PC Peripherals India Based Water Cooling Parts and Products

[Gaurav Grv Robinson]

Hello Everyone,


As a newborn Computer Enthusiast, when I wanted to try my hands at Water Cooling, I couldn't find any such Website/Company providing parts and/or products in India, and like everyone else I had to get all the stuff from abroad and I had to hefty shipping fee and additional custom duties (i'm not forgetting the high anxiety wait throughout the lengthy shipping duration).


So, for the past few weeks I was thinking about a venture in this overlooked department. We already have quality indigenous closed loop and pre built liquid coolers, thanks to SVGTech, but custom water cooling market is something which is (almost) nonexistent here in India. This also discourages new enthusiasts who are skeptical and uninformed about getting stuff from abroad (frozencpu, petrastechshop, xspc etc etc).
An Indian company with quality Rads, Water Blocks, Pumps, Reservoirs,Tubing, Fittinga & Accessories (including good after sales service) is a must now (in my humble opinion).


I just need a little encouragement from you guys and the community so that I can start this ambitious thing, I would also require lots and lots of suggestions, opinions, criticism (too) regarding the same.


So guys, what do you have to say about it. Should we start rolling with me procuring the test samples ??

 

[stalker]

Take a look at the kind of response that SVGTech have had till date. Not very encouraging imho, in-spite of their honest to goodness approach and efforts.

 

[ronnie_gogs]

Water cooling market is so niche that you cannot be limited to a country if want to even break even as a business... I am in Singapore which has a lot of ethusiants and still geting water cooling parts is a PITA and I have to get them from US or Taiwan.... Take the companies which supply for example

Bitspower is Taiwan based
XSPC is uk based
FrozenQ is US based

In my opinion there is no market at all for custom water cooling in India.... Closed units like H80 or SVGtech a little... but complete custom units no market at all...

However if you want to pursue global market then its a different matter altogether. However I dont think you would be able to match the quality/cost advantage of companies with units in China and Taiwan...

 

[Gaurav Grv Robinson]

I gues the only prob with SVGtech is pricing. Their products are good but they are priced just below the most established Big Brands, there is very little difference between the pricing. For a layman, spending just a little extra for an established brand is not a problem.
Whereas in custom cooling, it's not just price that pays a role, it's High shipping rates, custom duties, delivery times etc etc. All these things deter a person from going forward, I just want to cater to these new enthusiasts, and if the quality comes out to be good with better pricing, the pros might also turn to us.

And Ronnie, once we have good enough products, selling outside the country is no big deal. I've got all that planned.

Take a look at the kind of response that SVGTech have had till date. Not very encouraging imho, in-spite of their honest to goodness approach and efforts.

Water cooling market is so niche that you cannot be limited to a country if want to even break even as a business... I am in Singapore which has a lot of ethusiants and still geting water cooling parts is a PITA and I have to get them from US or Taiwan.... Take the companies which supply for example

Bitspower is Taiwan based
XSPC is uk based
FrozenQ is US based

In my opinion there is no market at all for custom water cooling in India.... Closed units like H80 or SVGtech a little... but complete custom units no market at all...

However if you want to pursue global market then its a different matter altogether. However I dont think you would be able to match the quality/cost advantage of companies with units in China and Taiwan...

 

[ronnie_gogs]

Well IMO there is not enough demand for the products in India.... When you think of doing anything related to water cooling always consider global market.... Build and get it to sites like performance pcs or frozen CPU... You can distribute it in India as well... But local demand would not be able to cover costs to even pay for the manufacturing ....

 

[cranky]

You can count on fingers of one hand the number of people who have custom rigs on this forum.

That should answer your question.

A decent custom loop is $400 or so. When your average PC size is around the $1200 mark, you can't expect a custom loop sale with that kind of order. Only when a PC crosses $2000 or so, is when the user may (and it's a pretty big may) think about a custom loop.

That doesn't happen very often. I for one would welcome it (I'm currently tearing out what little hair I have over finding replacement tubing) but I don't know if you can run a successful business with it *unless you get a decent export order*.

The other option is that you provide a very small inventory, as a reseller. Maybe three or four loop configurations, a couple of boxed loops and a small set of consumables - tubing, additives, etc. Inventory management will be crucial to your business model, and a wide range is expensive to manage.

 

[Gaurav Grv Robinson]

What if the $400 quality or even 90% of it is available for under $300 or less in India, delivered at your doorstep in 3-4 days with proper after sales service, returns and warranty ?

