Just how cool...?

Just out of personal curiosity, how cool can water coolant systems keep your pc? How effective are water coolant systems? and how much would a water coolant system help your system run high CPU using programs. Or high graphical stuff, such as games. Again, I have no real reason for wanting to know this. I was just curious about it and thought this would be the place to ask. Thanks.

~Legitimize

Thermodynamics rule #1: A system can't, without applying external force, be cooled below ambient.

So a watercooling rig can never cool something cooler than the air blowing over the radiator.

Itsacon is correct. To go below that requires the use of refrigerant (or some other cooling method). In that case, results are strictly dependent upon the method used and the environment it is being used in.

Now you might be saying, what's the point if I can't get lower than 25c or so? Well liquid does a much better job than air for continuously cooling your parts. So you processor will stay at lower temperatures than with air, even if you are stressing or overclocking it.

The numbers are invented but the idea is the same:

CPU cooling with air: 30C
CPU cooling with air at a massive overclock: 55C

CPU cooling with water: 30C
CPU cooling with water at a massive overclock: 40C

So water is much more effective at high speeds and overclocks.

Expanding on what Fuhzy is saying...even though air and liquid are only capable of cooling to ambient, liquid moves heat more efficiently. This essentially means quicker.

Thanks for clearing up that subject.

~Legitimize