coolers, for example, in internal combustion engines, radio tubes, high-power lasers, machine tools in factories, nuclear power plants and others.

Computer and water cooling

The high efficiency of such a system allows not only to achieve more powerful cooling, which can have a positive effect on the stability and overclocking of the system, but also to reduce the noise level of the computer. You can assemble such a system to ensure that an overclocked computer operates with a minimum level of noise generated. It is this reason that makes such systems especially relevant for users of the most powerful computers, fans of strong overclocking, who want to make their PC quieter, but do not want to compromise on power.

Gamers often install three or four chip video subsystems, and the video cards operate at high temperatures and frequent overheating, as well as with strong noise from the cooling systems used. It may even seem that for modern video cards, coolers are designed that will not allow the use of multi-chip configurations. That is why, when video cards are installed one next to the other, a number of problems often arise, because they simply have nowhere to draw cold air from. There are alternative air cooling systems on the market designed for multi-chip configurations, but they do not save the situation. It is water cooling of a PC in this case that can radically improve the situation, that is, lower the temperature, improve stability and increase the reliability of the computer.

Water cooling components

This system includes a certain set of components, which are conventionally divided into mandatory and optional, that is, installed at will.

So, the required components for water cooling of a PC include: water block, pump, radiator, fittings, hoses, water. While the list of optional elements can be expanded, it usually includes: temperature sensors, a reservoir, drain valves, fan and pump controllers, meters and indicators, secondary water blocks, backplates, water additives, filters. First, you should consider the components without which water cooling for a PC simply will not work.

Water blocks

The water block is a special heat exchanger through which heat from the heating element is transferred to water. Most often, its design involves the presence of a copper base, as well as a plastic or metal cover with a set of fasteners designed to secure the water block to the cooled element. There are water blocks for all heat-producing computer components, even for those that do not particularly require them, that is, their performance will not increase much. The main and most popular elements include processor water blocks, water blocks for video cards and system chips. There are two types of devices for video cards: those that cover only the graphics chip itself, and those that cover all elements of the video card that heat up during operation.

While initially such elements were made from thick sheets of copper, modern trends in this area have led to the fact that the bases of water blocks are now made thin so that heat is transferred from the processor to the water much faster. In addition, an increase in the heat transfer surface is achieved through microneedle and microchannel structures.

Radiators

In water cooling systems, a radiator is a water-air heat exchanger that transfers heat from water to the air, which is collected in the water block. There are two subtypes of radiators in such systems: passive, that is, not equipped with a fan, and active, that is, they are blown by a fan.

So, if you are interested in installing water cooling for a PC, then it is worth noting that fanless radiators are not so common, since their efficiency is noticeably lower, which is typical for all types of passive systems. In addition to low performance, such radiators are characterized by large dimensions, which is why they rarely fit even in modified cases.

Ventilated radiators, that is, active ones, are more common in computer water cooling systems, since their efficiency is noticeably higher. If you use silent or quiet fans, you can achieve silent or quiet operation of the entire cooling system, that is, borrow the main advantage of passive cooling.

water pump

The pump is an electric pump whose task is to ensure water circulation in the computer cooling system; without it, the entire structure simply will not work. Pumps can operate on both 220 volts and 12 volts. At first, when there were almost no pumps for such installations on sale, enthusiasts used aquarium pumps powered by the city network, which created some difficulties, since they had to be turned on synchronously with the computer. For these purposes, relays were usually used that turned on the pump automatically when the computer started. The development of water cooling systems provided opportunities for the emergence of new devices that, when powered by 12 volt computers, had high performance in a compact size.

Since modern water blocks are characterized by a very high coefficient of water resistance, and this is the price for high performance, it is recommended to use powerful pumps with them. This is due to the fact that even with the most powerful, a modern water cooling system for a PC will not fully demonstrate its performance. You should not particularly strive for power, using several pumps or pumps from heating systems in one circuit, as this will not lead to an increase in the performance of the entire system as a whole. This parameter is limited by the efficiency of the water block and the heat dissipation ability of the radiator.

Hoses

A water-cooled PC is simply unthinkable without the use of hoses or tubes, since they are the ones that connect the different components of the system to each other. Most often, PVC hoses are used for computers, or in extreme cases, silicone. The size of the hose does not affect performance; the main thing here is not to choose too thin ones, that is, with a diameter of less than 8 mm.

Fitting

Fittings are used to connect hoses to the components of the cooling system. They are screwed into the threaded hole on the component without using rubber rings to seal the connection. Nowadays the vast majority of components are supplied without fittings. This was done so that the user has the opportunity to independently choose the appropriate option for himself, because they exist in different types and for different sizes of hoses. The most popular type are herringbone fittings. They can be straight or angular, and are installed depending on how the water cooling is installed on the PC.

Water

If you want to make a gaming PC with water cooling, you must understand that for these purposes you need to take distilled water, that is, free of any impurities. On Western websites they sometimes write about the need to use it, but it differs from distilled only in the method of preparation. Sometimes water is replaced with special mixtures or additives are added to it. In any case, it is not recommended to use tap or bottled water.

Optional Components

Usually, even without them, a PC water cooling system works quite stably and without problems. The main point of using optional components is to make the system more convenient to use, or they serve as decoration.

So, if you are interested in installing water cooling on a PC with your own hands, then you can use, in addition to the main components, additional ones, the first of which is a reservoir, or Most often, instead of it, a tee fitting and a filler neck are used for convenient refilling of the system. The advantage of the tankless option is that when installing the system in a compact housing, it can be placed much more conveniently. Installing a water cooler on a laptop may require a reservoir to allow for easy refilling and easier removal of air bubbles from the system. It does not matter what the volume of the tank is, since it does not affect the performance of the system. The choice of size and shape of the expansion tank depends only on individual preferences and appearance.

It is a component that makes it easy to drain water from the cooling system. It is normally closed. This component can greatly improve ease of use in terms of maintenance.

Indicators, sensors and meters are produced specifically for those who cannot settle for a minimum of components, but like various excesses. These include electronic sensors for water flow and pressure, water temperature, controllers that adjust the operation of fans to temperature, pump controllers, mechanical indicators and others.

The filter is found in some water cooling systems, where it is connected to the circuit. He is busy filtering out various mechanical particles that are in the system - dust that could be present in the hoses, sediment that appears due to the use of an anti-corrosion additive or dye, soldering residues in the radiator, etc.

External or internal SVO?

