How Watercooling Works

Custom watercooling is lot more complex than either air cooling or hydrocooling. A watercooling loop comprises several distinct components including waterblocks, radiator, pump, reservoir and tubing. The CPU and graphics card waterblocks conduct heat away from the CPU and GPU into a fluid which passes through the tubing into the radiator which is then cooled by one or more fans. The cooled water passes through the reservoir and then back to the waterblocks to start the process again.

How Watercooling Works

The following sections will break down the watercooling loop into its component parts for a deeper dive.

CPU Waterblocks

A CPU waterblock mounts on top of the CPU, conducting heat away into the fluid that flows through the interior. You need to make sure you choose a waterblock that is compatible with your CPU by checking what CPU sockets the waterblock supports. Below is a list of the most common AMD and Intel CPU ranges and their associated sockets, however these tables aren’t exhaustive, so check carefully if you’re looking for a cooler for an older CPU.

CPU Waterblocks
AMD Processors Intel Processors
Processor Family Socket Processor Family Socket
Ryzen 9000 / 7000 AM5 Core Ultra Series 2 S1851
Ryzen 5000 / 3000 / 1000 AM4 Core / Pentium / Celeron - 14th gen, 13th gen, 12th gen S1700
Threadripper 7000 TR5 Core / Pentium / Celeron - 11th gen, 10th gen S1200
EPYC 9000 SP5 Xeon 6900 S7529
EPYC 8000 SP6 Xeon 6700 S4710-2
EPYC 4000 AM5 Xeon Scalable 5th gen, 4th gen / Xeon W-3500, W-2500 S4677
EPYC 7000 SP3 Xeon Scalable 3rd gen S4189

GPU Waterblocks

A GPU waterblock replaces the heatsink and fan on graphics cards, conducting heat away from the hot running components underneath into the water that flows through the interior. You need to ensure you choose a waterblock that is compatible with your graphics card, however this is normally made clear by the name of the waterblock, but do check carefully as different makes and models of GPU have different PCBs and require specific waterblocks.

GPU Waterblocks

It’s also a good idea to invest in a GPU backplate, not only do these look great, they normally also help to reduce the temperature of components on the back of the PCB by acting as a giant heatsink.

Radiators

A radiator and its associated fans conduct heat out of the water and into the surrounding air, so it’s important to mount them somewhere in the case with good airflow. Radiators come in four main sizes, 120/140mm for a single fan, 240/280mm for two fans, 360/420mm for three fans and 480/560mm for four fans. The larger the radiator the more heat it can conduct, resulting in a lower temperature for the CPU and graphics card. Large radiators have a side benefit which is that you can use slower and quieter fans, reducing noise.

Radiators

Radiators also come in different thicknesses, anywhere from around 25mm up to 60mm. Thicker radiators are theoretically capable of conducting more heat but will require more powerful fans to push air between the radiator’s fins. As a general rule of thumb, you should plan for one to two 120/140mm fans of radiator space per component, i.e. CPU, GPU etc. Bear in mind that many higher-end components will require more than this, and ultimately the more radiator space the better, as temperatures will be lower and you can configure the fans to run slower and quieter. For instance, many of our 3XS Systems watercooled PCs include two triple-fan radiators to provide the best balance between cooling and noise.

It’s important to check that there are compatible radiator mounts in your PC case for the radiator(s). You can check our product pages and click on the Specifications tab to see what size radiators any case supports. You’ll also find a diagram for many cases, illustrating the sizes and compatible mounting points, as demonstrated below.

Radiators

Fans

As mentioned above most radiators are designed to support 120mm or 140mm fans, either singularly or in groups of two, three or four, dependent on their size.

fan fan

However, because radiators are densely packed with fins it’s important to choose fans designed to produce high static pressure. Static pressure is different from how much air a fan can move (its airflow measurement), as it is concerned with how effectively the fan can move air around obstacles such as the fins in a radiator. High static pressure fans don’t necessarily have a higher airflow rating than case fans, instead they use differently shaped blades, mounted at a flatter angle to provide the higher static pressure, as illustrated above.

Water Reservoir

Water Reservoir

The reservoir stores extra water in the loop and helps separate air bubbles from the water as it passes through. This is important as excess air bubbles will reduce the effectiveness of the waterblocks, radiator and pump, leading to increased temperatures and unnecessary noise. Most reservoirs are made of transparent plastic so you can see the water, but are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and finishes, including RGB lighting. You should think about where you intend to install the reservoir in the PC case, as it will perform best positioned vertically, as shown above.

Water Pump

fan

The pump is the heart of a watercooling loop, as it moves the water between all the other components conducting heat away. It stands to reason that loops with multiple waterblocks and larger radiators will require a more powerful pump (measured in litres per hour). It is vital to make sure the pump is securely mounted to the case, preferably with a sound absorbing mount, otherwise the pump’s action will cause the whole case to vibrate. It is also possible to buy combined pump / reservoir kits that may save space.

