Water Cooling advice needed

[IdahoB]

Is water cooling quiet? I run my machine as part of an recording setup and noise is a big problem when using highly sensitive capacitor and ribbon microphones. Are water cooling setups quieter or louder than fans, and if quieter, can anybody recommend a good system, cost isn't a major issue.

Thanks in advance.

 

[lastig21]

Watercooling can be quieter if only running cpu's at stock speeds. If overclocking, large fans are usually still used to remove as much heat as possible. As far as a complete kit goes, I like the dangerden kits.

I actually prefer swiftech waterblocks (just so cleanly made). That would be the only change I would make to a dangerden kit. Also use a fan shroud on the radiator to reduce the noise.

 

[SuperPickle]

I have a buddy with this Swiftech kit. Those fans are really quiet and with rheostats controlling the fans, even better. Very solid made, but my only complaint is that tubing used as it's not as flexible if you need tight bends.

BTW...you have access to/use ribbon mics? A rarity indeed.

 

[MrThompson]

I would also recommend the Swiftech. It's very quiet with the fans running full speed although for a recording studio, I would try reducing the fan speed. You can read my complete thoughts on the Quiet Power here.

 

[IdahoB]

Hmm... I do like the look of that Swiftech case, and an all-in-one case solution is very attractive to me, as is the 34db noise level. However, it's not easy to get in the UK by all appearances and the price is pretty high for a water cooling solution. For not much more I can go to a Vapochill solution, which is very appealing indeed.<a href="http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDAw">

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDAw</A>

Looks good to me, and it's not as pricey as I'd expected. Stick a decent silent PSU in there and my perfect studio PC would be complete!

 

[Gravija]

i was going to get a koolance sys from xoxide.com, the swiftech seems nice though too (seems even better, though probably a bit more expensive)
i think a complete kit, with like tubing and the waterblock isl ike 375+ including case

they're supposed to be quieter than fans, i do not have any real expierience with them

 

[Elcs]

Thermaltke Aquarius 2 looks small and quiet indeed. Might be a bit pricey. It can be ran off a normal PSU althought i dont know if a PSU change is a must.

Since I live in the UK, i know what you mean. Im trying to work out a cheap and quiet WC system. Relatives from the US coming over in the near future so I might just put purchasing on hold and plan, plan, plan.

 

[SuperPickle]

Originally posted by: IdahoB

Looks good to me, and it's not as pricey as I'd expected. Stick a decent silent PSU in there and my perfect studio PC would be complete!

I'm all for agressive cooling, but Gravija may have the right idea. Vapochill is damn cool, but if you are looking for noise reduction, the performance of phase-change cooling may not be exactly what you are looking for. The Coolance series gives above average cooling at minimal noise levels. The Vapochill is really all about overclocking and extreme performance.

 

[IdahoB]

Originally posted by: basilisk420
Vapochill is damn cool, but if you are looking for noise reduction, the performance of phase-change cooling may not be exactly what you are looking for. The Coolance series gives above average cooling at minimal noise levels. The Vapochill is really all about overclocking and extreme performance.

Published noise figures by Asetek of 34db - same as the Swiftech - that is damn quiet by any standards. Below that and harddrive/psu noise becomes more of a factor anyway.

And it runs at -19°c dammit. I mean, c'mon. That's colder than a Russian on ice.

 

[SuperPickle]

Originally posted by: IdahoBPublished noise figures by Asetek of 34db - same as the Swiftech - that is damn quiet by any standards. Below that and harddrive/psu noise becomes more of a factor anyway.

Ah yes, but with the Swiftech, or any watercooling for that matter, you can rheostat the fans making them even quieter than 34dB (which is really only semi-quiet). The performance of the fans on the phase-change cooler may not be as flexible.
[soapbox]
I don't mean to argue, but I've spent a bit of time behind a console and when you are talking about vocal condenser mics, they are so sensative that the VU meters will pick up things far before your ears will notice the noise. If this PC is just in the control room and not in the recording booth/room, then we're splitting hairs. If the computer is within earshot of the mics, then you'll really want to make it as silent as possible to keep the noise floor down. I've run into ventilation systems that have forced retakes--I didn't even notice it was running.
[/soapbox]
Just weigh your goals. If it's cooling performance you want, phase-change rules. If I had the budget to do it myself, I certainly would. If your goal is uber-quiet, perhaps there are other options. If you go with Vapochill, check back as I'm interested in anecdotal reports.
B420

 

[MrThompson]

A dampening material like PaxMate will cut some of the high frequency noise from the Quiet Power. While there may be better materials, PaxMate was well worth it in my box.

 

[IdahoB]

Originally posted by: basilisk420Ah yes, but with the Swiftech, or any watercooling for that matter, you can rheostat the fans making them even quieter than 34dB (which is really only semi-quiet). The performance of the fans on the phase-change cooler may not be as flexible. [soapbox] I don't mean to argue, but I've spent a bit of time behind a console and when you are talking about vocal condenser mics, they are so sensative that the VU meters will pick up things far before your ears will notice the noise. If this PC is just in the control room and not in the recording booth/room, then we're splitting hairs. If the computer is within earshot of the mics, then you'll really want to make it as silent as possible to keep the noise floor down. I've run into ventilation systems that have forced retakes--I didn't even notice it was running. [/soapbox] Just weigh your goals. If it's cooling performance you want, phase-change rules. If I had the budget to do it myself, I certainly would. If your goal is uber-quiet, perhaps there are other options. If you go with Vapochill, check back as I'm interested in anecdotal reports. B420

I'll certainly take what appear to be your well informed opinions on board. Ultra-ultra quiet isn't actually needed, most of the music I create is done entirely within the machine and only a few elements added with live recording, and if I really need high quality I'll probably rent a studio and do the vital takes their with more professional mics than I have available. I just want a system quiet enough to not interfere with my nearfield monitors and distract me when mixing. Getting the acoustics and noise levels in a studio is one of those endless things that can always be improved, but when it comes to computer audio creation, just like any other workstation level task, you can never have enough horsepower either, and a cooling setup like this just might do that. And as suggested, I'll certainly be using some kind of case insulation, which should be quite effective against the noise frequencies a phase change system will produce.

If I do go for this, I'll be sure to post a lengthy commentary in the forums here to discuss my opinions and the systems abilites in a low noise workstaton environment.

Thanks for your insight mate, if you're interested check out my site below for some recent tracks, 'Signal' comes particularly recommended. Always good to hear from a fellow studio monkey

 

[SuperPickle]

For doing post-production work, you are most correct that you want as much horsepower out of your computer as you can get.
As an all-in-one alternative to the Vapochill, you may check out the Prometia case.. I know I read some reviews, or at least some writeup by some dude that bought one on Overclockers but I can't seem to find it now. A little steep on the price, but it looks pretty badass.
I'll definitely check out those tracks when I get home.

 

[mste456]

i'm movin on to my second water cooling kit tmrw. at the mo i got an innovatech kit (dual rad & dual pump)
gettin the latest dangerden kit + a kick ass rad 195 quid & use my eheim 1250 pump on its ass