Liquid Cooling Myths

[shazza]

I've been doing some reading, going back through info published in the last 10 years, and got to thinking about the "Myths" or common misconceptions people have about water cooling. I thought it would be interesting to see what the group here thinks are the most common myths/misunderstandings still prevalent today.

I'm thinking about "principles" here, not specific products, so please don't mention brand or vendor names. Thanks - it will be interesting to see what the group thinks.

[Avathar77]

Res before Pump?
CPU before GPU?
No angled connectors(45 or 90 degree)?

is i some thing like that?

[shazza]

Yeah, Avathar - that's the general idea.

Example of a Myth - Slower water flow is better because the water has more time to cool in the radiator ...

[Kayin]

Yeah. Something like that. Res before pump makes for easy filling, but I've filled loops other ways. CPU before GPU is common sense-CPUs don't heat up like GPUs, but eventually you'll get equilibrium, so you could conceivably do it the other way. New angled connectors are better than old ones-the restriction is largely gone, and we see many of them in many builds nowadays.

[CrazyNutz]

Here's a myth: It seems a lot of people think you must use a uber powerful pump if you mount a rad on top of your case.

[Avathar77]

what about vertically climbing tubes hampering the flow/pressure?

[CrazyNutz]

what about vertically climbing tubes hampering the flow/pressure?

What goes up, must come down. Equilibrium my friend

[defect9]

and the idea that flow has some kind of big effect on temps...

[NaeKuh]

Res before Pump?
CPU before GPU?
No angled connectors(45 or 90 degree)?

is i some thing like that?

CPU b4 GPU... can be possible.. depends on how many gpu's u have, as having 2 can increase the water temp b4 it hits cpu while in loop... your playing with holding capacity of H2O here... Anytime u go over 350W of heat collected... your going to be playing with holding capacity.

No angled connectors - applies still to nylon fittings.

Res B4 pump - Is meant for bleeding if anything... typically its res in the highest location so you can use gravity to move water down to the pump in the lowest possition.
I do know one thing tho.... NO RD-30 b4 RES and NO RD-30 without CLAMPS! <---- not a myth.

Here's a myth: It seems a lot of people think you must use a uber powerful pump if you mount a rad on top of your case.

Depends on how much travel your loop needs to do.

Even if the tubing is laid out flat, you still have restriction. A closed loop uses a mix of gravity with convection, and were using a pump to increase water movement.
If your loop is complicated.. has a full board block and is a spiders web, your flow will drop considerably below the 1gpm mark we recommend, which can lead to your system being very inefficient.

Strong pump also makes it easy to PURGE / Bleed your system when you build if setup properly.

and the idea that flow has some kind of big effect on temps...

your kidding right? after 1gpm - 1.5gpm... it wont variate with more flow unless u have more heat... watercooling is about harmony.. its not about shoving the most radiators inside a case to win..
You match the amount water picks up which translates to holding capacity in flow... then goes to the exchanger where it releases and then you got a rince and repeat.

What goes up, must come down. Equilibrium my friend

OMG...
This ONLY applies to open loop my friend.

In a closed loop, you got 0 net movement.. because what is pulling up is being canceled by whats going down so you initially got 0 movement. The Kinetic Value in the system is negated by the potential value.
Once heat is added, you got convection (adding energy)... warm water wanting to go to the highest point while cold dropping.




OMG seriously WTF has happened to this forum while i was gone?

[Avathar77]

Yeah. Something like that. Res before pump makes for easy filling, but I've filled loops other ways. CPU before GPU is common sense-CPUs don't heat up like GPUs, but eventually you'll get equilibrium, so you could conceivably do it the other way. New angled connectors are better than old ones-the restriction is largely gone, and we see many of them in many builds nowadays.

I have planned my loop with GPU before CPU.
Just because it is easier and neater.

[DarthBeavis]

what about the myth that water-cooling gets you more chicks

[CrazyNutz]

OMG...
This is open loop my friend.

In a closed loop, you got 0 net movement.. becuase what is pulling up is being canceled by whats going down so you got 0 movement.
In an active system you got convection... warm water wanting to go to the highest point while cold dropping.

