Using
a liquid coolant for a PC seems such a divine proposition, considering
the long list of advantages attached to it. Precarious as it may seem,
but has a true geek ever evaded a challenge? Have any doubts? Dispel
them right here.
Liquid cooling systems have been used to cool
cars since eons and seemingly, it also happens to be the way to cool
your computer. Yes, it is true that computers today are designed to emit
less heat, but integrated circuits are integrated circuits; they are
bound to radiate heat in generous proportions. The joys of overclocking
are way too many to be caged under the restriction of heat generation.
Having yawned over air coolers, it is time to move on to a slicker
option - that is liquid cooling.
Components of a Liquid Cooling System
The
liquid coolant comes first, and a popular option is distilled water.
Chemical additives (antifreeze solutions) give it that snazzy color and
help lower the temperature of the water, increasing its effectiveness.
An interesting variant is liquid nitrogen. With a boiling temperature of
-196°C, it beats water in every aspect. But the recommended use of
liquid nitrogen is strictly for smaller overclocking sessions. A
reservoir is the tank that stores the coolant. You need a pump that
helps the liquid to flow smoothly. This pump is available in variations
that help you fix it outside the reservoir, or submerge it. The radiator
is used to absorb the heat from the coolant and dispel it outside the
unit. The tubes connect the reservoir to the water blocks. Water blocks
are attached to the CPU, or if you wish, to the chipset and the GPU.
These blocks hold the cool liquid, and their base is made of metal.
Position them on top of the part that needs cooling, and apply a layer
of thermal paste in between to accelerate heat transfer.
Here's
how it works. The reservoir contains the coolant, which is pumped to the
cooling block attached to the CPU and/or GPU. Having cooled the part,
the heated liquid will flow through the outlet, back into the reservoir
to be re-cooled for the second cycle. Before you begin, note that there
are two methods of cooling.
The internal method, as the name
suggests, has the cooling system installed inside the PC case. Your PC
case must obviously be big enough to accommodate all the components and
avoid any cramping.
The external method is the exact opposite, so
you'll have to deal with a system that will be eating up a lot of space
on your desk, and will seem tedious for those of you who keep shifting
their computers. It is, however, perfect for extremists who are looking
to push all boundaries.
How to Install a Liquid Cooling System
Having
understood the components and the working principles, let's look at the
step-by-step instructions to install a liquid cooling system for your
PC.
Draw a Design
As mentioned before, an ideal way to create a
cooling system is to customize it. What works for a computer can't
necessarily suit another. So, the very first step would be to gauge your
requirements and draw a basic design that covers all your needs.
Attach the Radiator and Reservoir
The
radiator is installed on a large fan grate, just like a regular fan
case. All you need to ensure is that the fans blow the hot air outside
the PC case. The reservoir is next. You are free to install it inside
the case on top of the drive bay, or outside. You must keep your
refilling convenience in mind.
Install the Cooling Block
The
cooling block sits on a support bracket behind the CPU. You must now
remove the motherboard and detach the heat sink from it. Install the
mounting units that will hold the cooling blocks for the CPU and the
chipset. Clean the area of any residual thermal paste. Before you mount
the cooling blocks, you need to decide if you want to attach the pipes
right away or after. Be very cautious when you mount the water blocks,
make sure they sit nice and easy, as applying extra pressure can cause
damage. Similarly with the GPU, you must remove the heat sink before
installing the water block. You have to start connecting the pipes as
per your design, keeping the direction of the flowing coolant in mind.
Bring in More Pipes
Cooling
the CPU remains a priority for most, but here we're looking at a
scenario where you would be cooling the chipset and the GPU too. If you
have one pipe that takes the coolant to every part, the one that is last
in line will perpetually receive heated liquid, and this is
unfortunate. Ideally, separate pipes should lead to every component,
negating the risk of the last part being heated instead of cooled.
Final Touches
As
you're done with the installation, it is time to fill the reservoir
with the coolant of your choice. Follow the instructions meticulously,
avoid spilling or over filling at all costs. In any case, keeping a
stack of tissues is a good idea for emergency mopping. Now start the
system and monitor the flow of liquid. Air bubbles can cause problems at
this stage, so you need to sway your PC slightly to get rid of them. If
it all appears to be dry, it is time to boot your computer.
What Makes Liquid Cooling Special
Liquid
cooling scores on the grounds of excellent thermal conductivity and
high heat capacity. With a heating capacity that is four times that of
air, water as a coolant, wins hands down. Unlike air, when you have a
substance that sops in the heat without heating itself too much, you
don't have to think too much before installing it. But before you get
down to installing a system like this, it would be prudent to keep
certain factors in mind.
For starters, a liquid cooling
system is expensive. These days, they thankfully come in kits, a far cry
from the times when one needed to source individual spares that matched
the computer's specifications.
Maintaining a system like this
requires a great degree of dedication as liquids and electrical devices
are not the best of friends. With so many components in place, you need
to watch out for trouble.
If you happen to be one of those
ill-fated ones who have any liquid spill on the motherboard, the entire
nerd community's sympathies would rest with you.
A cooling system
is unique to every PC, and the user is in the best position to
configure the one that suits it best. While the CPU is the undisputed
heat generator, it would be a good idea to include the GPU and the
motherboard chipset as well.
All said and done, liquid cooling
rules and it is instrumental in keeping your PC happy even when it's
overworked, sans the whirring fans.
Installing a liquid cooling
system would, once upon a time, win you a place in the upper echelons of
geekdom. The availability of ready kits has dimmed the significance of
it of late, but a true geek always reaches out to the customized
versions. Also, new age processors are not furnaces like they used to
be. But for those who overclock, a liquid cooling system is a blessing,
and a 'quiet' one at that.
By Renuka Savant
