Principle

Watercooling is above all a solution which enables mainly to move the heat in a place where the cooling is optimal. This allows to optimize to the maximum the cooling of the computing components, which do not stop warning.

In the end, the watercooling can have several purposes, from the choice of the user:

-Discretion/silence of the using

-Matchless heat capacity in air cooling

-Integration of top of range components in cases more compact.

Let us begin by detailing the functioning of a watercooling for computer

General Functioning

Waterblocks

As explained above, the watercooling serves to move the heat uttered by the computing components , as the PCU's and motherboards, from its point of origin to the wished zone of cooling. For that, the first step consists in passing on the heat in the cooling liquid. To do so, Waterblocks are used. These ones have two parameters: their material and their internal geometry.

Material of waterblocks: to guarantee a maximum of thermal conduction, this one is a very regularly copper. Certain models exist in alloy of aluminium but their thermal conductivity is not so good. To avoid that the copper corrodes outdoors, a fine nickel layer is deposited above the copper. this protection gives a finish mirror to the waterblock.

Geometry of waterblocks: to optimize the transmission of heat, the internal geometry of the waterblock has the objective to enlarge to the maximum the surface of exchange between the liquid of cooling and the copper, without breaking the stream of liquid. This geometry is named the maze or the labyrinth. With years, mazes became smaller and this increases the thermal exchange at the level of the waterblocks.

The liquid of cooling:

Once, the the heat passed in the liquid of cooling, this one is forwarded the zone of exchange with cooler air. For that purpose, a liquid of cooling is used. This later is mainly composed of water. However, it is absolutely unthinkable to use some tap water or mineral water for that purpose. The reason is simple: these two types of water have an important quantity of impurities which in presence of heat, could develop in a very fatal way for the efficiency of the global system. We can have seaweeds which could stick to the waterblocks or the radiators, damage to the pipes or any other element...In brief, we still use an acqueous solution dedicated to watercooling.

They can be: solution with some copper sulphate ( blue natural colour) to drive more easily the heat, solution with glycol to eliminate bacteria, etc...

It is possible to have a colouring agent to give light effects through the transparent pipes.

Radiators

The liquid of cooling so warmed arrives in the radiator. What is a radiator? It is a meander of pipes in material which drives the heat (copper most of the time) covered with fins welded to increase to the maximum the surface of exchange between the warm source (the liquid) and the cool source (the external air). By natural convection (passive radiator) or forced ( fans taken up on the radiator), the heat is passed on little by little in the external air. So the liquid of cooling loses calories and cools. The air, so warmed, must be then evacuated so that the the radiator keeps an optimal calorific value.

It exists mainly two kind of radiators: the orderly mono and the double rows. The first ones are made by a layer of driving process (radiator about 3cm of thickness), whereas the second ones have two (radiator about 6cm of thickness).

To note also that the density of fins on the drivings will have an evident impact on the power of the fan. Indeed, the more the density is elevated, the more the fan will have to be powerful so that the airflow can cross it, but in return , the more the thermal waste will be raised. At the end, it will be necessary to find the best compromise with regard to its needs.

Airtrap and reservoir:

Once cooled, the cooling liquid goes to the reservoir, which also acts as airtrap. Effectively, during the filling of a watercooling system, it is compulsory to have air bubbles trapped in the pipes. The reservoir allows to purge the cooling circuit. This purge allows to reduce in a considerable way the noise (cavitation).

The reservoir is also compulsory because he allows to compensate for the invevitable losses of cooling liquid due to its natural evaporation. Thus a reservoir owes be easily accessible.

Pump

The liquid arrives at the end to the pump. This one serves to give the flow within the cooling circuit. This speed is connected closely to the other elements: size of the pipes, type of maze in the waterblocks, cuts drivings in the radiator, the curvatures of pipes, number of the waterblocks and radiators, elements which slow down the flow. In brief, the pump is the vital element of the entire cooling circuit.

That is the reason why these pumps knew how to evolve in time. At the beginning of the IT watercooling, pumps resulted from aquarium. They remained massive. Henceforth, the pumps of watercooling arise from the same technology as the pumps with fuel in high of performances of the internal combustion engines of automobiles. These are very fiable, very compact and energy-efficient.

The use of watercooling

Now you know all the basis of watercooling. Henceforth, it is high time to concentrate on is diverse applications.

Compactness, simplicity, efficiency

Contrary to prejudices, a watercooling is not synonymic, or rather is not synonymic any more of massive and cumbersome equipments. It is at present possible to equip even very small-sized cases (from mini ITX) with systems ultra simplified (without maintenance), compacts and economic. Since mid-2010, the industrialist Asetek manufactures cooling circuits for very interesting PCU. The latest one, sold for Antec (among others) beats records of compactness. Other models exist (at Corsair) which allow to obtain very competitive cooling systems with regard to the classic systems in aircooling, but more compact and thus more easily integrable.

Moreover, Alienware uses one of the kits in its micro ATX case, high range Aurora.

Silence is gold

For the amateurs of discretion/silence, watercoling is the answer to your problem. Indeed, on sizing the radiators, by choosing very discrete fans, it is possible to obtain circuits of very discrete, , silent cooling even in load at 100%. However, it requires cases of bigger sizes, even to give up an integration in the case, for lack of place.

Power and discretion

Watercooling is also capable of getting a compromise exessively attractive: the capacity to push the machine to unsuspected frequencies, in a relative discretion and above all in calm. It seems evident that a circuit of watercooling well optimized allows to dissipate a number of calories much upper to the aircooling, which remains too dependent on the position of components to be cooled in the case.

With the good choice of components, it gives a cooling system integrated to the case, able to cool overckocked components and in a very discreet way! Simply the best!

Conclustion

No matter the size of the case is, watercooling is possible for all sizes. Watercooling also know how to answer to all needs (economic, efficiency, compactness, simplicity). Whatever your needs in terms of computing are, watercooling will know how to answer it!

You do not have more than to launch on it!...