Tubing

Hollow tubes are used to transfer the water between all the components of the loop. Tubing is available in a variety of materials but will fall into one of two main groups, flexible or hardline. Before you choose the type, make sure you consider the size. It’s important to check the internal and external diameter of the tubing to ensure its compatible with the other components in the loop. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the diameter the lower the temperatures as there will be more water in the loop. The downside is that larger diameter tubing is more awkward to work with and may not fit at all in smaller cases. Flexible tubing is easy to work with, but can lead to unsightly arcs of tubing stretching across the inside of your PC. Flexible tubing is available in a variety of colours, including transparent so you can see the water inside.

Flexible tubing

Flexible tubing

Hardline tubing

Hardline tubing

Cutting, shaping and installing hardline tubing is much more involved, as it has to be heated and bent to shape, but the end result is much more impressive. A word of caution, hardline tubing is less hardy than flexible tubing and can easily come lose in transit, so be extra careful transporting a PC with hardline tubing. The other downside is that if you change or move a component you will almost certainly have to cut and reshape new hardline tubing. Hardline tubing is available in a variety of materials and colours, including transparent so you can see the water inside.

Fittings

Fittings

Fittings are used to secure the different components of the loop to the tubing. You’ll need two fittings (one in, one out) for each component, making sure to choose flexible or hardline fittings when appropriate, and that they are the right diameter for your tubing. Fittings are available in a wide variety of finishes so you can match them to the rest of the loop. Fittings are even available in different shapes, including 45° and 90° angles, y-splitters and x-splitters.

Water

Water

The importance of choosing the right sort of water or coolant for your loop shouldn’t be underestimated. Don’t be tempted to use standard tap water as its full of particles and bacteria that over time will clog up the loop reducing its effectiveness. You have three main choices to make, the easiest is a pre-mixed coolant that you simply pour into the reservoir. Your second choice is a concentrated coolant that you dilute in deionised water. Finally, your other choice is buying a dye that you add to deionised water. Whichever route you choose to go down there are a huge variety of colours to choose from, some of which react differently under UV light. You can even mix your own colour by mixing different dyes together. The majority of the above options also include corrosion and algae inhibitors, which will prolong the lifetime of the fluid, however, at some point, typically after a couple of years you will need to drain and clean the loop before refilling it with fresh coolant.

Watercooling Accessories

You can also enhance your watercooling loop with one of the following accessories. Please note these are optional and not strictly required, but can help improve the functionality or look of your watercooled PC.

Flow Meters

Flow

Adding a flow meter to the loop allows you to monitor the flow rate of the water, giving you an early warning of any problems. They also look cool whirling away.

Temperature Sensors

Temperature Sensors

Combining one of more temperature sensors with compatible software allows you to monitor the temperature of the water, giving you an early warning of any problems. You can also use them to adjust the fan and pump speed if the temperature is too high or you want to reduce noise.

Fill ports

Fill ports

Adding a fill port to the end of a length of tubing, especially if it’s a convenient location such as the top of the case can make it much easier to top up the water over time. You can also use a fill port for the opposite – conveniently draining the loop without having to disconnect one of the components inside your PC, risking water going everywhere.

Motherboard waterblocks

Motherboard waterblocks

While not as effective or necessary as watercooling a CPU or graphics card, you can also watercool some motherboards. Like graphics card waterblocks, motherboard waterblocks are made for specific models so you need to check compatibility very carefully. An increasingly popular choice is an all-in-one waterblock that cools that both the CPU and motherboard.

Distribution Plates

Distribution Plates

A great way to add extra visual flair to your PC is to add a distribution plate. These can double up as a reservoir and sometimes even have an integrated pump. They are normally mounted an on outwards facing surface of the case so you can see the fluid flowing inside. The downside? Distribution plates are only available for a tiny number of a cases, but fear not our 3XS Systems team can build you a watercooled PC with a bespoke distribution plate. See the end of this guide for more details.

Monitors

Managing Noise

There are multiple ways to control the speed of the fans and pump in your watercooled PC. The easiest control method is via the motherboard, with basic boards providing control via the BIOS and higher end boards being bundled with Windows applications such as Corsair iCUE, that provides the same capabilities but with greater convenience.

Mice

Installation

When watercooling components are installed in a PC, you need to ensure that Thermal Interface Material (TIM) is used. This is a thin layer of paste that you spread out between each component and the waterblock.

TIM helps conduct heat by smoothing out imperfections in the surface on either side and is essential for good cooling. There are many brands and qualities available.

If you still have questions about watercooling don't hesitate to contact one of our friendly advisors on 01204 474747.

Alternatively, if you like the idea of a watercooled PC, but found the whole selection process daunting then you could opt or one of our 3XS WATERCOOLED PCS or visit our CUSTOM SHOP to create a truly one-off watercooled PC handcrafted by our 3XS Systems team.