As far as inventory and range of products is concerned, I am in regular contact with people who manufacture for the big names, (some of them are in family terms). So inventory is no problem. Regarding variety, I plan to follow XSPC's footsteps, they do not have a horde of different products, but just 3-4 varieties but they are solid built and super performing.

What do you suggest ?

You can count on fingers of one hand the number of people who have custom rigs on this forum.

That should answer your question.

A decent custom loop is $400 or so. When your average PC size is around the $1200 mark, you can't expect a custom loop sale with that kind of order. Only when a PC crosses $2000 or so, is when the user may (and it's a pretty big may) think about a custom loop.

That doesn't happen very often. I for one would welcome it (I'm currently tearing out what little hair I have over finding replacement tubing) but I don't know if you can run a successful business with it *unless you get a decent export order*.

The other option is that you provide a very small inventory, as a reseller. Maybe three or four loop configurations, a couple of boxed loops and a small set of consumables - tubing, additives, etc. Inventory management will be crucial to your business model, and a wide range is expensive to manage.

 

[cranky]

The question is what the missing 10% is about. We know that even Swiftech and XSPC have leaky rads, malfunctioning pumps and wonky fittings.

I wouldn't mind paying as much, or even a little more than US prices (given that's what I end up paying often) for quick fulfillment and at least the same quality.

Don't take my word for it though, as my loop is already up and running and I'll be an incremental buyer at best. WC requires a regular supply of new customers and that's what I'm not sure you'll get.

I really appreciate people like you having the courage to do something like this, but be a little circumspect. SVGTech has voiced his frustrations on another thread. I've seen young entrepreneurs struggle to make their offerings work well specially in high-end PC products, and am not happy with the outcome myself. Think things through properly. Just being on good terms with a supplier and offering great products isn't usually enough. You have to be able to generate sufficient demand, don't assume it's already there.

 

[ronnie_gogs]

If you are an enthusiast who wants to do this whether it makes money or not then its a different matter. But for a business you have to see whether the demand is there or not.

We high spending geeks are a rare bunch in India. When I used to show my rig with a normal Thermalright CPU and GFx cooler people would look at it as if I was showing some alien spaceship.... Water cooling is really really niche... Not everyone has the time and money to build water cooled systems.... And as cranky said once its built people wont do major upgrades like a motherboads or new graphics cards

If I am a guy who wants to build a water cooled rig I would prefer to have known brands like Bitspower, XSPC, Koolance, Swiftech any day over a new Indian brand. However if you have products which are reviewed and tested by known people like martinsliquidlab.org comparing it to other CPU blocks, pumps and water blocks I would consider it. But then you become just another consideration.

Lets go over a basic water cooling setup.

1) Pump - Do you plan to make your own pump. People trust the D5 or MCP655 and the MCP355 for their reliability. Many would not trust any other pump as its the heart of system.
2) CPU waterblock - Has to perform compared to international brands and look really cool as more than 60% of water cooling is about the look
3) Radiator - This should be easiest to make
4) Reservoir - Simple

Now this is what a SVGtech water cooling system is

Custom is
1) Pumps
2) water blocks CPU, GPU , RAM
3) Fittings - 45 degree, compression, barb with different dimensions 3/8 ID and 5/8 OD 1/4 ID 3/4 OD 1/2 ID , stop plugs, 90 degrees, extender male to male, female to female, male female,
4) Tubes
6) Radiator
7) Reservoirs - normal, dual bay, different dimensions

Its custom as I have so many options. If I have to choose a kit I would take a closed system like a H80.

 

[amitkher]

What if the $400 quality or even 90% of it is available for under $300 or less in India, delivered at your doorstep in 3-4 days with proper after sales service, returns and warranty ?

As far as inventory and range of products is concerned, I am in regular contact with people who manufacture for the big names, (some of them are in family terms). So inventory is no problem. Regarding variety, I plan to follow XSPC's footsteps, they do not have a horde of different products, but just 3-4 varieties but they are solid built and super performing.

What do you suggest ?

300$ is expensive. Would a guy spending 300$ just for cooling hesitate in either :
1. Going prebuilt , somewhat less effective cooling systems from , say Corsair, or Cooler Master. Saved money can be spent in better performing PC, or an early upgrade.
2. Upping to 400$.
?

