How to buy and install a closed-loop CPU liquid cooler for PCs
Peanut butter and jelly. Han Solo and Chewie. Expensive electronics and liquid. One of these things is not like the others. Anyone who has suffered a keyboard spill or fished a smartphone from a toilet bowl knows that liquids and electronics often aren’t compatible.
But, when it comes to PC cooling, sealed all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooling systems—also known as closed-loop coolers—are safe, effective, and easy to install. Indeed, in such instances, water is a PC’s friend!
While the stock air cooler that ships with most CPUs is perfectly adequate for everyday computing, that heatsink-and-fan combo will struggle to cool gaming systems and other high-performance PCs. At the other end of the spectrum, hardline cooling—which uses rigid tubes and a liquid reservoir—can look spectacular but requires careful planning, user-assembly, and a significant investment in leak testing. It’s the perfect project for plumbers, but for those taking their first steps in advanced PC cooling techniques, an AIO is the way to go.
Corsair The Corsair H115i Liquid Cooler.
Here’s everything you need to know about closed-loop AIO coolers, from how they function, to how to pick one for your needs, to the steps for installation.
How closed-loop liquid coolers work
AIO coolers work in a similar way to a car radiator. A pump, positioned on top of your CPU, circulates a special liquid (usually a combination of distilled water and a thermally conductive fluid) around a soft tubing system, configured in a closed loop. Heat is transferred from your CPU to the liquid via a copper plate on the base of the pump.
The warm liquid travels through the tubing to a radiator, which can be mounted near the top, front, or rear of your PC case. Heat is then dissipated from the radiator with the help of fans, which can be mounted in various configurations for optimal cooling. The cooled liquid then travels back to your CPU, where the process begins again.
As AIO coolers are available with various radiator sizes, they can be put to work in a wide range of PC form factors. That said, they’re best suited to medium and large desktops. Most coolers are fitted to processors, but some can also be used for graphics cards, too.
Choosing a closed-loop liquid cooler
Today, we’ll be installing an NZXT Kraken X62 AIO Cooler ($160 on Amazon) in a typical gaming PC rig. It’ll be employed to cool a 4GHz Intel Core i7-6700K CPU ($330 on Amazon) which, with a 91-watt TDP, can get a little toasty under load.
NZXT The NZXT Kraken X62 AIO Cooler.
Before settling on an AIO model, I always recommend that you spend some time reading reviews of the leading contenders, including user reviews on Reddit’s Build a PC subreddit and sites like PCPartPicker.
You’ll obviously need to find a closed-loop liquid cooler that fits inside your PC case. AIOs are available in single and dual-fan configurations, with the latter supporting longer radiators. As mentioned, you can install the radiator in various positions in your case, but you’ll need sufficient clearance for the radiator itself and the cooler’s tubing (which has some degree of movement for routing), and to ensure the integrated fans can spin freely. Some cases will allow you to remove unused drive bays or entire drive cages, which can ease installation.
Take some time to investigate the space available in your case and research how other users have installed single or dual-fan radiators in your model.
Brad Chacos The installed pump block for the Ryzen version of the EKWB XLC Predator 240.
As AIO cooling systems include moving parts, such as the pump and radiator fans, not only should you consider cooling performance (CPU and system temperatures) in your research, but you should also look for low noise output, long-term pump and fan durability, and—of course—zero leaks. Specification sheets and expert reviews are useful for building a short list, but it’s important to understand how a cooler maintains performance over time. Think year one, two, and three, alongside day 1, one, two, and three.
Be sure to check the manufacturer’s warranty policy and support options. Some coolers benefit from long-term warranties (up to five or even six years) but find out whether this applies to third-party components that could suffer leak damage. If you need to return the cooler (and other parts), does the manufacturer cover two-way shipping? How quick and easy is the returns experience? All of these factors combined should help you identify the best AIO liquid cooler for your needs and your budget.
As with most PC parts, you’ll find that AIO components originate from a small number of specialist OEM manufacturers that supply the major brands—Asetek being one example. Check out the full range of models from Cooler Master, Corsair, SilverStone, EVGA, and NZXT to find the right combination of size, features, and performance.
PCWorld’s graphics card testing system has been cooled by a Corsair H100 ($102 on Amazon) for several years, with no complaints whatsoever.