If you are wondering how to install water cooling on a laptop, then you should first say that there are two types of systems. External ones are usually made in the form of a separate box, that is, a module that is connected to the water blocks via hoses. The external system case usually contains a radiator with fans, a reservoir, a pump, and sometimes a power supply for the pump with temperature sensors. It is clear that this option is optimal for a laptop, since the laptop case will not allow you to place all this in it. For a computer, such systems are convenient because the user does not need to modify the case of his PC, but they are inconvenient if you decide to move the device to another location.

There is internal water cooling for PC. It is quite difficult to install such a system yourself, if you compare it with an external one. Among the advantages of such a system is the convenience of moving the computer to another place, since this does not require draining all the liquid. Another advantage is that the appearance of the case will not change in any way, and with proper modding, such a system will also serve as decoration.

Ready-made systems or personal assembly?

You can water cool your PC with your own hands using individual components, or you can use ready-made solutions that come with detailed instructions. Most enthusiasts are convinced that out-of-the-box solutions are characterized by low performance, but this is not at all the case. Many brands produce high-performance kits, for example, Danger Dan, Alphacool, Koolance, Swiftech. Among the advantages of ready-made systems, convenience is noted, since one kit contains everything necessary for installation. In addition, manufacturers often aim to help users in any circumstances, so the kit includes a variety of elements and fasteners. However, it is inconvenient that the user does not have the opportunity to select exactly those components that he needs; the systems are sold only assembled.

You can make your own water cooling for your PC. Reviews from most experienced users indicate that in this case the system will be more flexible, since you will be able to select the components that suit you. In addition, if you compose a system from individual components, you can sometimes save money. The downside of this approach is the difficulty of assembly, especially for beginners.

conclusions

The main advantages of water cooling systems include the ability to build a powerful and quiet PC, increased overclocking capabilities, improved stability during overclocking, long service life and beautiful appearance. This solution allows you to build a powerful gaming computer that will work without unnecessary noise, which is completely unattainable with air systems.

The disadvantages usually include the complexity of assembly, unreliability and high cost. However, such disadvantages can be called controversial and relative. In terms of assembly complexity, it can be noted that it is not much more difficult than assembling the computer itself. There are also no complaints about the reliability of correctly assembled systems, since, provided they are properly assembled and operated, no problems arise.

Water cooling systems have been used for many years as a highly efficient means of removing heat from hot computer components.

The quality of cooling directly affects the stability of your computer. With excess heat, the computer begins to freeze and overheated components may fail. High temperatures are harmful to the element base (capacitors, microcircuits, etc.), and overheating of the hard drive can lead to data loss.

As computer performance increases, more efficient cooling systems have to be used. An air cooling system is considered traditional, but air has low thermal conductivity and a large air flow creates a lot of noise. Powerful coolers produce a rather loud roar, although they can still provide acceptable efficiency.

In such conditions, water cooling systems are becoming increasingly popular. The superiority of water cooling over air is explained by the heat capacity (4.183 kJ kg -1 K -1 for water and 1.005 kJ kg -1 K -1 for air) and thermal conductivity (0.6 W/(m K) for water and 0.024-0.031 W/(m K) for air). Therefore, all other things being equal, water cooling systems will always be more efficient than air cooling systems.

On the Internet you can find a lot of materials on ready-made water cooling systems from leading manufacturers and examples of homemade cooling systems (the latter, as a rule, are more efficient).

Water cooling system (WCS) is a cooling system that uses water as a coolant to transfer heat. Unlike air cooling, which transfers heat directly to the air, in a water cooling system, heat is transferred to the water first.

Operating principle of the SVO

Cooling a computer is necessary to remove heat from a heated component (chipset, processor, ...) and dissipate it. A conventional air cooler is equipped with a monolithic radiator that performs both of these functions.

In the SVO, each part performs its own function. The water block removes heat, and the other part dissipates thermal energy. An approximate diagram of the connection of the SVO components can be seen in the diagram below.

Water blocks can be connected to the circuit in parallel or in series. The first option is preferable if there are identical heat sinks. You can combine these options and get a parallel-serial connection, but the most correct would be to connect the water blocks one after the other.

Heat removal occurs according to the following scheme: liquid from the reservoir is supplied to the pump, and then pumped further to the units that cool the PC components.

The reason for this connection is a slight heating of the water after passing through the first water block and effective heat removal from the chipset, GPU, and CPU. The heated liquid enters the radiator and cools there. It then goes back into the tank and a new cycle begins.

According to the design features, the SVO can be divided into two types:

1. The coolant circulates through a pump in the form of a separate mechanical unit.
2. Pumpless systems that use special refrigerants that pass through the liquid and gaseous phases.

Cooling system with pump

The principle of its operation is efficient and simple. Liquid (usually distilled water) passes through the radiators of cooled devices.

All components of the structure are connected to each other by flexible tubes (diameter 6-12 mm). The liquid, passing through the radiator of the processor and other devices, picks up their heat, and then through the tubes enters the heat exchanger radiator, where it cools itself. The system is closed, and the liquid constantly circulates in it.

An example of such a connection can be shown using products from CoolingFlow. It combines the pump with a buffer tank for liquid. The arrows show the movement of cold and hot fluid.

Pumpless liquid cooling

There are liquid cooling systems that do not use a pump. They use the evaporator principle and create a directed pressure that causes the movement of the coolant. Liquids with low boiling points are used as refrigerants. The physics of the ongoing process can be seen in the diagram below.

Initially, the radiator and lines are completely filled with liquid. When the temperature of the processor heatsink rises above a certain value, the liquid turns into steam. The process of turning liquid into vapor absorbs thermal energy and increases cooling efficiency. Hot steam creates pressure. Steam, through a special one-way valve, can exit only in one direction - into the radiator of the heat exchanger-condenser. There, the steam displaces the cold liquid towards the processor heatsink, and, as it cools, turns back into liquid. So the liquid-vapor circulates in a closed pipeline system while the radiator temperature is high. This system turns out to be very compact.

Another version of such a cooling system is possible. For example, for a video card.

A liquid evaporator is built into the radiator of the graphics chip. The heat exchanger is located next to the side wall of the video card. The structure is made of copper alloy. The heat exchanger is cooled by a high-speed (7200 rpm) centrifugal fan.

SVO components

Water cooling systems use a specific set of components, mandatory and optional.

Required components of the SVO:

• radiator,
• fitting,
• water block,
• water pump,
• hoses,
• water.

