Liquid Cooling [What, Why, How To Install]

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Ali Rashid Khan

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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With computers becoming more and more powerful over the years, the need to provide them with better cooling has also increased. In high-end PC builds, especially, there’s a high chance that you’ll find one or more components running on liquid cooling. All of this may have made you curious about how liquid cooling works. 

If that’s the case, don’t worry; I’ll explain the workings of liquid cooling, its pros and cons, and compare it to air cooling.

Key Takeaways

• Liquid or water cooling is a method of cooling your components (CPU/GPU/RAM) that uses liquid (water or a coolant) as a medium to direct heat away from them.
• Compared to air coolers, liquid coolers provide better cooling, are less noisy, don’t have clearance issues, and may be more aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, AIO coolers can be installed in most cases due to their small size.
• In terms of their disadvantages compared to air coolers, they are pricier and may be slightly or much harder to install. Furthermore, water cooling loops require large cases and maintenance, including replacing the coolant and cleaning the water block.

What Is Liquid Cooling?

Liquid cooling, or water cooling, is a method of cooling your computer’s components (typically the CPU) using a liquid (typically distilled water).^[1] This is considered more efficient than traditional air cooling because water conducts heat about 25 times faster than air.^[2]

How Liquid Cooling Works (And The Parts Of A Liquid Cooler)

You can conveniently understand how liquid cooling works as you learn about the different parts of a liquid cooler. Here’s a picture for easier understanding, though.

Note: The following points describe the typical and most recommended flow order of liquid in a water cooling loop. 

1. Pump: The pump is the driving force behind liquid cooling as it circulates the liquid through the loop.
2. Water Block: This consists of a baseplate/cold plate that takes the heat from the CPU and transports it to the liquid inside the water block^[3]. Thermal paste is applied on the integrated heat spreader of the CPU/GPU, which allows it to make contact with the baseplate effectively.

   

3. Tubes/Pipes: They connect all the components in a loop and transport the liquid to and from the radiator or reservoir.
4. Radiator And Fans: Warm liquid flows through tubes to the radiator, where fins absorb heat. Fans then expel the heat from the radiator. Cooled liquid returns to the CPU, and the cycle repeats.^[3]
5. The Liquid: Distilled or de-ionized water is usually preferred over tap water^[4] to prevent radiator clogs from contaminants like sodium. Coolants are even better as they prevent corrosion and bacterial growth, typically based on Ethylene Glycol.
6. Reservoir (Optional): In Custom Loop Water Cooling, reservoirs are optional but recommended for holding extra coolant, easing loop filling, and removing air bubbles post-installation. If combined with a motor, the cooled liquid returns to the CPU via the reservoir; otherwise, it flows from the reservoir to the water block.^[3]

Types Of Liquid Cooling

Liquid cooling is of two types: Open-loop (or custom loop) liquid cooling and closed-loop (or all-in-one/AIO) liquid cooling. Both work in the same way, but all-in-one liquid coolers are typically designed for CPUs, while custom loop kits can cool CPUs, GPUs, and even the RAM all at once.

Open Loop Liquid Cooling

It involves a water-cooling kit that the user assembles. It is highly customizable but also more difficult to install. In addition, custom loop water cooling kits are costlier than AIO coolers.

Custom loop liquid cooling kits may involve a reservoir for holding extra coolant. Custom loop water cooler setups require occasional coolant replacement; thus, maintenance cost and effort come into play. Also, there’s an increased risk of leakage in custom loop cooling, typically due to negligence during installation.

All-In-One Liquid Cooling

These involve pre-assembled kits that are much easier to install and are ideal for most users. They are cheaper, efficient, and don’t require active maintenance — although some AIOs are designed to be refillable.

They come in different sizes, but the most common sizes are 240mm, 280mm, and 360mm.

Installing A Liquid Cooler

Here’s how you can install a liquid cooler:

• Installing An AIO Cooler: Installing an all-in-one cooler is quite simple. To put it simply, involves installing the water block first. The fans are installed onto the radiator in your desired configuration and hooked onto your case.
• Installing A Water Cooling Kit: Similar to installing an AIO cooler, installing a water cooling kit starts with installing the water block and the radiator-fan combination. The additional work is installing the pump, reservoir, and the tubing. Additionally, you’ll need to fill the loop with coolant and test it for leaks.

Liquid Cooling Vs Air Cooling

As mentioned earlier, water cooling is preferred over air cooling because water conducts heat faster than air. The basic principle is the same; the difference is just in using liquid over air. Air coolers consist of a heatsink, which receives heat from the CPU, and fans, which dissipate that heat.^[5]

Here are all the key differences mentioned:

Liquid Cooling Maintenance

As far as custom loop water cooling is concerned, a few measures are necessary to keep your open-loop liquid cooling setup running optimally. 

• Cleaning The Radiator And Fans: Dust buildup on radiators and fans varies based on location and chassis, requiring cleaning every few weeks to months for optimal function. Compressed air or an air blower can be used for general dust removal, and a paintbrush or toothbrush can be used to clean the radiator.
• Cleaning The Water Block: Regularly clean the water block to prevent oxidation and dust buildup. Disassemble by unscrewing the base and soak parts: for Bare Copper, use water/vinegar/lemon juice; for Nickel-Plated Copper, use warm water and non-abrasive metal polish; for Acrylic Glass and Acetal, use soap and warm water. Soak for 5-10 mins, brush off debris, and rinse with distilled water.
• Flushing/Draining Your System: Replace coolant/liquid in your water cooling loop with fresh distilled water to prevent corrosion. Watch a neat video from Jayztwocents’ video for a detailed guide on flushing your water cooling loop.

Related Helpful Resources By Tech4Gamers:

• CPU Coolers
• PC Radiators
• PC Heatsink
• Water Cooling Kit
• CPU Coolers

References

1. Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University. COMPUTER COOLING SYSTEM. Retrieved from https://conf.ztu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/64.pdf
2. Princeton University. Outdoor Action Guide To Hypothermia And Cold Weather Injuries. Retrieved from https://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/hypocold.shtml
3. UGA. Water-cooling Of A PC. Retrieved from https://photonics.engr.uga.edu/watercooling/index.html
4. ACADEMIA. Experimental Analysis Of Liquid Cooling System For Desktop Computers. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/4173838/EXPERIMENTAL_ANALYSIS_OF_LIQUID_COOLING_SYSTEM_FOR_DESKTOP_COMPUTERS
5. Middle East Technical University. Forced Air Cooling Of CPUs With Heat Sinks. Retrieved from https://users.metu.edu.tr/itari/OzturkTariIEEETCAPT2008.pdf

Ali Rashid Khan

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com