Next page: How to install a closed-loop liquid cooler
Installing a closed-loop liquid cooler
The NZXT Kraken X62 is designed for larger PC cases, boasting a full-length (315 x 143 x 30mm) radiator and twin 140mm fans for high performance. Like most coolers, it supports a range of modern Intel and AMD CPU sockets courtesy of dedicated mounting brackets.
Terry Walsh/IDG The NZXT Kraken X62 Liquid Cooler
The box also includes motherboard standoffs, mounting screws, a power cable set and Mini-USB cable for controlling the pump and integrated RGB LEDs.
Terry Walsh/IDG Opening the box.
Prepare your PC
A little preparation is required before you can install a closed-loop cooler. You’ll need access to all sides of your PC case (and potentially the top), so remove all panels and, if necessary, remove any components that are likely to get in your way during installation. GPUs, RAM modules, and drive cages are prime suspects.
Let’s assume you’re replacing a stock heatsink and fan assembly with your new AIO cooler. Unplug the CPU fan, then carefully loosen the retaining pins that hold the heatsink in place. You can now lift off the heatsink, exposing the top of the CPU.
Terry Walsh/IDG Clean off the residual goo before installing the new CPU cooler.
You’ll probably see some thermal paste residue on the top surface of the CPU. This needs to be cleaned off to ensure your new AIO cooler pump has a strong thermal contact with the CPU. For cleaning, you can use a lint-free cloth (coffee filter paper also works well) with 90 percent-plus isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
Alternatively, try a specialist cleaner such as Artic Silver ArtiClean, which emulsifies and dissolves the existing thermal grease. It’s bundled with a purifying solution that further prepares the CPU surface for the pump’s integrated thermal pad.
Terry Walsh/IDG Specialist solutions like ArtiClean make light work of thermal grease residue.
Install the pump backplate
With a sparkling CPU and free access to your case, you can make a start on installing the new cooler. The first job is to install a backplate on the rear of your motherboard, behind the CPU, that will be used to secure the pump assembly on top of the processor.
You should find a range of brackets included with your cooler which complement various AMD and Intel socket designs. The bracket may be equipped with adjustable mounts—be sure to check your closed-loop liquid cooler’s manual to ensure you select the right position.
Terry Walsh/IDG Inserting the bracket.
I’m going with the LGA1151 bracket, which is designed for the Intel Core i7-6700K installed in this PC. Before installing, I need to move four sliders on the bracket to their innermost positions, which guarantees the correct fit for my motherboard.
On the rear of the motherboard, you should notice four holes surrounding the processor. Insert the bracket’s mounting points into these holes, then move around to the front of the motherboard. Secure the bracket in place with four screw-in standoffs.
Terry Walsh/IDG The standoffs secure the bracket and serve as mounting points for the pump.
You may notice that the rear bracket remains a little loose at this point, despite the standoffs being tightly connected. That’s expected, so don’t worry—everything will tighten up once the pump is connected.
Install the radiator fans
Before we connect the pump to the motherboard, let’s get the radiator fans installed. These ship loose in the box, so they need to be secured to the radiator before slotting the assembly into the case. You can install fans on either side of the radiator, depending on available room in your case and airflow preference.
The Kraken X62 ships with two fans, which I’ve found to be more than adequate to cool a powerful gaming PC with a high-end GPU. I mount these on the interior of the radiator (that is, the side nearest PC’s internals) to push air through the radiator grills and out of the case. Alternatively, you can mount the fans on the opposite side of the radiator to pull air through the grills. There are continual debates on whether “push” or “pull” configurations perform better. I prefer the aesthetics of push configurations, but feel free to experiment in your own case.
Installing fans on both sides of the radiator creates a “push/pull” configuration, where warm air inside the case is pushed through the radiator by one set of fans and then pulled out of the case by the second set of fans. Obviously, this configuration requires more space inside the PC (and will increase noise output) but can enhance cooling performance. That said, many modern coolers are supplied with high-performance static pressure fans (like the Aer P models bundled with the Kraken X62) and the difference may be negligible.
Terry Walsh/IDG As I’m going to push air through the radiator and out of the case, I’m installing the fans on the interior-facing side of the grill.
Whichever configuration you choose, be sure to check for any arrows or labels printed on the fans that show you the direction of airflow. The last thing you need is your fans pushing warm air from the radiator back into the case! The fans supplied with the Kraken X62 don’t provide much of a clue, but airflow direction is from the side with the black NZXT logo to the side with the purple sticker.
