16 GB is more than sufficient considering there isn't a piece of software that will use 8 GB unless you're into Autocad or something. Right now you'll never use 16 GB, let alone more. There's room for upgrade down the line. As for water cooling, if you read the post, I did consider it but since I'm not a fan, stayed with air cooling. Matter of opinion. Also I didn't see a good spot to mount the radiator and exhaust fans in the case I chose. Maybe in the middle of the back, but it would have to be a small radiator.