Optional components of the water supply system are: temperature sensors, reservoir, drain valves, pump and fan controllers, secondary water blocks, indicators and meters (flow, temperature, pressure), water mixtures, filters, backplates.

• Let's look at the required components.

Waterblock is a heat exchanger that transfers heat from a heated element (processor, video chip, etc.) to water. It consists of a copper base and a metal cover with a set of fasteners.

The main types of water blocks: processor, for video cards, for the system chip (north bridge). Water blocks for video cards can be of two types: those that cover only the graphics chip (“gpu only”) and those that cover all heating elements – fullcover.

Water block Swiftech MCW60-R(gpu-only):

Waterblock EK Waterblocks EK-FC-5970(Fulcover):

To increase the heat transfer area, a microchannel and microneedle structure is used. Water blocks are made without a complex internal structure if performance is not so critical.

Chipset water block XSPC X2O Delta Chipset:

Radiator. In SVO, a radiator is a water-air heat exchanger that transfers heat from the water in the water block to the air. There are two subtypes of SVO radiators: passive (fanless), active (blown by a fan).

Fanless ones can be found quite rarely (for example, in the Zalman Reserator air conditioner) because this type of radiator has lower efficiency. Such radiators take up a lot of space and are difficult to fit even in a modified case.

Passive radiator Alphacool Cape Cora HF 642:

Active radiators are more common in water cooling systems due to better efficiency. If you use quiet or silent fans, you can achieve quiet or silent operation of the air cooler. These radiators can come in a variety of sizes, but they are generally made in multiples of the size of a 120mm or 140mm fan.

Radiator Feser X-Changer Triple 120mm Xtreme

SVO radiator behind the computer case:

The pump is an electric pump, responsible for the circulation of water in the water supply system circuit. Pumps can operate on 220 volts or 12 volts. When there were few specialized components for air conditioning systems on sale, aquarium pumps operating on 220 volts were used. This created some difficulties due to the need to turn on the pump synchronously with the computer. For this, a relay was used that turned on the pump automatically when the computer started. Now there are specialized pumps with compact sizes and good performance, operating on 12 volts.

Compact pump Laing DDC-1T

Modern water blocks have a fairly high coefficient of hydraulic resistance, so it is advisable to use specialized pumps, since aquarium pumps will not allow a modern water cooler to operate at full capacity.

Hoses or tubes are also essential components of any water treatment system, through which water flows from one component to another. Mostly PVC hoses are used, sometimes silicone. The size of the hose does not greatly affect overall performance; it is important not to use hoses that are too thin (less than 8 mm).

Fluorescent Feser Tube:

Fittings are special connecting elements for connecting hoses to water supply components (pump, radiator, water blocks). The fittings must be screwed into the threaded hole located on the SVO component. You don't need to screw them in very hard (no wrenches are needed). Tightness is achieved with a rubber sealing ring. The vast majority of components are sold without fittings included. This is done so that the user can select the fittings for the desired hose. The most common types of fittings are compression (with a union nut) and herringbone (fittings are used). Fittings are straight and angled. Fittings also differ in the type of thread. In computer SVOs, threads of the G1/4″ standard are more common, less often G1/8″ or G3/8″.

Computer water cooling:

Herringbone fittings from Bitspower:

Bitspower Compression Fittings:

Water is also an obligatory component of SVO. It is best to refill with distilled water (purified from impurities by distillation). Deionized water is also used, but it has no significant differences from distilled water, it is only produced in a different way. You can use special mixtures or water with various additives. But using tap or bottled water for drinking is not recommended.

Optional components are components without which the SVO can operate reliably and do not affect performance. They make the operation of the SVO more convenient.

The reservoir (expansion tank) is considered an optional component of the cooling system, although it is present in most water cooling systems. Reservoir systems are more convenient to refill. The volume of water in the reservoir is not important; it does not affect the performance of the water treatment system. There are a variety of tank shapes and they are selected based on ease of installation.

Magicool Tubular Tank:

The drain tap is used to conveniently drain water from the water supply system circuit. It is closed in the normal state, and opens when it is necessary to drain water from the system.

Koolance drain tap:

Sensors, indicators and meters. Quite a lot of different meters, controllers, and sensors for air defense systems are produced. Among them there are electronic sensors for water temperature, pressure and water flow, controllers that coordinate the operation of fans with temperature, water movement indicators, and so on. Pressure and water flow sensors are needed only in systems designed to test components of the water supply system, since this information is simply unimportant for the average user.

Electronic flow sensor from AquaCompute:

Filter. Some water cooling systems are equipped with a filter included in the circuit. It is designed to filter out various small particles that have entered the system (dust, soldering residues, sediment).

Water additives and various mixtures. In addition to water, various additives can be used. Some are designed to protect against corrosion, others to prevent bacteria from growing in the system or discoloring the water. They also produce ready-made mixtures containing water, anti-corrosion additives and dye. There are ready-made mixtures that increase the productivity of the water treatment system, but the increase in productivity from them is possible only insignificantly. You can find liquids for water treatment systems that are not water-based, but use a special dielectric liquid. Such liquid does not conduct electricity and will not cause a short circuit if it leaks onto PC components. Distilled water also does not conduct current, but if it spills and gets on dusty areas of the PC, it can become electrically conductive. There is no need for a dielectric liquid, because a well-tested SVO does not leak and is sufficiently reliable. It is also important to follow the instructions for the additives. There is no need to pour them in excess, this can lead to disastrous consequences.

Green fluorescent dye:

A backplate is a special mounting plate that is needed to relieve the PCB of the motherboard or video card from the force created by the waterblock fastenings, and to reduce the bending of the PCB, reducing the risk of breakage. The backplate is not a mandatory component, but is very common in SVO.

Branded backplate from Watercool:

Secondary water blocks. Sometimes, additional water blocks are installed on low-heating components. These components include: RAM, power transistors, power supply circuits, hard drives and the south bridge. The optionality of such components for a water cooling system is that they do not improve overclocking and do not provide any additional system stability or other noticeable results. This is due to the low heat generation of such elements and the ineffectiveness of using water blocks for them. The positive side of installing such water blocks can only be called the appearance, but the disadvantage is the increase in hydraulic resistance in the circuit and, accordingly, an increase in the cost of the entire system.

Water block for power transistors on the motherboard from EK Waterblocks

In addition to the mandatory and optional components of the CBO, there is also a category of hybrid components. There are components on sale that represent two or more CBO components in one device. Among such devices are known: hybrids of a pump with a processor water block, radiators for air coolers combined with a built-in pump and reservoir. Such components significantly reduce the space they take up and are more convenient to install. But such components are not very suitable for upgrading.

