Water cooling is one of the newer cooling systems available for computers with high-end cards and chips. This cooling system rests on the principle that water is a much better conductor of heat because of its high thermal conductivity and high specific heat. Water cooling systems for computers works much like the cooling system in a car where heat is dissipated by passing water over the engine and transferring this to the radiator where heat is released to the air.

Traditional PC Cooling Systems

Computer components generate heat through the movement of electrons inside the microchips' transistors. A cooling system is therefore necessary to dispel the heat and by so doing prevent CPU overheating. The most common cooling systems for computers is the fan-heatsink combo cooling system. The heatsinks drain out the heat generated by specific processors. The fans attached to the central processing unit casing then blow out the heat accumulated inside the CPU box and allow cooler air to blow in.

Water is a much more efficient conductor of heat than the metals making up CPU fans and heatsinks. It is also capable of absorbing more heat before its own temperature changes. For these reasons, water cooling systems are becoming popular alternatives to fan cooling systems.

The Water Cooling System

The elements that make up a water cooling system includes a water pump that circulates the coolant through the system, a radiator which dispels the heat to the surrounding air, a fan which moves the heat away from the radiator, a coolant reservoir that serves as the storage tank for the coolant and the hoses that connect the different parts of the cooling system.Water Cooling System

Water Blocks

Because water is highly corrosive to metals, a special heat conductive metal made up of hollow tubes and a flat bottom is used as a water block that serves as a barrier between the flowing water and the part that needs cooling. Thermal paste is utilized to further increase thermal transfer. During operations, heat is absorbed by the water block. This heat is subsequently transferred to the flowing water within the water block.

Water blocks for central processing units are fairly universal but some other computer devices like graphics cards needs specific water blocks so be sure to get the right one. Washers and bolts are used to attach the water blocks to the computer device through the motherboard.

Water Pumps

Water pumps make the water flow. They can be either a centrifugal pump or a submersible pump. If using submersible pumps, make sure that the pump itself will not generate heat that can be transferred to the coolant reservoir.

Monitor, too, the rate of the coolant's flow through the system. A very rapid flow of coolant can mean that there is not enough time for the water blocks to transfer the heat to the coolant. A very sluggish flow or coolant, on the other hand, can mean that the heat is not dissipated fast enough to prevent the computer from overheating.