Many power PC users already know about watercooling. Though several PC enthusiasts were apprehensive to the use of liquid within an electronic environment, watercooling has now become one of the most saught after cooling technologies available. As any new technology, many may find that building a watercooling system can be a bit on the expensive side, however there are many ways to build a high quality, inexpensive watercooling system. Here is a guide to show you the pros/cons to Watercooling Kits vs. DIY. Let’s start with pros/cons and move on to parts/components.

Watercooling Kit(s) vs. DIY

Watercooling Kit(s) Pros:

* Ease of mind – no worries of missing components
* Ease of installation – directions and resources included.
* Ease of use – step by step install instructions and all parts included
* Less risk of badly matched components
* Convenience and ease
* Little or no soldering/fabrication needed
* All or most parts are included
* Less work
* No need to be a computer wiz or highly hands-on

DIY Pros:

* More component variant choices
* Less expensive based on component choice and system complexity
* Learn as you go – good experience however, many mishaps can/may occur
* Not all kits perform due to lack of component choice, component choice is all you have when you DIY!
* Performance
* Top water blocks (not in kits), however quite a bit of work
* Higher quality parts
* Custom configuration more suitable for a given case
* Hands on learning

If you decide to utilize the simplicity and ease of use of a kit but still desire peak performance, find a nicely priced Watercooling Kit under $70 (pounds UK).

For those choosing to go the DIY route,

Parts/Components:

Watercooling System Needs (Basic):

* Pump
* Water Cooling Block (CPU)
* Radiator
* Hoses and Fittings
* Reservoir (recommended for all systems)
* Water Additive
* Thermal Compound

For any DIYer, these will be your basic needs to reduce heat in your system. If your heat reduction needs are minimal then this is the basis of what you will need. For those needing to reduce heat at higher levels (recommended to maintain system integrity and longevity) the following additional components can assist in creating an almost 40% decrease in heat production within your system.

Watercooling System Needs (Advanced):

* Chipset Water Block
* GPU Water Block
* Secondary Radiator
* Cooling Controller
* Hard Drive Cooler

NOTE : Not all pumps can not just be plugged into your PSU, some may need to be plugged into an outlet! Relays can fix this.

For more resources and information on water cooling, please check my guides and reviews as I will be adding more each week.
If you have any questions contact me here , using the eBay messaging system. I'd be happy to assist anyone interested in watercooling technology or pc modding.