Frequently Asked Questions
- What does "ID", "OD", and "G 1/4 BSP" mean?
- Do you sell your products directly? Where can I purchase your products outside of the U.S./Canada?
- How much heat can your systems dissipate? What temperatures can I expect to see?
- Which processors does Koolance support? Do your systems support multiple cores and processors?
- Which motherboards does Koolance support?
- Why should I use a Koolance system, and not build my own?
- Which power supply does Koolance recommend? How much wattage is required?
- What are the noise levels of your systems?
- Can I add your cooling system to an existing case?
- Which nozzle and hose diameter should I use?
- Where can I get more information on the installation of a Koolance system?
- How many liquid coolers can I place into the system?
- Do you have any problems with condensation?
- What type of maintenance does the system require?
- How do you avoid biological growth?
- Wouldn't glycol, alcohol, or oil be better than a primarily water-based coolant?
- I am interested in overclocking my system. How high can I get my chip?
- If your coolers are chained in series, wouldn't hot liquid from the CPU hinder the next cooler's performance?
- I have another company's product that uses 8mm (5/16") ID tubing. How can I incorporate this?
- Can I use peltiers with a Koolance system?
- Do your coolers work with the AMD or Nvidia video cards?
- How far away can I place the Exos from my computer system?
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What does "ID", "OD", and "G 1/4 BSP" mean? [Top]
- ID means "inner diameter". It refers to the internal width of a hose or connection. 6mm (1/4"), 10mm (3/8"), and 13mm (1/2") are common ID sizes.
- OD means "outer diameter". It refers to the external width of a hose or connection. 10mm (3/8"), 13mm (1/2"), 16mm (5/8"), and 19mm (3/4") are common OD sizes.
- G 1/4 BSP (British Standard Pipe) is a pipe thread specification. Nowadays, it does not refer to the diameter of the fitting. G 1/4 BSP is the most common parallel threading type used by the computer liquid cooling industry. Unlike NPT tapered threads used in North American plumbing, parallel BSP threads seal with an o-ring collar and do NOT use sealing compound or teflon tape. In fact, sealing materials should be avoided to prevent interference with the o-ring.
Do you sell your products directly? Where can I purchase your products outside of the U.S./Canada? [Top]
Koolance.com sells most products directly, but also through existing sales channels. Please see our Dealer Page. Koolance and many online resellers and distributors (both in North America and elsewhere) ship internationally. Please check with the individual dealer to inquire into international shipping. We realize that the demand is very high for our systems, and although it can be difficult to acquire them in some areas, establishing world-wide distribution is a high priority.
How much heat can your systems dissipate? What temperatures can I expect to see? [Top]
Please see our Cooling System Chart for product details. To get a sense of hardware heat output, please click here.
Which processors does Koolance support? Do your systems support multiple cores and processors? [Top]
Processor compatibility depends on the Koolance CPU block model. Please see our Product Wizard for details.
All Koolance systems can potentially support multiple processors and cores. It's simply a matter of choosing a compatible CPU cooling block, and a system that provides adequate heat dissipation for your total hardware load (see How to Build a Koolance).
Which motherboards does Koolance support? [Top]
Koolance has both proprietary full coverage blocks designed for specific motherboards, along with more universal chipset and voltage regulator water blocks. Please see our Product Wizard for suggestions.
Why should I use a Koolance system, and not build my own? [Top]
DIY (do it yourself) kits have been on the market for quite some time. Individuals have made arguments for better temperatures or costs, but let's face it: ultimately, some people just like doing it themselves. Mounting the radiator, adapting the pump, splicing wires... if a bit of drilling and cutting doesn't phase you, installing a kit from scratch can be fun. Koolance offers all manner of individual components for just this type of application.
Until Koolance, it was necessary to order a separate CPU cooler, pump, and radiator (often from different companies), and modify your chassis as needed to accommodate these parts. Although our systems come pre-modified, the individual is still responsible for laying tubing and installing cooler kits. Essentially however, we take the guess work out of fitting components.
As for performance and cost? Well, you'll have to make up your own mind. Many customers simply don't have the time, or appreciate a complete system with warranty from a well-established company (with products on the market since 2000).
Which power supply does Koolance recommend? How much wattage is required? [Top]
Koolance offers specialized liquid-cooled power supplies. The power requirements for Koolance cooling systems are relatively low. Exos-based cooling systems (and most pump + triple/quad-fan radiator setups) typically range from 20-60W.
What are the noise levels of your systems? [Top]
Liquid cooling offers the potential to remove all regular fans in a computer system. Koolance's actively cooled heat exchangers feature quiet & reliable dual ball-bearing fans. Cumulatively, they are typically quieter than the average CPU/case fan system. Moreover, most users find they can reduce pump speed without any decrease in thermal performance.