WTH are you talking about???? LOL

I'm saying when you put water up (forced with a pump) it will come down, and with gravity on its side to help the pump put it back up again. IN A CLOSED LOOP!!
Essentially creating a Equilibrium. It's balanced like two kids that weigh the same on a teeter totter. Jeez!!!!!

[NaeKuh]

Myth: EVERYONE NEEDS A PA120.9 to get decient watercooling...


ONCE AGAIN..
watercooling is done on harmony..

You figure out how much heat water is going to carry, with that you translate on how big of radiator you need to hold it at X dT using X fans.
Then you use flow to see if your water will go up X degree's in C while transporting heat to the radiator.

Bigger is not always better.


Myth: Red coolant gives you the best performance..
NO! its PINK COOLANT DAMMIT!!! <--- sarcasm.

what about the myth that water-cooling gets you more chicks

debunked... cuz i think u got married B4 u watercooled.. which meant the end of your chick collection days...

If anything u will get less chicks, because ur poor as hell buying all the expensive LC gear.

[CrazyNutz]

what about the myth that water-cooling gets you more chicks

LOL thats so not a myth...

[Manicdan]

myth vs unnoticeable physics.

the following is true until you get to extreme systems where theres 1000$ worth in just rads/blocks:
pumps are plenty strong.
tubing size does not need to be 1/2" ID.
flow rate is typically more than adequate in most loops.
expensive additives are not needed.
cpu before gpu may not make any difference in actual performance.

the more things added to the loop, the more noticeable each issue can become, but that does not mean it needs to be worried about in every case.

[ShArKo]

OMG seriously WTF has happened to this forum while i was gone?

Woow, somebody is angry.... Take it easy my friend.

DarthBeavis trust me, I try to prove that myth and is not true. You probably get the attention of more mans than womans...

[OC Maximus]

what about the myth that water-cooling gets you more chicks

Crap, guess I'm S.O.L.

[shazza]

Woow, somebody is angry.... Take it easy my friend.

DarthBeavis trust me, I try to prove that myth and is not true. You probably get the attention of more mans than womans...

NaeKuh's not angry. He's just ... NaeKuh

And, DB - that getting chicks thing hasn't worked very well for me.

Any more "Myths" you guys and gals see being repeated over and over - maybe in the form of questions from folks new to liquid cooling?

[Raul-7]

The over importance of using DI or distilled water; zero microSiemens water.

Now I am not saying all tap is safe to use, especially here in CA; but people in some cities (ie. like Portland) have really soft water coming out of their tap and it is perfectly safe to use. Any water with a low TDS [below 100] should be safe.

[Kayin]

And, DB - that getting chicks thing hasn't worked very well for me.

Umm, last I checked, you were a chick? So does that prove it works or not?

[mlwood37]

what about the myth that water-cooling gets you more chicks

It does. ............

My fav. Dye blocks ports on water cooling blocks. hehehe ... i love that one .... BIGGEST MYTH of all ....

Raul-7

your not from the UK are you ... pmsl Uk water goes from 134 TDS to 300 TDS in the UK depending on were you are from. So If living in the UK there is no Way you can just run tap water. so its not myth at all. In a city or not.

[jumper2high]

If you spill coolant over the motherboard you need to leave it until the second full moon before putting it back into the PC

[NaeKuh]

tubing size has importance over 3/8ths ID. <--- myth

annodized Alu is safe to mix in a mixed metal loop with electrolyte and no anti corrosive.. <--- Another Myth.

Watercooled TEC's break physics and can handle an inifinite amount of heat as long as u keep the hot side cool... <--- u wouldnt believe how many people think this... this is again myth.

Home Depot Brand Tubing is great.. <--- :\ sure if u like it to cloud in weeks...

Koolance is Junk, they only use ALU <--- LOL u wouldnt believe how many people still think this... :\


Its almost hard to believe koolance is where they are now... seriously guys... they did a complete 180 and made all of us go OMGWTFBBQ.
Its like TT saying we messed up our Bigwater... and they started busting out high end stuff which rivals EK.

[matari]

Why not start a thread on marketing gimmicks instead? Such as high flow and nickel plated that every product has attached.

[defect9]

got another one. larger cases and reservoirs get you better temps