Selecting a water heating system

There are three main types of CBOs: external, internal and built-in. They differ in the location of their main components relative to the computer case (radiator/heat exchanger, reservoir, pump).

External water cooling systems are made in the form of a separate module (“box”), which is connected using hoses to water blocks that are installed on components in the PC case itself. The housing of an external water cooling system almost always includes a radiator with fans, a reservoir, a pump, and, sometimes, a power supply for the pump with sensors. Among external systems, Zalman water cooling systems of the Reserator family are well known. Such systems are installed as a separate module, and their convenience lies in the fact that the user does not need to modify or alter the case of his computer. Their only inconvenience is their size and it becomes more difficult to move the computer even short distances, for example, to another room.

External passive CBO Zalman Reserator:

The built-in cooling system is built into the case and is sold complete with it. This option is the easiest to use, because the entire SVO is already mounted in the housing, and there are no bulky structures outside. The disadvantages of such a system include the high cost and the fact that the old PC case will be useless.

Internal water cooling systems are located entirely inside the PC case. Sometimes, some components of the internal cooling system (mainly the radiator) are installed on the outer surface of the case. The advantage of internal air defense systems is ease of portability. There is no need to drain the liquid during transportation. Also, when installing internal SVOs, the appearance of the case does not suffer, and when modding, the SVO can perfectly decorate the case of your computer.

Overclocked Orange Project:

The disadvantages of internal water cooling systems are that they are difficult to install and require modifications to the chassis in many cases. Also, internal SVO adds several kilograms of weight to your body.

Planning and installation of the SVO

Water cooling, unlike air cooling, requires some planning before installation. After all, liquid cooling imposes some limitations that must be taken into account.

During installation, you should always keep convenience in mind. It is necessary to leave free space so that further work with the SVO and components does not cause difficulties. It is necessary that the water tubes pass freely inside the housing and between the components.

In addition, the flow of liquid should not be limited by anything. As the coolant passes through each water block, it heats up. To reduce this problem, a circuit with parallel coolant paths is being considered. With this approach, the water flow is less stressed, and the water block of each component receives water that is not heated by other components.

The Koolance EXOS-2 kit is well known. It is designed to work with 3/8″ connecting tubing.

When planning the location of your CBO, it is recommended to first draw a simple diagram. Having drawn a plan on paper, we begin the actual assembly and installation. It is necessary to lay out all the parts of the system on the table and approximately measure the required length of the tubes. It is advisable to leave a margin and not cut it too short.

When the preparatory work is done, you can begin installing the water blocks. On the back side of the motherboard behind the processor there is a metal bracket for securing the Koolance cooling head for the processor. This mounting bracket is equipped with a plastic gasket to prevent short circuits with the motherboard.

Then the heatsink attached to the north bridge of the motherboard is removed. The example uses a Biostar 965PT motherboard, in which the chipset is cooled using a passive radiator.

When the chipset heatsink is removed, you need to install the water block fastening elements for the chipset. After installing these elements, the motherboard is placed back into the PC case. Remember to remove old thermal paste from the processor and chipset before applying a thin layer of new one.

After this, the water blocks are carefully installed on the processor. Do not press them with force. Using force can damage components.

Then work is done with the video card. It is necessary to remove the existing radiator and replace it with a water block. Once the water blocks are installed, you can connect the tubes and insert the video card into the PCI Express slot.

When all the water blocks are installed, all remaining pipes should be connected. The last one to connect is the tube leading to the external unit of the SVO. Check the correct direction of water flow: the cooled liquid must first flow into the processor water block.

After all this work is completed, water is poured into the tank. The tank should only be filled to the level specified in the instructions. Carefully monitor all fasteners and at the slightest sign of leakage, fix the problem immediately.

If everything is assembled correctly and there are no leaks, you need to pump the coolant to remove air bubbles. For the Koolance EXOS-2 system, you need to short-circuit the contacts on the ATX power supply, and supply power to the water pump, without supplying power to the motherboard.

Let the system operate in this mode for a while, and carefully tilt the computer to one side or the other to get rid of air bubbles. Once all bubbles have escaped, add coolant if necessary. If air bubbles are no longer visible, you can start the system completely. Now you can test the effectiveness of the installed SVO. Although water cooling for PCs is still a rarity for ordinary users, its benefits are undeniable.

Radiators and coolers - it’s not even that interesting to write about this, because all this has been in any computer for a long time and this will not surprise anyone. Liquid nitrogen and all sorts of systems with a phase transition are another extreme, the chances of encountering which in the household of an ordinary person are almost zero. But “dropsy”... in the matter of cooling a computer, this is like a golden mean - unusual, but accessible; It makes almost no noise, but at the same time anything can cool down. To be fair, it is more correct to call a water cooling system (water cooling system) a liquid cooling system (liquid cooling system), because, in fact, you can pour anything inside. But, looking ahead, I used ordinary water, so I will use the term SVO more.

Quite recently, I wrote in some detail about assembling a new system unit. The resulting stand looked like this:

A thoughtful study of the list suggests that the heat dissipation of some devices is not just high, but VERY high. And if you connect everything as is, then inside even the most spacious case it will be at least hot; but as practice shows, it will also be very noisy.

Let me remind you that the case in which the computer is assembled is, although not very practical (although every time I am convinced of the opposite), but very presentable Thermaltake Level 10– he has his drawbacks, but for his appearance alone he can be forgiven a lot.

At this stage, the motherboard was installed in the case, a video card was installed in it - first in the topmost PCI slot.

Radiator/pump/tank installation

One of the most interesting stages of work, which took us the most time (if we had immediately followed the easy path, we would have completed it in half an hour, but first we tried all the difficult options, because of which all the work took a total of 2 days (of course, far from complete).

The water cooling system is very similar to the one used in cars, just a little larger - it also has a radiator (usually more than one), cooler, coolant, etc. But the car has one advantage - a solid oncoming flow of cold air, which plays a key role in cooling the system while driving.

In the case of a computer, heat must be removed by the air in the room. Accordingly, the larger the radiator size and the number of coolers, the better. And since you want a minimum of noise, effective cooling will be achieved mainly due to the surface of the radiator.

