SPCR

I currently have a fairly quiet setup:

Phenom 965 C2 - stock
Zalman CNPS10x Flex with 2 Scythe S-Flex E fans running at 600rpm (increasing dependent on temp using SpeedFan)
Gigabyte Radeon 4870 1GB with Zalman GV1000 cooler
Coolermaster 690-II Advanced Case
1 x 140mm Coolermaster intake fan - 540rpm -> Max dependent on temp
1 x 140mm Coolermaster exhaust fan - 540rpm -> Max dependent on temp
1 x 120mm Coolermaster exhaust fan - 660rpm -> Max dependent on temp

During general use the system is very quiet, and when idling, all that can be heard is the spinning of the hard disks. With an ambient temp of 20c, idle temp is 26-27c and load temp is 51c.

I am contemplating splashing out on a watercooling setup to keep the system running quiet all of the time, even under load.

I have two watercooling systems in mind:
1. Zalman Reserator1 V2 with GPU RAM and NB coolers - £180

2. Swiftech custom kit consisting of:
Swiftech Apogee GTZ: £45.95
Swiftech MCP 655 Pump: £ 65.91
Swiftech MCR220 QPK Radiator: £29.34 - 1 to start with just for CPU
Swiftech MCRES: £17.99
Total: £159.19 plus coolant and tubing

Then once I have the lot setup, I will go on to WC the GPU and chipset:
Second MCR220 QPK Radiator: £29.34
Swiftech MCW60: £39.95
I would then get either just one Swiftech MCW30 for the Northbridge, or get a second for the Southbridge too - £18.95 each
Total: £107.19 plus tubing

So my question is before contemplating this anymore, is will either of these kits be quieter than I have now? If so would the second more expensive kit be any better than the Reserator (ie would the reserator handle a Phenom 965 and a 4870).

I am more interested in silence than overclocking potential.

In essence, should I stick to air or carry on down this line of thought?

when idling, all that can be heard is the spinning of the hard disks. With an ambient temp of 20c, idle temp is 26-27c and load temp is 51c

I don't see much benefit from WC, reading the above (It will not reduce your HDD noise and you don't need any more cooling power). Actually I would see that you could run your fans even slower? How about investing the same amount of money to SSD instead of WC?

That was my other consideration, I have even configured Win7 on a 64GB partition ready to move across to a 64GB SSD if I do go down that route.

My issue with air is that the slightest raise in temp causes the fans to increase in speed. I believe with WC this is not the case.

Why not just improve your air cooling.

Get the new Noctua super cooler with 3 radiators. Remove the Noctua fans and replace them. Try two configurations:
o three Nexus fans (see the SPCR review of this heatsink)
o three Akasa Apache PWM fans (Akasa has a special optional connector to hook several of them up to a single pwm header)

The new Noctua super cooler works well with any fans. But stays cool better than even other super coolers as the temps get higher... as long as it has enough air current. Three PWM Akasas would stroke along at 500rpm and handle a lot of thermal load without any noise... but if they get pushed, they will take it up to 1500 rpm.

That is likely to cool better than most water cooling systems and most likely quieter. My understanding is that there are no quiet water pumps out there.... and the Reservator doesn't have the thermal capacity to compare to an air cooler like the Noctua.

With water calling... you are still cooling with fans... but you now have the water pump. Generally the people who buy water pumps are interested inj performance, not sound... so that is what manufacturers produce.

Also, make sure to duct in fresh air to the heat sink. That alone is worth a few degrees of performance. If it is 75 degrees in your room and 85 degrees in the case.... that is 10 degrees difference.