Connect the fans to the radiator using the screws supplied. You’ll need to position the fans to ensure their cables can reach the motherboard fan headers neatly. Trial and error is the way forward here, but I found that positioning the wires toward the rear of the case in a central position worked best for cable management.
Install the radiator
With the radiator fans in place, we can now get on with installing the cooler into the case. You can choose to secure the radiator first, or the pump. I find it easier to secure the radiator, then screw down the pump.
Terry Walsh/IDG Look for radiator mounting points on the top, front, or rear of your case.
A good modern gaming PC case should include mounting points for a radiator. As mentioned, I’m installing this cooler at the top of my case, where a series of screw holes are available to secure the radiator.
Carefully insert the radiator into the case, ensuring that you thread the fan cables through any necessary slots as required. Be careful not to bash the pump or kink the rubber hoses that connect it to the radiator as you orientate the cooler into position. When you’re ready, use the supplied screws and washers to secure the radiator in place.
Terry Walsh/IDG The radiator is fitted.
Install the pump
Our next step is to secure the pump to the motherboard and CPU. You’ll notice that the pump has an integrated retention bracket that should fit neatly over the motherboard standoffs we installed earlier. You may need to connect this bracket to the pump if you haven’t done so already.
Place the pump on to the CPU (checking orientation to ensure that any branding or graphics are displayed correctly), ensuring the standoffs go through the holes on the retention brackets. Check the radiator tubing to ensure there are no kinks or blockages, then secure the cooler with the supplied thumbscrews. Once installed, you should find that the front and rear brackets are now tight.
Terry Walsh/IDG The pump is in place.
Connect the cables
Now that the pump and radiator are in place, we can connect the necessary power and control cables to the motherboard. The Kraken X62’s pump, like some competing closed-loop liquid coolers, is equipped with integrated RGB LEDs so there are a host of cables to hook up.
First is the power cable, which connects to the top of the pump.
Terry Walsh/IDG Connecting the power cable.
Three sets of connectors run from the other end of this cable. The first is a three-pin connector for the pump tach, which controls and monitors the pump speed. It should be connected to the CPU_FAN header on your motherboard.
Terry Walsh/IDG Connecting the pump controller.
The second is a standard SATA power connector, which can be plugged into a relevant connector attached to your power supply.
Terry Walsh/IDG Power to the pump is supplied via a SATA power cable, just like the ones used for your hard drives.
The third set of connectors on the power cable are for the radiator fans. Four fan connectors are available for push-pull configurations, but on this installation, we’ll be only using two of them. Slot the fan cables into the four-pin connectors as required.
Terry Walsh/IDG Connecting the fan cables.
Finally, a Mini-USB cable, for controlling the pump LEDs, connects between the pump and a spare USB 2. 0 internal header on your motherboard.
With that, your AIO closed-loop liquid cooler installation is complete. You’re ready to test!
Next page: First power on, AIO cooler software
Power on: First check
You may not want to close your PC case fully before reconnecting the power cables and checking that everything works, though. Hit the power switch and, as a first test, be sure that the radiator fans spin and that the pump is operating. Listen for a gurgle or two as the liquid begins to flow through the system. For closed-loop liquid coolers fitted with integrated lighting, illumination is a sure sign that the pump has power.
Terry Walsh/IDG Powered up and cooling down.
If you find that the PC refuses to power up, or closes down quickly, then it’s likely the processor is overheating. Double check that all the cooler’s cables are correctly connected. If they are, you may need to reseat the pump on the CPU to ensure a good thermal connection.
Once your PC is running properly, close up the case and we’ll install the cooler’s controller software.
Next page: The hardware’s software
Fine-tuning your liquid cooler with software
While your new closed-loop liquid cooler should spin up and cool your CPU as soon as you hit the power button, installing its supporting software allows you to monitor and fine-tune its performance.
The NZXT Kraken X62 is accompanied by a desktop application called CAM that offers a range of features. Some of these are exclusively designed for NZXT hardware but others, such as temperature monitoring or in-game FPS overlays, work with any PC. Liquid coolers from other manufacturers offer management software of their own.
Install the app and, once you’ve created an account, you’ll get your first opportunity to see how your new cooler is performing. As you can see from the screenshot below, my Intel Core i7 is running at a cool 14°C when idle. At a glance, you can also check out the CPU fan speed (meaning the radiator fans), GPU temperature and fan speeds, RAM load, and storage usage.
