hi, im currently thinking of upgradeing to a water cooling system but im unsure on a few things. firstly, what exactly is cooled other than the cpu? would i no longer need fans? would i need a bigger case? thanks
While the CPU is typically the main part cooled, there are waterblocks for the northbridge, graphics chip, memory (OCZ has some modules out that are rigged for both air and water cooling out of the box), and even hard drives. There is a fan, but this is used in conjunction with the radiator. These days a 120mm fan is typically used. So, while, yes a fan is in use, being a larger unit allows for a slower RPM to move a decent amount of air, and keeps the noise down. It's not absolutely required with something like the Zalman Resorator system, but that's the main exception and is not made to be a very mobile unit. You'll typically be able to get away with less fans, but count on at least one for use in the radiator.
