Should I Liquid Cool My Computer???

[CodyOdiOdi]

It's not so much an issue with money right now, I have another $500 to spend with my tax return. It's more if I should. I'm running an AMD X2 5400+ that gets to 40c on air. What I was thinking about doing (since I'm going to most likely switch to core i7 this summer) is buying a NZXT Whisper case because it's nice and elegant, and is built for silence. But it's also a big big case, would be easy to work in too. But anyway, I want to put a 3x 120mm RAD up on the top of the case (that'd be the only mod I'd be doing) but I'm wondering if I should go ahead and spend my money on this, or if I should just save it until I take the core i7 leap this summer and water cool it then.

[Spawn-Inc]

its really up to you on when you want to. might be worth waiting to see what new blocks/rads come out for the water cooling world. it would also give you time to read up on what you would be getting into. i spent 3 months on asking questions and reading up on water cooling. mainly finding out whats good and whats not.

since you have a healthy budget what are you after?

performance or silence?

[Vital]

That's a pretty big leap from the AMD to the I7. 40c isn't a bad temperature from what I understand. So I would just wait.

[CodyOdiOdi]

I'm really after performance. I somehow put up with my computer that has 5 case fans currently. So silence is not that big of an issue. What are some good websites? I looked at xoxide.com and they don't have a good selection. Newegg.com obviously doesn't have anything (for the most part) I know people have talked about dangerden, and I've looked at frozencpu.com but what are some other sites that might have a good selection with decent prices (good shipping prices are always good too, I hate sites that charge $10 for a small cathode)

[EspoNation]

just wait for until you get the i7. 40c on an amd chip isnt that bad. i say wait because you are gonna have to get different blocks for the chips and what not so why spend $60 on a block that in 3 months will be usless :) i know its tempting but hold out, intel is dropping new i7 chips with 32nm soon and it will be soooooooo worth it.

[CodyOdiOdi]

Yeah I think I'm going to wait. I gotta figure more stuff out anyway.

[Spawn-Inc]

well the safe block is the GTZ as it has the adaptor for the I7 stuff, but i think its best to wait.

as for places to shop at they top 3 are
Jabtech (http://www.jab-tech.com/), Petras (http://www.petrastechshop.com/), and Sidewinders computers (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/).

i have shopped at the first 2 and both are great companies and have excellent customer service.

and here is reading you can do while you wait

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showpost.php?p=227821&postcount=9

[The boy 4rm oz]

I would wait until you upgrade. The i7 is a fairly hot chip and the only blocks available to it are through a mounting kit, nothing has been specifically developed for it yet. As Espo said the 32nm i7 chips are coming so you would benefeit from waiting (temp and OC wise).

You could get the loop now but then you would have to fiddle around with dismantling it for the upgrade. I don't know about you but since I have water cooled I am not eager to change hardware components. I'll wait for em to die and replace, no tinkering (hardware wise anyway ;))

[EspoNation]

Also with the new i7 setups I have read that there is alot of heat thrown when HT is enabled around 4ghz. I would recommend some a mosfet block to help with the added heat.