If you open a new manufacturing unit, how can people start trusting your products with 300$? You say your after sales service will be proper, but how can people trust it with so much money?

If you are only interested in custom water cooling, ignore my following words. But if you have a general business interest in serving the under-served computer enthusiast market in India, you can first make your name in a related field. One thing that comes to mind is : quality cabinets. 3-4 years ago, Zebronics had an excellent Bijli cabinet for cheap. When NZXT, BitFenix etc. started selling cabinets with high-end features for under Rs. 3000, Zebronics almost gave up. They instead created a Bijli 2 - with lots of features but bugs too, and expensive - that people started preferring NZXT etc. Result - foreign companies selling lots of cabinets in even Rs 1000-3500 range, which ideally should be Indian manufacturers' niche because importing from abroad; or contract manufacturing in India for a foreign entity both are inherently difficult / expensive.

All other Indian cabinet manufacturers have stupidly designed cabinets, not marketed well and with gaudy looks.

Very cheap plastic cabinets also have a market - but one would need a design suitable to plastic.

After making a name, in any related field not necessarily cabinets, I don't see why your water cooling solutions cannot do well. But with a completely unknown brand, high end stuff cannot sell.

 

[Gaurav Grv Robinson]

I am not trying to reinvent the wheel here, I am in contact with the manufactures who make stuff for the big brands, I'll be just making alterations to their pre-existing products to suit our needs. The idea is to give India (other close countries too) a cheaper, yet reliable ang awesomely good performing water cooling solution. The first phase of morphed samples are with me, (been working on it past 3 months), and I have already started testing with my current rig. Will post the results soon.

If you are an enthusiast who wants to do this whether it makes money or not then its a different matter. But for a business you have to see whether the demand is there or not.

We high spending geeks are a rare bunch in India. When I used to show my rig with a normal Thermalright CPU and GFx cooler people would look at it as if I was showing some alien spaceship.... Water cooling is really really niche... Not everyone has the time and money to build water cooled systems.... And as cranky said once its built people wont do major upgrades like a motherboads or new graphics cards

If I am a guy who wants to build a water cooled rig I would prefer to have known brands like Bitspower, XSPC, Koolance, Swiftech any day over a new Indian brand. However if you have products which are reviewed and tested by known people like martinsliquidlab.org comparing it to other CPU blocks, pumps and water blocks I would consider it. But then you become just another consideration.

Lets go over a basic water cooling setup.

1) Pump - Do you plan to make your own pump. People trust the D5 or MCP655 and the MCP355 for their reliability. Many would not trust any other pump as its the heart of system.
2) CPU waterblock - Has to perform compared to international brands and look really cool as more than 60% of water cooling is about the look
3) Radiator - This should be easiest to make
4) Reservoir - Simple

Now this is what a SVGtech water cooling system is

Custom is
1) Pumps
2) water blocks CPU, GPU , RAM
3) Fittings - 45 degree, compression, barb with different dimensions 3/8 ID and 5/8 OD 1/4 ID 3/4 OD 1/2 ID , stop plugs, 90 degrees, extender male to male, female to female, male female,
4) Tubes
6) Radiator
7) Reservoirs - normal, dual bay, different dimensions

Its custom as I have so many options. If I have to choose a kit I would take a closed system like a H80.

- - - Updated - - -

Working on the costing too, a full custom cpu loop with my setup is closely costing me under $250, when I go bulk, it will come down a little lower, there might be an increment too due to packaging and brand on the products.

I am only interested in Water Cooling. We have many other player for other PC stuff. And regarding the money, I already told you it'll cost somewhere around sub $250, with ALL of my stuff. Do not that someone might just buy a cpu block from me, or a rad, or just the pump, the price of an individual product is almost 30-40% less than the prices in USA/UK or anywhere else.
And as for the performance, I m conducting tests, and will update you all ASAP.

And BTW thank you all for your super suggestions, I'll be wanting more of these as I plan and go ahead. Love you guys.

300$ is expensive. Would a guy spending 300$ just for cooling hesitate in either :
1. Going prebuilt , somewhat less effective cooling systems from , say Corsair, or Cooler Master. Saved money can be spent in better performing PC, or an early upgrade.
2. Upping to 400$.
?

If you open a new manufacturing unit, how can people start trusting your products with 300$? You say your after sales service will be proper, but how can people trust it with so much money?

