I just puchased all my parts for my new pc =
Thermaltake 2000a tower
Asus p4c800-e deluxe
P4 3.0 (800fsb)
Corsair twinx1024-4000 (500mhz)
Raptor 10000rpm hdd

Because of the ram being capable of handleing a 250mhz fsb, I was going to overclock at just that.

I seriously dont think the factory hs that it comes with the cpu will be able to handle that much...
Do you guys think the Swiftech MCX4000 will be able to do the job with a good 80mm fan, or 120mm with adapter , or is liquid cooling the only thing that will work ?

I will not guarantee that you will get to 250fsb with any cooling solution, there are too many variables!

I will tell you that water cooling is never "necessary". If water cooling does not excite or enthrall you ....... I would emphatically caution you against it!

The swiftech hsf you mentioned or the thermalright slk800u / 900u will give you all the cooling you need.

I suppose that two systems running the exact same hardware (Revisions and stepping codes included) could get different max OCs?

Water cooling
Pros:
--Near silent if the right radiator fans are chosen
--Even mediocre water cooling systems cool well.

Cons:
--Cost
--Installation in some cases


Air cooling
Pros:
--Top-of-the-line heatsinks can match watercooling setups
--Generally cheaper than a watercooling setup of the same calibur

Cons:
--Noise
--Some heatsinks can be pretty bulky
--Wires...damn I hate wires.

The Swiftech heatsink is one of the best on the market IMO and will match the performance of all but the best pure water cooling setups.

For more info compare components here:
http://overclockers.com/articles373/

Sidenote: Woohoo...first new extreme cooling thread in a couple days now.

Buy water cooling

1. Chics dig it
2. Guys think its cool

So you mean that a Swiftech MCX4000 with a fast 80mm fan set up (example)
http://www.xoxide.com/swmcx40he.html
http://www.xoxide.com/ductingmod.html
http://www.xoxide.com/thersmarfani1.html

will give me about the same performance as, lets say the innovatek water cooling kit ? (example)
http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/fro...ex-wat-07.html

With a high speed 80 or 92 mm fan yes. It will come very close to the performance of the average Innovatek kit. 1046 pump-MaxxExpert radiator. Albeit at twice the decibels.

The Thermalright SP-94 should actually equal the same Innovatek kit. (When it becomes available.) At least in most situations. Air will never have the headroom water does at the extreme high end.

But as Putwig stated. Water cooling isn't for everybody. It's takes a lot more cash. More maintenance. And if you screw up. Or just get unlucky....it can cost you your system.

And you can do just as much damage at low temps as high temps if you up voltage too much trying for a big overclock.

G-Money hit the nail on the head. Most do it just to see if they can, or to say they do. Today's high end heatsinks can handle most OC situations, but WC is just plain cooool.

Putwig - Wow! Quite a radical change to the sig!

I thought the H20 kits handled the higher overclocks better than regular HSF setups....that is when H20 power shows its stuff...am I right?? I'm talking like OC'ing a 2.4 GHz P4 to 3.4GHz

Yes, when you are overclocking at that level it is way more efficient than air cooling. Of course, anybody overclocking at that level already knows that.

I got into watercooling just to see if I could do it. I did it, ran rigs for a few years on water but currently have no rigs on water. If you want the big numbers you have to get a little more radical.

Watercooling is a fun and challenging endeavor, but not necessary when you have companies producing heatsinks that will accomodate 92mm and 120mm fans. When most of us started with aqua the only alternative was a screaming 60mm on an aluminum sink.

I thought I said that.

In short yes. Although air and water might be equal at say 100 watts. At 200 watts water would have a definite advantage. It's not a straight linear progression. And there's that chic magnet thing as well.

And I like putwig's sig too.

AntiM; If you ever got chicks because you watercool your computer, you have to let me know where you hang out. Seems to me whenever I start talking computers with girls their eyes start to glaze over.

ns

Whatever happened to the forum cutie that used to get hot and bothered over nice hardware? I miss her. Most girls just don't have that tech chromosone.

The sig is compliments of my man Jinx@, I think he did a killer job!

My wife helps me out modding every now and then, and she provides feedback on aesthetics. I think she can now correctly identify ram ......... but asked me last night where the CPU is.

whoa. u got a kool wife. i am only 17 and there isonly one girl that i now of that is really hot and know about computers. she is in my A+ net+ class. she is so hot. she wanted me for a minute then i said something along these lines. "so when we gonna hook up"

"i don't know"

"well what are u doing for lunch today"
"going out with my friends to mickie Ds"
"why don't u ditch them and hop in my car with me"
"i don't know your not really my type"

"what do u mean i'm a guy ain't I"

thats when she hit me and took off

but hse was hot none the less