Tweaking AIO cooler performance
Terry Walsh/IDG Three cooling profiles are available, alongside custom settings. (Click to enlarge. )
Your cooler will be automatically configured with a default profile that defines the AIO’s fan and pump speeds for any given temperature. As your CPU temperature rises, for example, when you fire up the latest AAA blockbuster game, those speeds will increase accordingly to prevent the CPU overheating. Higher temperatures can lead to CPU performance throttling, which will impact the action on screen, so it makes sense to keep your processor cool. On the other hand, higher fan speeds can lead to increased noise output, spoiling your enjoyment of the game. It’s no surprise that the trick is to balance maximum cooling with minimum noise.
The NZXT Kraken X62 offers a selection of three profile presets alongside a custom option which allows you to set your own speed curve. The latter allows you to precisely define the rate at which fan and pump speeds increase as temperatures rise.
At the bottom of the window, a drop-down menu allows you to switch easily between the default Silent Mode (which limits noise output), a Fixed Mode (which balances noise and temperature control), and Performance Mode (which maximizes cooling). Additionally, real-time stats help you monitor current cooling performance. You can see your current liquid temperature, fan speed percentage, and pump and fan revolutions per minute (RPM).
For more precise control, hit the gear icon to the right and you’ll be taken to the Tuning tab. Now you’ll see independent controls for the fan and pump, alongside graphic displays of the speed curves for each component.
Terry Walsh/IDG Adjusting the speed curves.
In the screenshot above, you can see the settings for the Kraken’s Silent Mode. This maintains fan speeds at 25 percent until the liquid temperature reaches 35°C. If the temperature rises further, fan speeds will increase—up to 100 percent if required.
It’s a similar story with pump speeds, which are set to 60 percent until the liquid temperature reaches 35°C, after which the pump will work harder to cool your CPU.
In terms of profile differences, Fixed Mode speeds are faster and the curve is sharper, so those speeds accelerate more rapidly when temperature thresholds are met. Meanwhile, Performance Mode sees higher opening fan and pump speeds, which maximizes cooling performance—handy if you plan on overclocking your processor.
If you find that none of these profiles work for you (and, for the record, the default Silent Mode has worked just fine for me) then custom settings will allow you to create your own speed curves, with fine drag-and-drop controls.
Cooling with color
Terry Walsh/IDG Some fancy coolers ship with integrated RGB lighting, controllable via software. )
One additional feature you’ll increasingly see pop up on closed-loop liquid coolers is integrated RGB lighting. It’s no longer sufficient for a cooler just to cool your PC. Nowadays, a cooler also has to look cool while it’s cooling!
Dig a little deeper into the controller app and you may well find lighting controls. Alongside the aesthetic benefits of creating an internal lightshow in your PC case, there are more functional features available, such as changing the color of integrated lighting to match your CPU temperature. When you see that red flash, you’ll immediately know your PC is racing!
In a world where seemingly every gaming PC component is available with twinkly lights, selecting an AIO cooler with RGB lighting adds a little more excitement to what is a highly functional piece of kit.
So, if you’ve been thinking about enhancing your PC with an all-in-one, but haven’t quite built up the courage to do so, I hope this walkthrough has shown you not only that it’s safe and easy to install a liquid cooler, but also a lot of fun too.
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How Long Do AIO Coolers Last? Safety & Maintenance For Best
There are plenty of people out there who are afraid to use AIO coolers because they are afraid that they won’t last, that they will leak, or that they just won’t work as well as promised.
That’s a shame because AIO coolers are really great pieces of tech that can help you keep your system cool, especially if you are a gamer or you overclock your system.
AIO coolers (or All-In-One coolers) are quite popular for many reasons, largely because once the bulk of the work is done (installing it), you won’t have to do much other than look over them to see if they are operating correctly.
How Long Do AIO Coolers Last?
As long as you take care of your AIO cooler, it will last a good 5 to 7 years. Some people will get more time out of their coolers and other people will get less time. Manufacturers tend to rate their pumps to last up to 70, 000 hours, which is just around 8 years.
Do AIO Coolers Need Maintenance?
In order to get that lifespan out of your AIO cooler, you will need to do some maintenance. Customer water loops need a lot more maintenance than regular AIO coolers do: you will need to maintain everything.
With AIO coolers, you will need to ensure that the fans and the radiator are working properly and that they are free from dust, which tends to accumulate on them. This is one of the reasons why people love AIO coolers so much, you really don’t need to do all that much, and ensuring there isn’t dust on those parts takes just a few seconds and very little elbow grease to clean.
Do AIO Coolers Leak?
