Liquid vs Fan cooling

Which cooling system is better fora gaming PC? I've heard plenty of dissenting opinions and as someone who is getting a new PC, this is one of the few barriers I have to get past. So far I've come up with some pros and cons, but I could use some help here. So far:

Liquid- Pros:

- Almost completely noise free

- Better at cooling

Cons:

- Risk of a leak (if not using distilled water or some other non conductive liquid)

- More expensive

- Weekly or so maintenance

Fan- Pros:

- Cheaper and more widely used

- Reliable, used in the majority

- Simple, almost no maintenance needed (other then repairs and such)

Cons:

- Loud

- Less effective at cooling for hardcore use

So, what do you guys think? Anything else I didn't add? Which should I go with?

Water:

For noise, it will depend if you're overclocking heavyly...or just mild. Because, either way, the radiators need fans also.

I don't really maintenance weekly, maybe every year.

The main reason for water is really overclocking and noise.

Leaks don't generaly happen if you did testing before.

The main cons... is the initiale price and setup.

Air:

The real pros is price.

Air can give you some nice performance, you just need to buy the right parts.

But you'll need to do some maintenance once in while for dust for either one.

The main con, would be noise.

But once your gaming, you're usually gaming with a headphone... so, noise shouldn't be such a issue.

For you first setup (unless i've read wrong) i'd recommend air... and then after words, you can experiment water.

^wcing loops are very practical, if you want it to be a lot quieter(not silent but better then air) cool temps, etc.nameless125

Well I don't like, plan on building my own or getting a seperate one, but many cases I'm looking for come with either built in fans or built in liquid cooling at some nice prices (though liquid coolers are a bit more). I also had a full PC I was considering buying that came with a liquid cooler, and right now the merits of liquid cooling are all that are keeping me from getting it.

I'm fine with a little maintenance but it depends on how much and how hard. I can't seem to find any videos on maintanence for liquid coolers so I can't really judge how much work I'll have to do.

Well I don't like, plan on building my own or getting a seperate one, but many cases I'm looking for come with either built in fans or built in liquid cooling at some nice prices (though liquid coolers are a bit more). I also had a full PC I was considering buying that came with a liquid cooler, and right now the merits of liquid cooling are all that are keeping me from getting it.

I'm fine with a little maintenance but it depends on how much and how hard. I can't seem to find any videos on maintanence for liquid coolers so I can't really judge how much work I'll have to do.

SPYDER0416

I'm sure there's plenty on youtube.

I actually don't plan on using headphones since I actually think I might prefer a speaker set up (wearing headphones with a mic isn't something I like to do, I also hate skyping when I'm watching youtube for this reason). So noise is a little bit of an issue, but I'm actually used to it when I play PS3 and Xbox so its not too big a deal, just something small water cooling would be nice for.

I also know you need some fans, but I don't know if I should go full on fan or not. I do game pretty hardcore though (I've bricked several consoles with an overheat despite using laptop coolers on recommendations from the internet) so my main concern would really be which can be great at preventing overheating.

I mean, I've heard that for the price I can get good water cooling, I can afford plenty of good fans. At the same time it makes me wonder why I don't just go with the water cooling.

[QUOTE="SPYDER0416"]

Well I don't like, plan on building my own or getting a seperate one, but many cases I'm looking for come with either built in fans or built in liquid cooling at some nice prices (though liquid coolers are a bit more). I also had a full PC I was considering buying that came with a liquid cooler, and right now the merits of liquid cooling are all that are keeping me from getting it.

I'm fine with a little maintenance but it depends on how much and how hard. I can't seem to find any videos on maintanence for liquid coolers so I can't really judge how much work I'll have to do.

Bebi_vegeta

I'm sure there's plenty on youtube.

Surprisingly not. I've seen everything from installing water coolers, to overclocking tutorials, but I can't seem to find anything good when I look up watercooling maintenance or liquid cooling maintenance. Maybe its just me.

I actually don't plan on using headphones since I actually think I might prefer a speaker set up (wearing headphones with a mic isn't something I like to do, I also hate skyping when I'm watching youtube for this reason). So noise is a little bit of an issue, but I'm actually used to it when I play PS3 and Xbox so its not too big a deal, just something small water cooling would be nice for.

I also know you need some fans, but I don't know if I should go full on fan or not. I do game pretty hardcore though (I've bricked several consoles with an overheat despite using laptop coolers on recommendations from the internet) so my main concern would really be which can be great at preventing overheating.

I mean, I've heard that for the price I can get good water cooling, I can afford plenty of good fans. At the same time it makes me wonder why I don't just go with the water cooling.

