I have been tempted to get a AIO to replace the 3 top fans on pc but I put it off cause I don't like the thought of having to change liquid and ******* it up now I know the custom water loops have big resivours and need changing every 6 months maybe but is an AIO just as bad or are they a simpler process.
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AIO
- Thread starter Wrightyuk
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Modern AIO's are designed to last for years with no maintenance, some like BeQuiet come with a top up function, obviously cheaper may not last as long as premium, your looking around three to seven years apparently, but even an air cooler should be serviced every three to five years, as thermal pastes need replacing regardless of cooling choice, and fans/heatsinks need cleaned.
The paste on an old MiniITX here for instance had what is known as phase separation/silicon bleeding. Basically the thermal paste had broken down, the CPU looked like it was wet with an oily looking substance and had clumps of grey dotted around.
The last AIO I had fail was a CoolerMaster Nepton 240M that lasted 10 years in the front of an NZXT S340 before the pump started making noises, its a non serviceable item, so I think 10 years was actually really good, so that was put in the scrap and replaced with a BeQuiet Silent loop 240.
10 years for an AIO costing £80 is pretty good, 5 years would be good. But if you want longevity and an easy life, an air cooler wins every time but just don't do what I do and leave it for over 5 years, remove clean and repaste on occasion.
The paste on an old MiniITX here for instance had what is known as phase separation/silicon bleeding. Basically the thermal paste had broken down, the CPU looked like it was wet with an oily looking substance and had clumps of grey dotted around.
The last AIO I had fail was a CoolerMaster Nepton 240M that lasted 10 years in the front of an NZXT S340 before the pump started making noises, its a non serviceable item, so I think 10 years was actually really good, so that was put in the scrap and replaced with a BeQuiet Silent loop 240.
10 years for an AIO costing £80 is pretty good, 5 years would be good. But if you want longevity and an easy life, an air cooler wins every time but just don't do what I do and leave it for over 5 years, remove clean and repaste on occasion.
Obviously with a normal heatsink there's nothing to fail bar the fan bearings.
That being said however, AIOs have come a long way in reliability that I've not heard of one leaking that wasn't due to user error.
Pump failure rates are pretty low as well and should last quite a number of years.
That being said however, AIOs have come a long way in reliability that I've not heard of one leaking that wasn't due to user error.
Pump failure rates are pretty low as well and should last quite a number of years.
Soldato
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Losing coolant through permeation isn't a big deal nowadays
But a pump is an extra point of failure
And not sure any aio you can replace the pump
Could once upon a time with swiftech aio
So normally a pump failure on an aio it's scrap
A pump might last 10 years it might fail really quickly
The point is your pc is out of use until you replace it
An air cooler is a lump of metal it isn't going to fail other than a fan
Which is a simple fix by shoving one of your case fans etc
On there even if have to cable tie it on until can get the specific fan
If it's not a standard 120 or 140 fan
But a pump is an extra point of failure
And not sure any aio you can replace the pump
Could once upon a time with swiftech aio
So normally a pump failure on an aio it's scrap
A pump might last 10 years it might fail really quickly
The point is your pc is out of use until you replace it
An air cooler is a lump of metal it isn't going to fail other than a fan
Which is a simple fix by shoving one of your case fans etc
On there even if have to cable tie it on until can get the specific fan
If it's not a standard 120 or 140 fan
Ah well that makes me feel better about getting one if I can get 5 - 10 years out of it before any maintenance is even needed i looked at the be quiet one it's 2 fans is there a 3 fan version want to replace the 3 at the top.
Good premium decent AIO with three fans can't remember if my top fans were 120 or 140 but if I had to say prob 120
Good premium decent AIO with three fans can't remember if my top fans were 120 or 140 but if I had to say prob 120
Will have a look at that one now
My Corsair H100 is thirteen years old and still going. Developed a slight rattle on one of the fans after about two years but still not got around to sorting it 
. The pump was audible when case was next to me on the desk but I don't notice it over the case fans now it is underneath.
Tempted to replace it with an Artic or Thermalright one at some point.
. The pump was audible when case was next to me on the desk but I don't notice it over the case fans now it is underneath.Tempted to replace it with an Artic or Thermalright one at some point.
Soldato
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Lovely job mate
That's mine
And a motherboard that I actually wouldn't be
Sorry to upgrade to from my crosshair viii extreme
I love my board but it does make upgrading
A tough choice and expensive to match the features
Ah excellent so 420 is fine next which one to get which one do you have,
Must admit that looks sexy
That's mine