And the essence of the problem was as follows. On Skype, we previously agreed on the opinion “we’ll hang it on the back of the radiator in 2-3 sections - it’s more than enough!”, but as soon as we looked at the body, it turned out that everything is not so simple. Firstly, there really wasn’t enough space there for a three-section radiator (if you attach the radiator to the hole where the blow-out cooler of the case is supposed to be installed), and secondly, even if there was enough space, there would be no way to open the case itself - it would get in the way "door" of the system compartment :)

In general, we counted at least four options for installing a radiator in the Thermaltake Level 10 case - all of them are possible, each would require a different amount of time and each would have its own pros and cons. I'll start with those that we considered, but which did not suit us:

1. Installing the radiator on the rear (away from the user) side, that is, on the removable door.
Pros:
+ Possibility of horizontal and vertical installation of any radiator, even for 3-4 coolers
+ The dimensions of the case would not increase much

Minuses:
- You would have to drill from 4 to 6-8 holes in the door
- Removing the door would be very inconvenient
- With a horizontal arrangement, a radiator with a non-standard location of the hole for filling the liquid would be required
- If installed vertically, the hoses would be very long and with a large bend
- The case will be on my left (on the windowsill), and I don’t need warm air from the coolers in my face :)

2. Installing the radiator on top, on the “casing” of the power supply compartment. Pros and cons are identical

3. Installation of a two-section radiator inside the system compartment

Pros:
+ Ease of solution
+ Externally there would be no changes
+ The system compartment door would open without problems

Minuses:
- Only a 2-section radiator would be suitable (this is not enough for the hardware config)
- In this case, there would be no place for the cold air to come from, and I didn’t want to push warm air back and forth.
- There would be difficulties in “arranging” the pump and reservoir
- Even if you use ultra-thin coolers, all SATA connectors would be blocked (if they were brought out to the user, and not to the side, then this problem would not exist)

In general, we tried all these options to one degree or another - we spent a lot of time searching for the necessary components, trying them on, etc.

The latest option turned out to be a rather unusual solution - maybe not the most beautiful at first glance, but really practical. This is the installation of a radiator on the back side of the case through a special adjustable adapter with a scissor-type mechanism.

Pros:
+ Didn't have to drill anything
+ Possibility to hang ANY radiator
+ Excellent airflow
+ Access to the motherboard connectors was not blocked
+ Minimum hose length, minimum bends
+ The design is removable and transportable

Minuses:
- Not the most presentable appearance :)
- Opening the system compartment door is no longer so easy
- Quite an expensive adapter

Why did we come to this option last? Because during the search for the previous three options, we completely accidentally found an adapter that everyone had forgotten about, and it wasn’t available in the online store) Looking at the only (last) copy of the mounting frame Koolance Radiator Mounting Bracket, I thought “Whatever they won’t come up with!” The point is this: 4 “cone nails” are inserted into the holes for attaching the rear blow-out cooler to the body, onto which a special frame is hung.

The design of this frame is such that its length can be changed by twisting the clamps, and it is removed by mixing two parts of its body (so that the holes open up and it can be removed from the “studs”) - I bent it!) It’s much easier to understand everything from the photo.

The frame is metal and very durable - I was convinced of this when we tested a 3-section (for 3 coolers) radiator. Nothing dangles or sways, everything hangs tightly, but in the “unclamped” case the door opened quite well - this option completely suited me!

There were a huge number of radiators to choose from - black, white, red... What surprised me most in this matter was the 4-section TFC Monsta, capable of removing up to 2600W of heat (this is apparently an SLI of four 480s)! But we are much simpler people, so we decided to stick with the radiator we tried on - Swiftech MCR320-DRIVE. Its advantage is that it combines three components at once - a radiator (MCR320 QP Radiator for three 120mm coolers), a fluid reservoir and a high-pressure pump ( MCP350 Pump, a complete analogue of a “regular” pump Laing DDC). In fact, with such a piece of hardware for the SVO, you will only need to buy additional water blocks, hoses and other little things that we already had. The pump operates from 12V (from 8 to 13.2), producing a noise of 24~26 dBA. The maximum pressure created is 1.5 bar, which is approximately equal to 1.5 “atmospheres”.

There were three candidate coolers for the radiator: Noctua, Be Quiet And Scythe. As a result, we settled on Indonesian ones (with Japanese roots) Scythe Gentle Typhoon(120mm, 1450 rpm, 21 dBA) – these turntables have been in great demand among many users for several days. They are very quiet, and the quality of bearing balancing is simply amazing - the cooler will spin for an unnaturally long time even with the lightest touch. The service life is 100,000 hours at 30°C (or 60,000 hours at 60°C), which is enough to obsolete this system unit.

There was a review of these “typhoons” on the FC Center - I advise you to read it. Protective grilles were placed on top of the coolers to prevent children from putting anything vital into the fans.

Let's try the resulting design on the system unit - it looks very unusual) But look how convenient it is - to get inside the case (or remove the cooling system), you just need to press one “button” and the entire structure is, in fact, already disconnected. We squeeze the mounting frame and have full access to the insides - it’s more than spacious, because we didn’t pile anything in there. Maybe I didn’t describe the most convenient option, but... considering that after assembling the computer you practically won’t have to climb inside, and good cooling is much more important, then I consider our decision to be correct.

The assembled structure weighs 2.25 kilograms, and with liquid and fittings, probably all 3 - looking ahead, the frame from Koolance was able to handle even this weight, for which it deserves respect and respect :)

Finish line

All that’s left to do is install all the components, “tie it with water” and test the resulting computer. It all started with the installation of fittings - beautiful pieces of iron (in the form of “herringbones”), which are installed through special gaskets (and sometimes, when the thread of the fitting is very long, through special spacers) into the corresponding hole in the water block or tank - we used a small adjustable wrench to tighten it , but here it is also important not to overdo it.

In addition to the fittings, special plugs were installed in two holes of the video card water block:

After that, we thought about the route along which the water would flow. The rule is simple - from less heated to more heated. Accordingly, the “output” of the radiator is connected first to the water block of the motherboard, from there the output goes to the processor, then to the video card, and only then back to the input of the radiator to cool. Since the water is the same for everyone, the temperature of all components will be approximately the same as a result - it is for these reasons that multi-circuit systems are made, and it is for this reason that it does not make sense to connect all sorts of hard drives, RAM, etc. to one circuit.

The role of the hose went to red Feser Tube(PVC, operating temperature from -30 to +70°C, burst pressure 10 MPa), for cutting which a special predatory tool was used.