SPYDER0416

Well, for me... I went to WC only my CPU and left my GPU air cooled.

Before I would WC everything, but it was a pain when I wanted to upgrade and it cost alot for GPU WC blocks. Sure I could resell afterwards... but it's still a pain lol.

If noise is going to be a huge concern, then WC... but get ready to get messy and cost go up. So, if you have the money + time and effort... go for it.

[QUOTE="Bebi_vegeta"]

[QUOTE="SPYDER0416"]

Well I don't like, plan on building my own or getting a seperate one, but many cases I'm looking for come with either built in fans or built in liquid cooling at some nice prices (though liquid coolers are a bit more). I also had a full PC I was considering buying that came with a liquid cooler, and right now the merits of liquid cooling are all that are keeping me from getting it.

I'm fine with a little maintenance but it depends on how much and how hard. I can't seem to find any videos on maintanence for liquid coolers so I can't really judge how much work I'll have to do.

SPYDER0416

I'm sure there's plenty on youtube.

Surprisingly not. I've seen everything from installing water coolers, to overclocking tutorials, but I can't seem to find anything good when I look up watercooling maintenance or liquid cooling maintenance. Maybe its just me.

Well the real maintenance is... removing all the water in your loop... here's video :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzxh9-aavQQ

But, this is when you setup is well placed...

So should I just ignore that the poll says over 300 freakin people prefer air cooling? Because that doesn't seem normal, though if it somehow is then I guess I might stick with fan cooling. But wow, that is weird.

If you want w/c go with the corsair closed loop systems. They'll do just aswell and require no maintainance

So should I just ignore that the poll says over 300 freakin people prefer air cooling? Because that doesn't seem normal, though if it somehow is then I guess I might stick with fan cooling. But wow, that is weird.

SPYDER0416

People don't see the benifit of water cooling... vs air.

Air is so easy to install, to setup and affordable. Water cooling is more for the people who PC moding is abit of a hobby.

You can still overclock and game with air without problem.

I'll just go ahead and ignore the poll. Also I think I'll just stick with the cooling my case comes with and buy a VGA and CPU cooler just in case. If my case comes with fan or liquid cooling then great, but I'm mostly concerned with the quality of said cooling, price and how the case looks, and I already have a few cases lined up with both types, so whichever I choose should seal my decision.

On that note, can anyone link me some good affordable cases with good cooling and a side panel window on newegg? I can never have too many case options and I'm not too troubled by cooling type (since both are great) as long as the cooling is considered good enough for hardcore gaming.

EDIT: A few details about any case I might want. Since cooling is an issue, I'd be great if it could have a temperature indicator too, and I have a budget of about $120 for the case (since I want to keep more money for the other parts).

EDIT 2: Also I'm a big n00b at this so I don't know the pricing of temp indicators, but if they're too much then nvermind. Also I'd hope for something around the 80 range in dollars.

I'll just go ahead and ignore the poll. Also I think I'll just stick with the cooling my case comes with and buy a VGA and CPU cooler just in case. If my case comes with fan or liquid cooling then great, but I'm mostly concerned with the quality of said cooling, price and how the case looks, and I already have a few cases lined up with both types, so whichever I choose should seal my decision.

On that note, can anyone link me some good affordable cases with good cooling and a side panel window on newegg? I can never have too many case options and I'm not too troubled by cooling type (since both are great) as long as the cooling is considered good enough for hardcore gaming.

SPYDER0416

This one would be my bet, seems to have great air flow... and WC option.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Spotlight-_-11-119-160

Unless you are a freak about noise or need to overclock to the extreme water cooling isn't necessary.

The reason I went with the Corsair H70 (which isn't really like true water cooling, easy way out) was because I wanted something that would perform great but wasn't 100% sure my case would support the large Air coolers.

Air is fine for most people. Unless you want to overclock to extreme levels with tons of voltage air is the cheaper option.

Alright, I've pretty much made a decision. I'm getting an air cooled case, but a corsair liquid and fan CPU cooler for $70 just in case.

The case is an Antec 900 mid tower gaming case for $120, so its at the limit of my case budget but it has extra room for upgrades, fans, and a side panel window so I have my cooling AND upgrade options covered.

EDIT: So I actually am still considering advice on CPU coolers. Pretty jittery since I looked for a while for a good one, and even this one is something I don't think is totally right for me. Still, its a good price and has over 1000 5 star reviews, so its my current choice, but if you guys can find anything better that may or may not be liquid then I'm all eyes to read it.