Watercooling 3/8"ID vs 1/2" ID - Watercoolers of BT - what do you use?

I've used 1/2"ID for my whole life, but I'm considering switching to 3/8"ID because of the increased flexibility.

What does everyone else use? Is there anyone out there that has used both?

 

I've used both.

3/8" is nice as it's a tight fit over 1/2" barbs

 

I use 7/16"ID

I probably switch sometime as it's a pain to find fittings in that size.

 

3/8" here, have used 1/2" in the past and it's horrible for cramped multiblock setups - while 3/8" is so easy to use.

 

I've always used 1/2" ID 3/4" OD. The Masterkleer tubing seems to be the most supple that I have used.

 

I use 3/8"ID, 5/8"OD. I prefer the bend radius of this size tubing and larger tubing looks too chunky to me. I did used to use 3/8"ID, 1/2"OD but it'd kink too easily on some bends.

 

My sig rig build uses 1/2" ID. Theres some pics there to get a feel for the size and thickness of the tubing.

Its good for flow but bad if you are working in a tight space. I would only recpmmend it if you using a nice roomy case

 

1/2", barbs and jubilee clips.

 

3/8" ID here.

 

I've just got into water cooling and I use 7/16" but as mrmonkeychunks pointed out trying to get fittings is a pain

 

Same. And being a cheapskate, I'll never use bigger because I have loads of fittings now.

Out of curiosity; why did you choose the 7/16"? I'm pretty new to wc also... so just chose ubiquitous fittings instead.

 

Currently using 3/8" ID at the moment, however when I get my Corsair Obsidian 900D I will be switching to 1/2" ID again, as I just think it looks better but it does tend to take abit to get the bends right in it.

 

Trying to dig it up now, but a in depthtest was done by one of the liquidlabs, and 1/2 makes next to no difference in cooling or flow. 3/8 was seen as more than adequate in all situations.

Photos are dead, but this was one of the threads: link

 

The reason I ended up with this size is because I ended up getting some cheap ek fitting on the marketplace which decided it for me. I didn't really research the fittings and tubing I just went in head first, I couldn't be bothered to wade through all the information

 

1/2" ID, I like it, maybe I will switch in the future since my mobo's block is for 3/8" ID. We'll see though. I did just order 6ft of 1/2" ID tubing.......(I like extra)

 

7/16 ID tubing works well stretched over 1/2" ID barbs etc. Normally seals so tight doesn't need clips.

 

I've used a mix of 3/8ths and 1/2" for a long time, what's made the big difference is wall thickness.

Last time I re-tubed I wanted to move to compression fittings, so bought some 3/8"ID-1/2"OD tubing which has been a real pain - it's kinked on every run and been a real pain in the arse. So I'm going back to 3/8"ID-5/8"OD.

Incidentally, 5/16" fits very nicely onto a 1/2" barb, you won't need a hose clip.

Oh, does anyone have a brand recommendation for tubing? £7/m for Tygon seems a little steep when there are cheaper alternatives.

 

Masterkleer has been dubbed "I can't believe it's not Tygon" on some sites - I think it was either Martin's Liquid Lab or Skinnee's Lab or someone similar

 

1/2"ID 5/8"OD Koolance compression fittings here with some plain old Tygon from FrozenCPU. I must admit it likes to kink a bit, but I usually got that sorted out by trimming my tubes and/or shifting my fittings (rotating fittings rock). The only real issue I had was I had about a 3" or 4" length of tube collapse on me between my res and my pump's intake.

 

Has anyone else found that 3/8" likes to kink?