If you are only interested in custom water cooling, ignore my following words. But if you have a general business interest in serving the under-served computer enthusiast market in India, you can first make your name in a related field. One thing that comes to mind is : quality cabinets. 3-4 years ago, Zebronics had an excellent Bijli cabinet for cheap. When NZXT, BitFenix etc. started selling cabinets with high-end features for under Rs. 3000, Zebronics almost gave up. They instead created a Bijli 2 - with lots of features but bugs too, and expensive - that people started preferring NZXT etc. Result - foreign companies selling lots of cabinets in even Rs 1000-3500 range, which ideally should be Indian manufacturers' niche because importing from abroad; or contract manufacturing in India for a foreign entity both are inherently difficult / expensive.

All other Indian cabinet manufacturers have stupidly designed cabinets, not marketed well and with gaudy looks.

Very cheap plastic cabinets also have a market - but one would need a design suitable to plastic.

After making a name, in any related field not necessarily cabinets, I don't see why your water cooling solutions cannot do well. But with a completely unknown brand, high end stuff cannot sell.

- - - Updated - - -

Testing them with my current rig, i3770K, ASRock Z77 MoBo, 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 MHz, TX750 PSU, 120GB SSD and 2 TB HDD
Software, CPU-Z 1.61 and Core Temp 1.0 RC3 for Monitoring and Price95 64Bit V25.11 for CPU Stress Test and Stability
CPU Only Loop with 240MM Rad.
Will post results soon.

 

[ronnie_gogs]

Good luck to you then... Looking forward to your results...

 

[sudhanshu123]

The one insane thing you can get going for yourself is transforming the whole image of custom water cooling from a "hassle" and "expensive" to something we begin recommending to every newcomer with a decent budget(under 50k-60k),then i think you can get a horde of customers(and profit).

 

[Sudarshan_SMD]

I am assuming below statements based on your statement:

I am not trying to reinvent the wheel here, I am in contact with the manufactures who make stuff for the big brands, I'll be just making alterations to their pre-existing products to suit our needs

You'd be sourcing your products from a manufacturer who manufactures products for other companies. Now your products will not be much different as compared to other already available, well established, reputed/well reviewed brand products. There will be nothing much different in your product.

Why would someone buy your products, when well established options are already available for some more price? A person going for water-cooling would not consider the extra amount much and will go for well established product.

As everybody here is saying, "Watercooling is niche in India".

If you want to be profitable in this business the products must:
-Have performance advantage over competition.
Or
-They need to be much cheaper.
Even if you manage to get anything of it right, there won't be much buyers from India.

I can understand the urge to launch such products in India, which comes out of enthusiasm. However, one needs to consider the number of products that would be sold.

Will like to see what @rakesh_sharma23 has to say about this.

 

[sumonpathak]

so...one more goin SVGtech way?

 

[stalker]

On that note, DangerDen just shutdown.

 

[rakesh_sharma23]

First I like to appreciate the efforts of “Gaurav”.
I know there is very little market of Custom WC, but I wouldgo with Gaurav this time..
One of the main reasons of such a small market is local availabilityof parts. I am sure many people like me are ready to go for Custom WC,, butafraid of purchasing from abroad (Custom’s duty and other)
Gaurav if you keep your words regarding Pricing, Quality andAvailability, then gradually you will make a good market for Custom WC.
I would also suggest instead making your own brand Product, Makingavailable well known brands products in India will be a good start.

 

[raghud]

What is the amount that has to be paid in customs when importing watercooling equipment? How is it paid? Do you have to go to the customs department?

 

[Infected]

What is the amount that has to be paid in customs when importing watercooling equipment? How is it paid? Do you have to go to the customs department?

It really depends on where you import from and how you import...
There are many ways to import and many ways to pay customs, eg. Amazon.com charges customs upfront. and others you might have to pay to DHL or whoever.
I have imported more than one Water cooling setup's but please note it is only for the enthusiast in me and not for any 'sale' purpose.
My custom loop by now has costed me over 20K...with all the bling, fan controllers, fans etc So its not value for money at all!!!! (...but the best part I have ran my i7 at5.5Ghz 24/7 for the last 2 years nearly.)
Its something so niche that I have not seen more than a handful of Custom Water Cooled, setups in the country.

 

[raghud]

Ok. Say I was ordering from frozencpu and having it delivered to new delhi. Would I have to pay customs to the shipping company like DHL?