Cutting the hose straight may not be that difficult, but it is very important! Almost all hoses were equipped with special springs against bends and kinks in the hose (the minimum radius of the hose loop becomes ~3.5 cm).

On each hose (on both sides) in the fitting area you need to install a “clamp” - we used beautiful Koolance Hose Clamp. They are installed using ordinary pliers (with brute force), so you need to act carefully so as not to accidentally hit something.

It's time to work on connecting the "inner world" with the "outer world." In order to be able to remove the radiator-reservoir-pump (for example, to open the case or for transportation), we installed so-called “quick release valves” (quick-release valves) on the tubes, the principle of operation of which is outrageously simple.

When we turn the connection (like with BNC connectors), the hole in the tube closes and opens, thanks to which we can disassemble the “dropsy” in less than a minute, without any puddles or other consequences. A couple more expensive but great looking pieces of hardware:

Expenses

5110 - EK FB RE3 Nickel water block for motherboard
3660 - EK-FC480 GTX Nickel+Plexi water block for video card
1065 - EK-FC480 GTX Backplate Nickel for video card
2999 - Enzotech Stealth water block for processor
9430 - Pump/radiator/reservoir Swiftech MCR320-DRIVE
2610 - Two Release Coupling Valve
4000 - Koolance Radiator Mounting Bracket Adapter
1325 - Three Scythe Gentle Typhoon coolers (120mm) for radiator
290 - Four EK-10mm High Flow Fitting
430 - Thermal paste Arctic-Cooling-MX-3
400 - Nine Koolance Hose Clamp
365 - Nanoxia HyperZero Liquid
355 - Feser Tube

Such a high price in this case is due to the fact that fullcover water blocks were used for VERY hot pieces of hardware, all the heat from which must be dissipated by an appropriate radiator. For simpler systems, such solutions are simply not needed; you can also do without decorative overlays and any quick-release valves - in such cases you can easily meet half the cost. The price of the average dropsy is 12-15 thousand rubles, which is 4-5 times higher than the cost of a really good processor cooler.

Switching on and working

After all the system components were connected, it was time for the “leak test” (leakage test) - coolant was poured into the radiator (twice distilled Nanoxia HyperZero red water, with anti-corrosion and anti-biological additives) - the circuit entered the order 500 ml.

The guy in the habramike is filling up the radiator)

Because It is impossible to exclude the possibility that something was connected to the computer components incorrectly; it was decided to separately check the operation of the water cooling system itself. To do this, all the wires (from the coolers and from the pump) were connected, and a paperclip was inserted into the 24-pin connector of the power supply for “idling”. Just in case, we put napkins underneath to make the slightest leak easier to detect.

Press a button and... everything is as planned) Honestly, before this I had only seen dropsy (besides the Internet) at various exhibitions and competitions, where it was very noisy; therefore, I subconsciously prepared for the “murmur of a stream,” but the noise level was pleasantly surprising - for the most part, only the pump’s operation could be heard. Initially, there were “hissing” sounds - due to air bubbles located inside the circuit (they were visible in some places in the hoses). To solve this problem, the plug of the radiator tank was opened - the air gradually escaped from the circulation of the flow and the system began to work even quieter. After adding fluid, the plug was closed and the computer worked for another 10 minutes. No noise was heard from the power supply cooler or the three on the radiator, although their air flows made themselves felt.

Having made sure that the system was fully operational, we decided to finally assemble a test bench. Connecting the wires took no more than a minute - it took much longer to look for the monitor and the wire to connect it, because... everyone worked on laptops;) The phrase “Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key” became a balm for the soul - we inserted one of the “working” SSD drives (with Windows 7 on board) - It's good that the new computer accepted this option. For complete happiness, we just updated the drivers for the chipset and installed the drivers for the video card.

Launching the diagnostic monster Everest, where on one of the tabs we find the temperature sensor readings: 30°C was valid for all system components - CPU, GPU and motherboard - well, very pleasant numbers. The equality of the numbers led to the assumption that cooling in idle mode is limited by room temperature, because the temperature in ordinary dropsy cannot be lower than this. In any case, it is much more interesting to see what the situation will be under load.

15 minutes of “office work” and the video card temperature rose to 35°C.

We start by checking the CPU, for which we use the program OCCT 3.1.0– after quite a long time in 100% load mode, the maximum processor temperature was 38°C, and the core temperature was 49-55°C, respectively. The temperature of the motherboard was 31°C, the northbridge - 38°C, the southbridge - 39°C. By the way, it is very remarkable that all four processor cores had almost the same temperature - apparently, this is the merit of the water block, which removes heat evenly from the entire surface of the processor cover. 50+ degrees for 4-core Intel Core i7-930 with a TDP of 130W – hardly any stock air cooler is capable of achieving such a result. And even if it is capable, then hardly anyone will like the noise from its operation (the Internet says that the temperature of this processor is 65-70 degrees with a Cooler Master V10 cooler - the one with a Peltier element).

Out of habit, the video card was warmed up with the program FurMark 1.8.2(in common parlance “donut”) - it was hardly possible to whip up something more resource-intensive and informative.

In addition to Everest, the program was also installed EVGA Precision 2.0. At the maximum available resolution (with maximum smoothing), we ran a stress test with temperature logging - after just 3 minutes, the video card temperature settled at 52 degrees! 52 degrees under load for the top (currently) NVIDIA GTX 480 video card based on Fermi architecture is not just great, it’s wonderful!)

For comparison, the temperature of a video card under load with a standard cooler can reach up to 100 degrees, and with a good non-reference cooler - up to 70-80.

In general, the temperature regime is in perfect order - under load, the coolers blow almost cold air out of the radiator, and the radiator itself is barely warm. I won’t talk about overclocking potential in this article, I’ll just say that it exists. But something completely different is much more pleasant - the system works almost silently!

The end

You can talk for a long time about the result, but I liked it, as did everyone who had already watched it. Whatever one may say, in the Thermaltake Level 10 case I managed to assemble a more than productive config that will be relevant for a long time. Moreover, a full-fledged water cooling system installed almost without problems, which, in addition to good cooling of the filling, gives +5 to the appearance. Speaking about the temperature regime, we can safely talk about a solid potential for overclocking - now, even under load, the cooling system is operating far from its maximum capabilities.

I forgot to write about another important plus - interestingness. This is probably the most interesting thing I've ever done with hardware - no other computer building has brought me so much pleasure! It’s one thing when you collect ordinary “soulless” computers, it’s a completely different thing when you understand all the responsibility and approach the matter with all your heart. Such work takes far from 5 minutes - all this time you feel like a child playing with an adult construction set. And also an engineer-technologist-designer-plumbing-designer, and just a geek... in general, the interest is greatly increased!

