THinking about watercooling.. a few ?s

[oolunchbox]

I've been pondering watercooling for a few weeks now and i have a few questions...
1. is a resivour needed or optional? i mean can i fill the system with water and let it run or should i have a resivour?

2. My cpu has been running 48-52 degrees c... do i need to watercool or would it just be expensive overkill?

3. where/what do you guys/gals suggest as far as parts i'm lookin at doing it for as little as possile.

thanks
-Lunch

[Urban_Squrill]

I am pritty sure you need a resivour. Watercooling is really only if you going to do overclocking. Or just the hell of it.

[thePh@r@oh]

48-52 is fine you shouldnt have anytrouble at that temp i idle at about 48 or so...no problems here.

[Telexen]

1. reservoir is not necessary...if you don't want to use one though you need to setup a T-line (simple pipe, or you can buy an expensive contraption from Swiftech) to fill/bleed the system

2. It could lower temps, the main reason I'm building my water cooling is to lower noise though

3. radiator - get a heater core from an autoparts store...should only be $15 - $20
waterblock - $40 - $50
Pump - anywhere from $20 to $70

here are a few sites you should check out...make sure you research it well before you go into it

http://www.overclockers.com/topiclis...ATER%20COOLING
http://www.dangerden.com/
http://www.d-tekcustoms.com/
http://www.cooltechnica.com/

[XShadowZxX]

Is it bad to make it very low like 20, or possibly lower ?

[Idigguns]

Are you talking about CPU temp? 20C? That's like 68F! How are you gonna do that? Maybe with a peltier or something. Yes, the colder the better. You have to think about condensation though. Water and electronics don't mix well together.

48-52C isn't that bad. If that's the only reason you're thinking about water cooling, I'd say don't even bother.

A resevoir isn't really necessary, but it does make it easier. One thing I never understood about my water cooler. It's a closed system, and yet every few weeks I have to add about a teaspoon of water. If it's a closed system, where the heck is the water going?!! So, if you have a big resevoir, than you don't have to worry about adding water as much (if it does dissappear like mine does). One good option is to buy a submersible pump and put it in a tupperware container. That takes care of your resevoir problem.

[ZeroAce]

I wouldn't try lowering my CPU temps below room temperature.

From everything I've read, it's dangerous, unreliable, and really not worth the hassle.