At some point, AIOs will all fail for one reason or another, but that doesn’t mean that it will leak. AIO coolers do not leak all that often, and your AIO is most likely going to fail because of an issue with the pump, not with leaking.
If leaking were a problem that happened often, you’d hear about it from more than a few people on the internet. Additionally, if there is a leak in your AIO cooler, you can report it to the manufacturer and the warranty should cover all of the damage.
Remember that AIO coolers have been designed so that nothing enters and nothing can come out. You cannot change the liquid inside the coolers, so ideally, nothing will be able to leak out either. This is why they are called “closed-loop” systems.
Corsair AIO Warranty
Corsair provides a warranty for all of its products, including AIO coolers, starting from the day of purchase from an authorized Corsair reseller. Each product will have its own warranty length that you can find in the user manual.
According to the website, their most popular products have the following warranties:
• Hydro Series products have a 5-year warranty
• Hydro X Series Core products (blocks, pumps, and radiators) have a limited 3-year warranty
• Hydro X Series Accessory products (coolant, tubing, and fittings) have a 2-year warranty
• ML Series products have a 5-year warranty
• Air Series products have a 2-year warranty
• All fan products have a 2-year warranty
Corsair’s warranty does not cover any hardware damage that comes from poorly installing the system, installing the system incorrectly, or any other issues related to installation or use of your custom water-cooling system.
If you disassemble your product and then try to put it back together, you will void your warranty as it is nearly impossible to do this by doing irreparable mechanical, electrical, or chemical damage.
AIO Cooling vs AIR For Gamers and Overclocking
If you are a gamer who overclocks on a regular basis, then you need to choose an AIO cooler. You will want to choose something that has a larger radiator because it will give you the best overall cooling performance.
How Reliable Are AIO Coolers?
AIO coolers are extremely reliable, far more reliable than customer water loops and air cooling. This is because custom water loops have many, many more places where they can fail and they require much more maintenance.
A custom water loop will require you to change the liquid on a fairly regular basis, maintain the reservoir, ensure that all of the fans are clean, and more. AIO coolers only require you to maintain the fans. They also have a much longer life than custom coolers.
What Do I Do If My AIO Cooler Leaks?
If your AIO cooler leaks, you are in a very rare situation, but that doesn’t mean that it is any less scary. You need to think about the safety of your hardware, first and foremost.
If your cooler leaks, you may be able to save your computer, depending on if you act quickly and how bad the leak is.
Whether you have a custom loop or an out of the box AIO, there are some steps you can take to keep your computer safe:
1. Start by completely turning your computer off as soon as you can: meaning as soon as you entice the leak. Don’t try to shut it down the normal way. Instead, either shut it off by pulling it out of the wall or by cutting the power to it in some way. Unplug it and leave it unplugged. The sooner you can do this, the more likely you will be able to save it.
2. Clean up all of the liquid that you see with a towel that doesn’t give off lint. Depending on how severe the problem is, you may need to remove components and try to dry them individually.
3. Check over every component for any residue that you may see or any damage that is visible to the eye. You may want to clean components with rubbing alcohol because the water can sometimes cause your computer to short circuit.
4. Keep everything out in the open and dry for at least 72 hours before you try to put everything back together and turn your computer on to see if anything was damaged.
5. Be sure to look over your equipment again and use another towel to remove any dust that has accumulated in the last three days.
When you put everything back in its place, be sure to use best practices and go slowly. Patience is really the key to recovering from an AIO leak. If you have suffered damage because of the leak, your warranty should cover the problems.
If you have a custom water loop, you may not be covered with a warranty. This is why custom loops aren’t suggested unless you really know what you are doing and you are willing to take the risks. Remember that custom loops require you to do a lot of maintenance.
Should I Get An AIO Cooler?
If you are on the fence about getting an AIO cooler, you definitely should. Do not be afraid to get one simply because you are afraid of leakage. The cooler performance is so much better, especially if you are going to overclock for gaming. Additionally, they look pretty cool on your gaming set-up as well.
They fit better into cases and air coolers have clearance issues that AIO coolers don’t typically have (but some can, so be sure to look at measurements). Some people prefer them because they don’t put weight on the motherboard and damage it, as they hang from the case.
Simply put, AIO coolers look great and perform better than any other type of cooling.
Overall, standard AIO systems are easy to install, easy to maintain, last a long time, and have a significant impact on the internal temperature of your system. They don’t leak all that often and if they do, your warranty should cover it. All in all, a win-win situation for most users.
