For the first time since single core processors (my lovely Thunderbird 1333) I went and retried my ever changing custom loop like 6 months ago.

I started with my own copper block, a car heating radiator, and a garden pump (such was the custom at the time - if you wanted the quietest experience).

Soon after I got one od EKs first prototypes (there wasn’t a company yet) and proper 240 + 120 radiators (that lasted, never needed an upgrade).
Also went from a shitty generic GPU block (now my pencil holder) to only full cover water blocks bcs gfx cards became monsters.

We in the community looked down on the pre-built water cooling solutions for the common plebs.

Over the years I actually saved a lot of money by largely keeping the cooling components unchanged throughout the years - and having a completely silent PC all this time (defined by my hearing at 0.5m or more away). Everything was always on fixed rpm, no matter the load. Except the Seasonic PSU, which was passive up until certain loads or temperatures my rig basically never reached.

As air cooling (only recently) became actually good (like 150+W at lets say ‘only pleasantly audible fans’) I did feel like I was being a bit too snobbish insisting on water.

Now my ITX is air cooler … so my graphics card let’s me know when I’ve been playing a game for 30s or so. How thoughtful.

When I upgrade my gfx card I’ll prob buy a cheap full cover block from China & try fitting it (it will prob need some work). I kinda don’t want to pay that much extra for a card with a good stock cooler, nor go for a nice aftermarket air cooler.

But for CPU, as I don’t buy high end CPUs for my desktop no more, air is fine. And my Noctua could prob be fitted on future platforms as well.

I do have a 280 Arctic AIO pre-built water cooler, its actually good (I would prefer to have a separate reservoir, but it’s fine). But my i7 just doesn’t need it to stay quiet. And Im not watering my servers bcs they run 24/7 & I don’t care that much about the noise.