Heh heh heh.....well, go ahead with that opinion......
I dunno what your background is, and no offence, if you've got a fundamental foundation in physics or engineering.
It's no problem if you don't, it just determines the level at which i can use to explain things.
In any case, I'm writing this for any others that pick up the thread and want to learn themselves about the issues.
The fundamental point here is that anyone who starts adding or modifying the CPU clock speed, and needs more cooling, so they don't fry it, is either totally at the mercy of people who DO know what they are doing, or CLAIM they do, or else they can learn the necessary to be able to help themselves.
I'm a fan of helping myself.
And it's not very hard to pick up enough to be able to see that it's very useful to be able to monitor how well your modified system runs.
Or doesn't run.
After all, that's where we came in: we have a guy asking why his modified sysatem is overheating.
And the syatem he's been sold by the people he trusted to do the job right, haven't given him enough to solve the issue.
Or even to be able to pass it to others who DO have the knowledge.
In terms of a LOT of extra thermal monitoring sensors, you've missed my point.
I did NOT say you need to add an extra microprocessor (e.g. Arduino based) thermal monitoring system.
Not did I say you NEEDED to monitor flow rate.
I said you COULD, and in terms of bling it's better than having some really useless flashing RGB's.
I DID say that any add-on cooling system like this needs to have some basic feedback to be able to tell you if it's working.
Basic.
Even just ONE temperature sensor.
If you dispute that, then I think it's best to stop reading now.
Otherwise....
Just looking at the CPU sensor is not much help.
It's like the red oil light on American cars that were called the "Idiot Lights".
When they turn on, you know there's a problem, and a pretty serious one.
But it gives you zero really helpful info about WHAT the problem is.
And some people tend to ignore it in any case: even put a bit of tape over it because it annoys them.....:-}
Sigh.
Better designed cars had more instrumentation, like oil pressure gauges and oil temperature gauges.
And modern cars have a LOT of sensors.
I'm not sure if you lift the hood of your car, but if you do, you can do a lot of the basic checking on your car yourself if you can access this instrumentation.
For $10 and a free app that runs on a smartphone you can see what the dealer does on their diagnosis instrument.
I'm not saying you need to be able to replace your cam belt yourself, but with a very minimal outlay, and a bit of reading, you can get on top of one of the most complex bits of machinery you're likely to see.
Be able to pick up issues BEFORE it fails.
And the reason for that, is being able to access the instrumentation.
So the parallel in a computer, is being able to access the various sensors in the hardware.
Assuming they exist.
And when Intel, AMD, Toshiba or Nvidia makes stuff, they add sensors.
For the critical issues.
So the obvious thing for a system critical component like cooling your over-clocked CPU is to have some instrumentation.
I presented a VERY inexpensive and very easy to install idea on how to retrofit a temperature sensor.
I'm sure you could do that if you wanted to.
I'm also sure that any coolant system should have one installed as an OEM feature.
So why don't they?
Well, because most people who jump on the overclock bandwagon aren't told it's a good idea, and don't know enough about physics or engineering to see it's a good idea.
Is there a risk of damage if you don't cool properly?
Yes.
Use Mr. Google, and have a look at all the advice that's given.
They ALL say you need to be careful about proper cooling.
And that you can fry your CPU if you don't have it.
You cannot rely on the CPU's sytems to save it from damage caused by poor cooling.
And use Mr. Google to see the number of times where people have cooked their CPU's.
And that's the low end, because I'm sure most who do that are too embasrrassed to admit it.
OK, so you read all this advice on how and why to overclock, and decide you want to overclock.
You then buy what seems to be a nice cooliong system.
Lots of transparent tubers, clear panels and coloured water.
Yee hah.
You then install it, and run your system.
And do whatever checks you read are needed.
Yee hah!
All good.
Ah....but is it?
It's only all good if your cooling system STAYS working properly.
If it starts to degrade, for any reason, your CPU isn't getting cooled.
And you can indeed fry it.
Very quickly.
And you might well not see the signs from the CPU Side for various reasons.
And without anything on your cooling water side, you're clueless about it getting gradually worse.
Is like driving down the highways, the idiot Light comes on, and before you can pull over....boommmmmm.......hsssssss.....and a cloud of smoke from in front.
Or sometimes that happens without the idiot light going on.
If you're going to cool your computer, you should do it right the FIRST time.
(1) Benchmark it BEFORE you start to fiddle with things.
(2) Look at upgrading the case BEFORE you start adding cooling.
More space makes it a LOT easier to add the cooling.
(3) Check that the existing fans are sufficient, and positioned right
Any liquid cooling system will work a LOT better if you get a good airflow through your case
(4) Don't get the cheapest or coolest looking cooling system, try to get something that's been designed for your specific situation.
And seriously, find one with a temperature sensor, or ask how you can add one if you don't know how to
(5) Benchmark your system in the new setup, and THEN start to mess with overclocking
And WRITE stuff down, in terms of loads and temperatures.
Clearly enough so that in a years time you know what it means.