Good luck and frosty freshness!

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Modern computers increasingly need a high-quality cooling system. This rule especially applies to those models that are subject to high loads due to their specificity. Classic air cooling does not always cope with its task, and also makes a lot of noise, so water cooling has appeared as an alternative. All its features, advantages and disadvantages will be discussed further.

Advantages of a water cooling system

In most cases, water cooling systems do not have cold-producing elements in their design. Cooling occurs due to the air near the walls of the system unit. To make cooling even more efficient, a water cooling system can be combined with an air cooling system. However, most often there is no need for this.

To achieve the same cooling effect from conventional coolers and radiators, you will have to build bulky structures inside the system unit, which will make too much noise. In the case of water cooling, there is practically no noise, and such a system takes up a little less space.

You also need to understand that the effectiveness of the cooling system depends on the liquid that circulates through the tubes. Instead of ordinary water, there may be special cooling solutions. They provide better cooling for the computer, but some of them are recommended to be changed at certain intervals, which entails additional maintenance costs.

However, in addition to the obvious advantages of such a cooling system, it also has certain disadvantages:

• Difficulty in installing the structure;
• Any leak can mean a quick breakdown of the computer;
• The price of such a cooling system is much higher than its air counterparts.

Water cooling system design

Any water cooling system will necessarily contain elements that will be discussed below. Based on this description, you can assemble it yourself or select a ready-made system.

Water block

This is the most important element, which is responsible for cooling the processor and video card. It is attached directly to their surface and connected to the tubes through which water or other coolant is supplied to it.

When choosing this element, you must first of all pay attention to the material from which its bottom is made and the bottom topography itself. Copper or aluminum models allow for better heat transfer from the processor/video card and are therefore more efficient. Models with various irregularities on the bottom also cope with their task much better than their counterparts with a flat bottom. However, this bottom design reduces the speed of water movement in the system, which is also not very good, since for normal circulation you will need to purchase a more powerful pump.

water pump

Many people believe that it is best to purchase a powerful pump, as it provides better water circulation. This opinion is partly erroneous, since the main function of the pump is to ensure the optimal speed of water movement through the system so that it does not stagnate in the tubes and does not overheat. If your entire system consists of a pair of tubes and a water block with a flat bottom surface, then there is no point in purchasing a powerful pump.

It’s another matter if you have an ornate system of tubes installed, which also have sharp changes in height, plus several water blocks with an uneven bottom. In this case, it is definitely better to buy a pump with a certain power reserve.

Radiator

In most cases, this is also a mandatory component of the cooling system. The radiator must be made of materials with high thermal conductivity. Ideally, these should be metals, such as copper or aluminum. The design of the radiator is a special block of metal plates. Usually it comes with a fan to provide air cooling as well.
Advanced radiators can be equipped with several fans of different power. There are also complex structures made of metal plates and tubes that provide heat removal functions. Sometimes the radiator in a PC liquid cooling system can be a full-fledged air cooling system.

However, do not forget about the original purpose of the radiator - to dissipate heat. For this, in most cases, one low-power fan and several metal plates installed in the right places will be enough.

Connecting tubes

They are needed to distribute coolant throughout the system. Must be thick and strong enough to avoid possible leaks, which could lead to fatal consequences. Recommended tube cross-sectional sizes range from 6 to 13 mm. With such a cross-section, they do not take up much space and facilitate the unhindered flow of coolant.

Tubes can also be divided into transparent and opaque. The former are usually more durable, although there are exceptions. The latter are often chosen in cases where, in addition to solving a practical problem, the water cooling system should also decorate the computer. For example, in cases where colored liquid flows through tubes.

Coolant

Almost always this role is played by ordinary distilled water. Quite often, special impurities are added to it, for example, to reduce corrosive properties, as well as to destroy bacteria, which over time lead to the formation of microalgae in it and the water changes color. There are also special additives to give the liquid in the tubes an aesthetic effect. For example, those who make water glow in the dark.

Classification of liquid cooling systems

There are two main types of liquid cooling systems on the market, which will be discussed in more detail below. Depending on the class, the process and complexity of installation, as well as the process of operating the system, changes.

Maintenance-free

The easiest to install and operate. It is delivered from the factory fully assembled and filled with coolant. It may already be installed on your computer. There are also varieties that you need to install yourself. The manufacturer specifically makes them in such a way that they can be installed in most computers.

The main disadvantages of such a system are usually noted:

• Difficulty of repair. All elements of the system are sealed to each other almost tightly. On the one hand, this makes depressurization almost impossible, but on the other hand, replacing a damaged system element will be very expensive and difficult, if not impossible;
• Difficulty in replacing coolant. Since such systems are extremely sealed, water does not disappear from the pipes. But it is still recommended to change it every few years. Unfortunately, not all such systems have filling holes;
• The price of such a system may be higher than its closest analogue;
• The system cannot be upgraded in any way or used for computers with a non-standard design. Everything is limited only by those solutions that the manufacturer itself offers.

The advantages include:

• Ease of installation. It is installed into the system no more complicated than a radiator with a cooler;
• Extremely low probability of leakage;
• Works great with the designs for which it was originally developed by the manufacturer.

Serviceable liquid cooling system

This system is supplied as separate parts. Its assembly and installation requires more time, skill and experience. But it can be modified at will. There are also virtually no restrictions imposed by the manufacturer. There are no difficulties with repairs or replacement of certain elements.

Any water cooling system, regardless of its type, must be supported by the motherboard socket. Otherwise, you will have to adapt the entire system to a different socket by purchasing the appropriate water block. However, this can only be done in the case of serviced life-support systems.

What else should you pay attention to when choosing a life support system?