What Is The Risk When Using An AIO For CPU Cooling? – Top …
Quick and Dirty Water Cooling | The Risk of Water Cooling | The Good PartFirst off, an AIO is short for “All In One”, which in this context refers to a liquid CPU AIO combines the parts necessary to liquid-cool your CPU into a pre-packaged solution that you bolt on in about 20 minutes. The AIO combines the water block, radiator, tubes, fans, fittings, and pump into 1 sleek package. A Quick Lesson On Water CoolingThe reservoir funnels cold water into the pump (generally directly below the reservoir). The reservoir helps during loop filling/draining, and thus while isn’t totally necessary, is extremely helpful. Large reservoirs can hold more water, which means less goofing around with a funnel and distilled pump moves the cold water (and water overall) into the water block for the heat (CPU), and out of the water CPU generates heat, which is conducted to the IHS (integrated heat spreader), or the shiny piece of metal with the CPU model written on heat is conducted to the water block which is laid on the IHS (there’s a thin layer of thermally conductive material between the IHS and water block, as the water block/IHS contact isn’t perfect) water block uses an array of extremely thin fins to increase the surface area from which the heat can dissipate, and water is run through those micro-fins to move the hot water away from the heat hot water goes to the radiator via the tubing, is run through the radiator fin array to dissipate the heat out of the loop fans on the radiator move the hot air away from the loop itself, and out of the now-cold water moves from the radiator back into the reservoir, and the cycle AIO simply compresses this loop into a much smaller package, and removes the large maintenance issue that you get with a custom the system above/below, the loop ran like thisRes>Pump>(Bottom Case Transfer Tube)>360 Radiator>GPU>CPU>240 Radiator>(Top Case Transfer Tube with Flow Meter)>Res>PumpThe Risk of AIOs (and Water Cooling overall)With water cooling, you are reliant on every part in the system working as it should, in order to have a functional cooling system. The blocks need to not clog, the radiators need to not leak, the fittings need to remain watertight, and the pump needs to remain any one of these things fail, you generally have a big problem pretty quick (overheating) means the heat isn’t moved away from the source, and the cold water isn’t moved in to absorb the heat. You generally have an automatic thermal shutdown in a few seconds when that happens. Not necessarily good for a production the radiator leaks, you’ll be losing coolant. While not an immediate issue on a big loop with a big reservoir, AIOs don’t have a reservoir, and thus a radiator leak is an issue. If the fittings leak, you have a geyser. Water cools only when it’s contained. Water and a powered up motherboard do not mix tually, water and electricity mix very well, but that’s not what you want. AIOs don’t have fittings, so to speak, but you get the Good Part! Reputable AIO manufacturers such as Fractal Design and EVGA tend to put lengthy warranties on their products, as they are that confident in their aren’t as big and bulky as their respective air brothers, and thus put less physical stress on the motherboard. All you have in the AIO is the pump head, soft tubes, and the radiator (and fans). No big monster metal air cooler! We’re so confident in the modern AIO, that we have no issue recommending the use of an AIO in a desktop computer, and frequently design systems with AIOs do default to air cooling on most builds, but also use AIOs when it works better overall for the Top Flight Computers? We believe that fostering and strengthening authentic personal relationships with our customers is the most important part of our business. Above all, we want to help you get exactly what you need to be you need more than a mass-market pre-built system, trust our technical excellence and dedication to personal service to design and build your bespoke custom Flight Computers designs bespoke custom-built computers. We specialize in workstations, gaming computers, and custom water cooling. We are based in Raleigh North Carolina and we ship across the USA.
Frequently Asked Questions about how aio works
How long does it take for AIO to work?
As long as you take care of your AIO cooler, it will last a good 5 to 7 years. Some people will get more time out of their coolers and other people will get less time. Manufacturers tend to rate their pumps to last up to 70,000 hours, which is just around 8 years.
What is the point of an AIO?
An AIO combines the parts necessary to liquid-cool your CPU into a pre-packaged solution that you bolt on in about 20 minutes. The AIO combines the water block, radiator, tubes, fans, fittings, and pump into 1 sleek package.May 3, 2020
Is AIO cooling worth it?
Well, the answer to that question is almost always yes. The only time liquid cooling stops becoming worth it is when we factor in the cost to budget-focused or lower spec PC builds. Liquid cooling is the best way to cool your components and is the only way to ensure performance for some enthusiasts.