Is my AIO mounted ok

Minibiker · 3 Apr 2021 at 17:24

Hi all

I know theres a lot of controversy over how to and how not to mount an AIO but I wanted to make sure mine will be OK or shall I flip it so the inlet/outlet is on the bottom

https://ibb.co/xhnLGY1

Cheers

tyler_jrb · 3 Apr 2021 at 17:38

Looks fine to me, i can’t see any issue with it.

Probably the best way around in that setup. Ideally you want a rad in that orientation with the ports at the top. Air wants to rise and in that orientation it will allow it to do so freely. Other way around then can be difficult to bleed especially in custom loops.

Minibiker · 3 Apr 2021 at 17:47

tyler_jrb said:
Looks fine to me, i can’t see any issue with it.

Probably the best way around in that setup. Ideally you want a rad in that orientation with the ports at the top. Air wants to rise and in that orientation it will allow it to do so freely. Other way around then can be difficult to bleed especially in custom loops.

That's good to hear, cheers bud

SpudMaster · 4 Apr 2021 at 10:01

tyler_jrb said:
Looks fine to me, i can’t see any issue with it.

Probably the best way around in that setup. Ideally you want a rad in that orientation with the ports at the top. Air wants to rise and in that orientation it will allow it to do so freely. Other way around then can be difficult to bleed especially in custom loops.

In a custom loop that's correct but in an AIO it's not possible to bleed out air. It should be bled already but there will always be a small amount. Ultimately I'd say it makes very little difference but with the rad in that orientation it has the potential to be a little noisier as the air can be drawn around the system.

Gamers Nexus did a video about it a while ago which sparked up the controversy. It was probably them just being anal as I said there's very little difference but it can be there.

OP, if your happy with it I wouldn't worry about it

Minibiker · 4 Apr 2021 at 10:04

SpudMaster said:
In a custom loop that's correct but in an AIO it's not possible to bleed out air. It should be bled already but there will always be a small amount. Ultimately I'd say it makes very little difference but with the rad in that orientation it has the potential to be a little noisier as the air can be drawn around the system.

Gamers Nexus did a video about it a while ago which sparked up the controversy. It was probably them just being anal as I said there's very little difference but it can be there.

OP, if your happy with it I wouldn't worry about it

Cheers bud, I was thinking about the air movement inside the loop but I figured if the inlet/outlet was higher than pump it'd be fine... Thanks for the input

SirConfused · 4 Apr 2021 at 11:21

It wasn't just GN being anal, there is actual value to the point they were making (keep air away from your pump) as it was about longevity of the unit. No matter how good your tubing/seals etc are you will always see fluid loss over time and if you get to the point where you've got enough air that your pump can run dry that's what causes the problems.

As previous posters have said, in that config you're potentially leaving any air pockets a way to get round the loop and through the pump but your pump isn't the highest point so air won't be likely to collect there and cause you problems.

It looks like you could rotate the rad 180 fairly easily which would completely get rid of any issue on that front but it should run fine for a long time the way it currently is.

no_1_dave · 5 Apr 2021 at 00:23

Rad should be the other way around, at the moment it is upside down which could cause circulation issues if there are any air bubbles or if air bubbles appear over time

PiKe · 5 Apr 2021 at 00:54

Rotate it so pipes are at the bottom as air will collect at the top and get pulled into the block.

Minibiker · 5 Apr 2021 at 09:23

SirConfused said:
It wasn't just GN being anal, there is actual value to the point they were making (keep air away from your pump) as it was about longevity of the unit. No matter how good your tubing/seals etc are you will always see fluid loss over time and if you get to the point where you've got enough air that your pump can run dry that's what causes the problems.

As previous posters have said, in that config you're potentially leaving any air pockets a way to get round the loop and through the pump but your pump isn't the highest point so air won't be likely to collect there and cause you problems.

It looks like you could rotate the rad 180 fairly easily which would completely get rid of any issue on that front but it should run fine for a long time the way it currently is.

no_1_dave said:
Rad should be the other way around, at the moment it is upside down which could cause circulation issues if there are any air bubbles or if air bubbles appear over time

PiKe said:
Rotate it so pipes are at the bottom as air will collect at the top and get pulled into the block.

Cheers guys, I will get it rotated then once the build is running

Angelwolf · 5 Apr 2021 at 13:31

PiKe said:
Rotate it so pipes are at the bottom as air will collect at the top and get pulled into the block.

Basically this, but remember to make sure the top of the rad is the highest point to avoid air collecting in the pump

MrRockliffe · 5 Apr 2021 at 13:36

Rad needs rotating 180 degrees so the tubes are at the bottom.

Over time the fluid permeates through the tubes, decreasing performance and increasing noise. You’ll also reduce the life of the system

Gepetto · 24 Mar 2024 at 16:59

Holy thread revival Batman! Just goes to show that using the search engine works wonders. :cry:

This thread has confirmed the orientation I was considering. I'm fortunate that I can mount the rad with the pipes entering and exiting below the pump (at the bottom of the rad) and the pump will be about half way up.

I take this to mean that if there is a small amount of air in the system it will become harmlessly trapped in the upper end of the rad and above the pump.

Parsley · 6 Apr 2024 at 18:26

Gepetto said:
Holy thread revival Batman! Just goes to show that using the search engine works wonders.

This thread has confirmed the orientation I was considering. I'm fortunate that I can mount the rad with the pipes entering and exiting below the pump (at the bottom of the rad) and the pump will be about half way up.

I take this to mean that if there is a small amount of air in the system it will become harmlessly trapped in the upper end of the rad and above the pump.

You assume correctly

.

Drumroll · 12 Apr 2024 at 09:13

Glad no one mentioned cavitation for such small/low powered pump.

As long the rad’s ports are above the pump level will be fine, until, many years dow the line coolant levels drop to the point of starving the pump.
But for the first years, the only difference will be noise (disregarding performance, as that will be a whole different discussion). I tend to find radiators mounted at the top of the case to be quieter, or maybe never let it upright long enough to move micro bubbles back to the radiator. Who knows.

Simon Belmont · 17 Apr 2024 at 10:25

I went back to air cooling. AIO is a risk of leak. My 4090 is would not like that

Gepetto · 17 Apr 2024 at 20:57

Whilst I agree with you in keeping your 4090 safe, I've never had an AIO leak on me. I have only used Corsair. Has it happened to you?

ANDARIAL · 19 Apr 2024 at 08:46

Simon Belmont said:
I went back to air cooling. AIO is a risk of leak. My 4090 is would not like that

i would be more worried about melting power connections tbh

Parsley · 19 Apr 2024 at 13:34

The chance of an AIO leaking enough to brick anything is so small I'd consider it trivial. I think I'd rather have the weight of the cooler on the chassis than hanging off the motherboard or impeding choice of RAM, in the case of a big air cooler (though I do move my computer occasionally).