Can I add your cooling system to an existing case? [Top]
Koolance offers various drop-in and external solutions, along with individual products to be used with your existing chassis.
Which nozzle and hose diameter should I use? [Top]
Koolance recommends 10mm (3/8") internal diameter tubing and nozzles for most cooling systems. 13mm (1/2") ID is also available from Koolance, although it won't necessarily provide better temperatures compared to 10mm (3/8").
On the smaller side, 6mm (1/4") ID is sufficient for low to moderate level cooling systems. It is also ideal for low-profile servers and other hardware with space constraints like rack mounted servers, small form-factor (SFFPC), and home theater (HTPC) computers. Please see How to Build a Koolance for more information.
Where can I get more information on the installation of a Koolance system? [Top]
We highly recommend that users download our illustrated User Manuals to get an idea of the installation process for each major component. There is also an introductory page available on assembling a Koolance system. If you upgrade or build your own computer, you will likely have no difficulty.
How many liquid coolers can I place into the system? [Top]
There is no universal maximum number of coolers allowed in a typical cooling system. This limitation will depend upon your specific thermal requirements, hose configuration, and at what temperatures you are comfortable with. Please see How to Build a Koolance for more information.
Do you have any problems with condensation? [Top]
Our systems do not use refrigerants or thermoelectric devices of any type, so components are always above or equal to ambient temperature. That removes any risk for condensation.
What type of maintenance does the system require? [Top]
Very little. The reservoir level should be checked every 6-12 months, and refilled if necessary (which tends to be rare). We also recommend replacing the liquid in your system every 2-3 years, or if it becomes murky or discolored. Additional Koolance liquid coolant can be purchased inexpensively from Koolance.com, or your local dealer.
How do you avoid biological growth? [Top]
The liquid coolant included with each Koolance case includes a small amount of additional chemicals to address biological growth and corrosion. It is important to add only Koolance-approved coolants in filling your system. Regular tap water, bottled drinking water, and "purified" water will eventually develop organic growth (and possibly corrosion). This is bad for temperatures, can be messy to clean up, and could potentially cause hardware damage.
Wouldn't glycol, alcohol, or oil be better than a primarily water-based coolant? [Top]
Water-based solutions are the most effective liquids at conducting heat (after mercury)-- better than alcohol, glycol, or oil. Alcohol and many types of oils should be completely avoided because they can chemically react with certain materials. For example, alcohol can cause cracks in acrylic.
I am interested in overclocking my system. How high can I get my chip? [Top]
We do not actively test the overclocking potential of processors with our systems-- only their heat output. It is not guaranteed that a particular processor will run at a specific speed, but if you are overclocking, you'll certainly have better odds with liquid cooling. (Of course, the user assumes responsibility for operating their own equipment at the speed they want.)
If your coolers are chained in series, wouldn't hot liquid from the CPU hinder the next cooler's performance? [Top]
The prime focus is on moving the liquid through each component as quickly as possible, but in optimal relationship with the heat exchanger's dissipation potential. There are ways to utilize both series and parallel designs effectively.
The temperature difference of the liquid between the CPU cooler and the next cooler is typically less than 1-2°C. Liquid returning to the heat exchanger after completing an entire loop is generally only 2-5°C higher than when it exited. This makes cooling dual processors, a motherboard chipset, dual video card chipsets, and dual hard drives entirely possible with a suffient radiator and pump. (Please see "Why Liquid" for more information.)
I have another company's product that uses 8mm (5/16") ID tubing. How can I incorporate this? [Top]
8mm (5/16") ID tubing and nozzles are used in some liquid cooling systems, particularly in Europe and Asia. Koolance has an adapter available for this tubing size to allow other nozzles and hose sizes.
Can I use peltiers with a Koolance system? [Top]
Thermoelectric devices can bring the initial chip surface down a few degrees, but the heat output they produce for this effect (not to mention the required power consumption) is substantially greater than the cooling produced. Peltiers can also suffer from heat migration to the cold side after extended use due to this inefficiency. Nonetheless, using them should not provide any difficulty with Koolance products if the water block mounting bracket will allow an object to be inserted between it and the heat source. Please note that TEC's carry a risk of condensation without proper temperature control.
Do your coolers work with the AMD or Nvidia video cards? [Top]
Please see our Product Wizard for more information on compatible video coolers for these cards.
How far away can I place the Exos from my computer system? [Top]
We have successfully tested Exos systems up to 10 meters (33 ft) from the system with a single CPU cooler. However, the number of coolers and environment can affect the total acceptable length. In general, placing the Exos anywhere within 10 feet of the computer should work well, as long as the cooling unit remains in the correct orientation.
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