# Any advantage to a liquid-cooled PC? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461 "2012-06-08T03:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/41 "2012-06-10T21:18:15Z")
> [@gunnergoz](#): > > On another front, I myself do have a bit of a similar issue: my graphics adapter tends to run hot: 39C normally but sometimes up to 44C just browsing. When I’m playing graphics-intensive games like Civilization V, it goes up to 59C or even higher. That does concern me a bit, because it can get hot here in the summer where I live. The graphics adapter (Nvidia GTX 560/ 2GB) has its own fan but I think I’m going to have to add another case fan to cool the entire outer shell of the graphics adapter to ensure the heat is carried off effectively. Those temperatures are actually pretty good and are nothing to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/42 "2012-06-10T23:24:14Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > As far as Dell machines go, I used to own a Dell Dimension that had some… unique design characteristics that I learned to hate. Such as the awkward plastic clamshell case that I could not fully open without disconnecting the cords connecting the motherboard (on one side of the shell) to the disk drives (on the other side of the shell), or the cheap plastic clip holding the add-on cards down in place of actual screws, and the aforementioned awkward USB placement I have an old Dell from 2006 that’s been rock solid and still in use as the “family computer” (just changed the hard drive a few months ago). But damn do I hate that clam shell case. The USB thing was handled with an $8 USB squid but that case angers me every time I try to open it for something. Which thankfully isn’t very often. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/43 "2012-06-10T23:44:51Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > As far as Dell machines go, I used to own a Dell Dimension that had some… unique design characteristics that I learned to hate. Such as the awkward plastic clamshell case that I could not fully open without disconnecting the cords connecting the motherboard (on one side of the shell) to the disk drives (on the other side of the shell), or the cheap plastic clip holding the add-on cards down in place of actual screws, and the aforementioned awkward USB placement (this was before USB was the wonder-plug that it is known as now though, so it is slightly more understandable that they might hide the plugs, not knowing exactly what to do with them). > … > > That said, All of the Dell towers I’ve seen for sale lately appear to have a fairly typical metal box case, with plugs on the front and the back. Yea, the business dell machines still sometimes have really annoying form factors, but if you get the ones with a regular shaped case, they’re generally alright to work on. Before I even booted up my brand new XPS 8500 I opened her up and installed a new video card and more ram. Because my new video card was monster sized (Seriously like 90% of the length of the case, and it had to weigh like 2.5 lbs) I had some trouble with routing the power cables, but In the end it all fit alright. If things were another inch away I would have needed some extensions to the power supply which would have been really annoying. Overall, I give my XPS 8500 Dell case a B-. Not a great case, but it works if you’re only going to be opening it up once or twice a year. it’s quiet tho, even with the monster video card. I like that. Loudest thing about my new machine is the damn clickity-clackity from the hard drive. That’ll go away when SSD get cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/44 "2012-06-11T01:22:56Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > it’s quiet tho, even with the monster video card. I like that. Loudest thing about my new machine is the damn clickity-clackity from the hard drive. That’ll go away when SSD get cheap. For my next computer, which I plan to build probably next year, I’m thinking a 160 or 250GB SSD for the OS drive and maybe the Documents folder, and everything else on a big-ass HDD. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/45 "2012-06-11T05:38:37Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > For my next computer, which I plan to build probably next year, I’m thinking a 160 or 250GB SSD for the OS drive and maybe the Documents folder, and everything else on a big-ass HDD. Do it. I already did with my laptop and it’s amazing how much faster it is. 128 gb was enough for me. But the way prices are dropping you can get them for under 1$/gb now. ---
**Author:** ![gunnergoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@gunnergoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gunnergoz)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/46 "2012-06-11T07:13:40Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Those temperatures are actually pretty good and are nothing to worry about. Maybe I’m just paranoid because I’ve had a couple of graphics adapters die early on me, most probably from heat buildup. But I have a different rig now with much improved power and cooling, so I hope you are correct. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/47 "2012-06-11T22:04:40Z")
Well, without any good recommendations, I went with the lower-priced Microtel and [this monitor.](http://www.amazon.com/NEC-Display-Solutions-P221W-BK-22-Inch/dp/B001IWOB86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339452209&sr=8-1) The monitor will be here in two days, the computer in 2-4 weeks. Free shipping, though. 🙂 Just rechecked and the computer has shipped, also. Yay! Guess I better get that PC transfer program. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/48 "2012-06-11T22:13:55Z")
Just FYI, that monitor is reported as S-PVA type panel. generally considered to be better then a TN monitor, but not as good as an IPS monitor. Generally. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/49 "2012-06-11T23:36:23Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > Just FYI, that monitor is reported as S-PVA type panel. generally considered to be better then a TN monitor, but not as good as an IPS monitor. Generally. Yeah, I was having trouble finding a moderately priced IPS monitor that didn’t have a lot of complaints attached. The really good ones were as much or more than the computer. The NEC got raves, and the price was right. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/50 "2012-06-14T14:41:14Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > My system isn’t overclocked but, with summer upon us, it runs a little warmer these days when I’m playing games. It’s in the 70’s (C) while playing some shooters. I only have the stock fan on it and was thinking about getting one of those fans with the additional heat sinks [such as this](http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4950641&CatId=99). Any opinions? Think it’ll help? The reviews look very positive and there doesn’t seem to be much to screw up with it (aside from the usual things like not applying enough goop). > [@Telperion](#): > > I use that one for my i5 system and it works really well, much quieter than the stock fan and temperature runs from 35C in idle to the upper 40’s under load. Well worth the money in my opinion. As a follow up, I bought this (actually a similar CoolerMaster unit) unit last night and the temperature on my i7 while playing a game dropped from 72C to 52C. Very nice for $25. Fan’s a bit loud but I started running a monitor to keep its RPMs on a more “as needed” basis rather than running full bore constantly. Helps a lot. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/51 "2012-06-15T02:35:48Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > As a follow up, I bought this (actually a similar CoolerMaster unit) unit last night and the temperature on my i7 while playing a game dropped from 72C to 52C. Very nice for $25. > > Fan’s a bit loud but I started running a monitor to keep its RPMs on a more “as needed” basis rather than running full bore constantly. Helps a lot. 72C and your machine didn’t shut down due to heat? My fan speed/heat watch program shows a flame above 50C. 72 sounds really high to me. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461/52 "2012-06-15T02:57:40Z")
Some quick looking suggests that I had up to 78C core temp before it was “over”. So it was very, very warm but not CPU-meltingly so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advantage-to-a-liquid-cooled-pc/624461.md?page=2)