In addition to those basic parameters that it is recommended to pay attention to first when choosing a cooling system, be sure to also consider these:

• Number of fans in the system. As a rule, they do not have a strong impact on the efficiency of the entire system, but the more there are, the lower the noise produced will be. This is more relevant for systems where one way or another requires installing at least one fan. If you decide to install the system without them at all, then this point can be ignored;
• Maximum air flow. This parameter is specific to the radiator and is calculated in feet per minute (denoted CFM). Determines the volume of air passed through. The higher the values, the higher the fan contribution to the radiator operation. For large radiators with a high CFM coefficient, you will have to buy more powerful fans;
• Radiator material. Almost as important a parameter as its design. It is recommended to choose options that use pure copper or copper with alloys. Choose aluminum options in cases where the radiator has a complex structure and a large area;
• Water block material. This is an important parameter that you need to pay attention to. It is recommended to take water blocks only from copper. The thing is that they have a small area and, as a rule, the design is not too intricate;
• Maximum noise level produced by the cooling system. For LSS this is not such an important parameter as for air cooling systems. But still, if the design contains at least one fan, then you need to pay attention to the noise level. Ideally, it should be around 30-40 dB for comfortable work at the computer;
• The presence of lighting, transparent pipes and other decorative elements. These are optional design components, but if you want to somehow “diversify” the appearance of your work machine, then installing such “beauty” only makes sense in cases with a transparent wall.

As you can see, when choosing a liquid cooling system for a PC, you need to take into account certain parameters. It is also worth considering the possibility that during assembly and installation of the system you will have to purchase missing kits.

Often, after purchasing a computer, the user is faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as loud noise coming from the cooling fans. The operating system may malfunction due to the processor or video card heating to high temperatures (90°C or more). These are very significant shortcomings, which can be eliminated with the help of an additional water cooling installed on the PC. How to make a system with your own hands?

Liquid cooling, its positive properties and disadvantages

The operating principle of a computer liquid cooling system (LCC) is based on the use of an appropriate coolant. Due to constant circulation, the liquid flows to those components whose temperature conditions need to be controlled and regulated. Then the coolant flows through the hoses into the radiator, where it cools, giving off heat to the air, which is then removed outside the system unit using ventilation.

The liquid, having a higher thermal conductivity compared to air, quickly stabilizes the temperature of hardware resources such as the processor and graphics chip, bringing them to normal. As a result, you can achieve a significant increase in PC performance through system overclocking. In this case, the reliability of the computer components will not be compromised.

When using SZhOK, you can do without fans at all or use low-power, silent models. The computer operation becomes quiet, making the user feel comfortable.

The disadvantages of SJOC include its high cost. Yes, a ready-made liquid cooling system is not a cheap pleasure. But if you wish, you can make and install it yourself. It will take time, but will not cost much.

Classification of cooling water systems

Liquid cooling systems can be:

1. By type of accommodation:
   • external;
   • internal.
     

     The difference between external and internal LCS is where the system is located: outside or inside the system unit.

2. According to the connection diagram:
   • parallel - with this connection, the wiring goes from the main radiator-heat exchanger to each water block that provides cooling for the processor, video card or other component / element of the computer;
   • sequential - each water block is connected to each other;
   • combined - this scheme includes simultaneously parallel and serial connections.
3. According to the method of ensuring fluid circulation:
   • pump-type - the system uses the principle of forced injection of coolant to water blocks. Pumps are used as a supercharger. They can have their own sealed housing or be immersed in coolant located in a separate tank;
   • pumpless - the liquid circulates due to evaporation, which creates pressure that moves the coolant in a given direction. The cooled element, heating up, turns the liquid supplied to it into steam, which then becomes liquid again in the radiator. In terms of characteristics, such systems are significantly inferior to pump-type SZhOK.

Types of SZhOK - gallery

When using a serial connection, it is difficult to continuously provide refrigerant to all connected nodes. The parallel connection diagram of the LCC is a simple connection with the ability to easily calculate the characteristics of the cooled units. A system unit with an internal LCC takes up a lot of space inside the computer case and requires high qualifications during installation
When using an external LCS, the internal space of the system unit remains free

Components, tools and materials for assembling SZhOC

Let's select the necessary kit for liquid cooling of the computer's central processor. The composition of the SJOC will include:

• water block;
• radiator;
• two fans;
• water pump;
• hoses;
• fitting;
• liquid reservoir;
• the liquid itself (you can pour distilled water or antifreeze into the circuit).

All components of the liquid cooling system can be purchased in the online store upon request.

Some components and parts, for example, a water block, radiator, fittings, and tank, can be made independently. However, you will likely have to order turning and milling work. As a result, it may turn out that the SJOC will cost more than if you had purchased it ready-made.

The most acceptable and least expensive option would be to purchase the main components and parts, and then install the system yourself. In this case, it is enough to have a basic set of plumbing tools to perform all the necessary work.

Making a liquid PC cooling system with your own hands - video

Manufacturing, assembly and installation

Let's consider the manufacture of an external pump liquid cooling system for a PC central processor.

1. Let's start with the water block. The simplest model of this unit can be purchased in the online store. It comes immediately with fittings and clamps.
2. You can also make a water block yourself. In this case, you will need a copper blank with a diameter of 70 mm and a length of 5–7 cm, as well as the ability to order turning and milling work in a technical workshop. The result will be a homemade water block, which, upon completion of all manipulations, will need to be coated with car varnish to prevent oxidation.
3. To mount the water block, you can use the holes on the motherboard in the place where the air-cooling radiator with fan was originally installed. Metal stands are inserted into the holes, onto which strips cut from fluoroplastic are attached, pressing the water block to the processor.
4. It is best to purchase a ready-made radiator.
   

   Some craftsmen use radiators from old cars.

5. Depending on the size, one or two standard computer fans are attached to the radiator using rubber gaskets and cable ties or using self-tapping screws.
6. As a hose, you can use a regular liquid level made from a silicone tube, cutting it off on both sides.
7. Not a single SZhOK can do without fittings, because it is through them that the hoses are connected to all components of the system.
8. It is recommended to use a small aquarium pump as a blower, which can be purchased at a pet store. It is attached to the prepared coolant reservoir using suction cups.
9. Any plastic food container with a lid can be used as a liquid reservoir that acts as an expansion tank. The main thing is that the pump fits there.
10. To make it possible to add liquid, the neck of any plastic bottle with a screw is cut into the lid of the container.
11. The power supply of all components of the SZhOK is output to a separate plug for connection from a computer.
12. At the final stage, all SZhOK units are fixed on a sheet of plexiglass selected to size, all hoses are connected and fixed with clamps, the power plug is connected to the computer, the system is filled with distilled water or antifreeze. After starting the PC, coolant immediately begins to flow to the central processor.

Do-it-yourself water block on a computer - video

Water cooling is superior in performance to the air system originally installed on modern computers. Due to the coolant used instead of fans, background noise is reduced. The computer is much quieter. You can make an SJOC with your own hands, while ensuring reliable protection of the main elements and components of the computer (processor, video card, etc.) from overheating.