Hardware & Technical Potentially dumb question regarding AIO coolers.

[Deleted member 110222]

I'm thinking of getting one as part of a little PC modding project I want to do. I have never used an AIO before.

My question is, can the fans be replaced with "aftermarket" fans, ie different fans to what ships with the stock unit? I'm asking because as this is a modding project, looks are important to me and I would like the fans on the AIO to have lighting as the rest of the fans do.

Or would I be better off with a unit that ships as RGB in the first place?

Thanks!

 

[GuruNot]

I'm thinking of getting one as part of a little PC modding project I want to do. I have never used an AIO before.

My question is, can the fans be replaced with "aftermarket" fans, ie different fans to what ships with the stock unit? I'm asking because as this is a modding project, looks are important to me and I would like the fans on the AIO to have lighting as the rest of the fans do.

Or would I be better off with a unit that ships as RGB in the first place?

Thanks!

For my Corsair AIO the fans were not actually attached, you attach them as part of install process. So I left off the Corsair fans and attached Noctua's:

Spoiler

EDIT: Just make sure your replacements are the same diameter as the originals

 

[Deleted member 110222]

For my Corsair AIO the fans were not actually attached, you attach them as part of install process. So I left off the Corsair fans and attached Noctua's:

Spoiler

https://i.imgur.com/ojKHVXA.jpg

EDIT: Just make sure your replacements are the same diameter as the originals

Oh of course. I know the sizes I'll be working with right off heart.

Thanks dude.

 

[Zeeman]

I'd seriously look into using an EK kit (or similar). I was looking at an AIO solution, but the potential to add to the system to cool a graphics card later kind of makes a lot of sense.

Otherwise, yes, as above. I'd only use Noctua these days...
z...

 

[Straha Yeagar]

I'd seriously look into using an EK kit (or similar). I was looking at an AIO solution, but the potential to add to the system to cool a graphics card later kind of makes a lot of sense.

Otherwise, yes, as above. I'd only use Noctua these days...
z...

And most AIO kits cooling is on par with mid range air coolers. I second building a custom loop...here is mine:

Spoiler

The lighting is full RGB from Corsair, so I can make it any color I want. The fans on my radiators are 140mm Corsair RGB HD series. This loop keeps my Ryzen 1700 @ 3.8 ghz running at 32c under loadd, and my 1080ti is in the loop topping out at 38c under full gaming load.

 

[Jon flint]

Probably depends on the aio, I've got the kraken x52, the fans can indeed be switched out assuming you can find replacements with the same mounting holes.

As others have said, a full liquid loop is a better option if you can face all that tube bending and have enough confidence in your work that it won't leak. If not an aio is the next best option, cooler and quieter than air for the most part, and generally better looking if it's a showy build.

 

[popuptoaster]

My first AIO had the pump integrated into the fan on the rad instead of being on the CPU block, other than that mostly all run stock fans that can be swapped out.

AIOs are fine for most people, water cooling increases maintenance and often doesn't give that much better cooling performance on an average PC although it sometimes gives a quieter rig when you are pushing it.

Don't get all enthusiastic about custom loops unless you understand the maintenance issues that come with them, if you run hard lines changing anything in your PC can become a proper pain in the and even with soft flexible tubing (which looks terrible anyway in my opinion) you'll still be stuck draining and refilling if you want to swap out a GPU even if you have it set up so you can get at anything else you want to change.

I have a Kraken on my over clocked 6700k but my Palit Gamerock 1070 (which is also over clocked) is still on its air cooler and is still quite most of the time, a hard line water cooled loop would look cool but im not interested in all the extra work it involves for a debatably noticeable performance increase.

I suspect if you already have the fastest components you can get then maybe it would be the next step towards an increase in frame rates though and they do look good when done well.

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

Ive got a AIO water cooling from corsair in my case, because it was the best solution to go with it:

case: http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mini-itx/elite130/
cooling: Corsair Hydro Series H55

my wifes PC got a coolermaster AIO radiator as upgrade,

but one thing i have experienced AND read in most reviews at the time i bought them: You have to replace the stock fans if you want a silent solution.
especially the ones comming with the coolermaster package are extreme loud.

with the fans, its strange that only noctua has actual details in their shop, what fan is good for radiators (high pressure) and which one is good for open case (non focused airstream)

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Probably depends on the aio, I've got the kraken x52, the fans can indeed be switched out assuming you can find replacements with the same mounting holes.

As others have said, a full liquid loop is a better option if you can face all that tube bending and have enough confidence in your work that it won't leak. If not an aio is the next best option, cooler and quieter than air for the most part, and generally better looking if it's a showy build.

Yeah that's exactly it. I am trying to make a showy build, hence the interest in AIO.

 

[Para Handy]

Unless you are a dedicated overclocker then an AIO is all you need. I use Corsair - I have a 55 in one PC and a 100i in another - easy to fit and does the job well. Yes you can fit glow-in-the-dark fans if that is your bag.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Unless you are a dedicated overclocker then an AIO is all you need. I use Corsair - I have a 55 in one PC and a 100i in another - easy to fit and does the job well. Yes you can fit glow-in-the-dark fans if that is your bag.

Oh, I wouldn't know where to start with a full loop. That's why I'm sticking to the much easier to install AIO package. Thanks. I should be able to make a purchase in a few weeks. Which one I get (120/240mm radiator), is going to depend on my new chassis.

 

[FoxTwo]

I live in Singapore (equator) and the ambient temperature is 30C usually.

I don't even use liquid coolers... just an air cooler

But then I don't overclock too, so I applaud you guys who live in cold countries who insist on having liquid coolers... for having cash to burn

 

[Zeeman]

I live in Singapore (equator) and the ambient temperature is 30C usually.

I don't even use liquid coolers... just an air cooler

But then I don't overclock too, so I applaud you guys who live in cold countries who insist on having liquid coolers... for having cash to burn

You would also have aircon. I live in Manila for 6 months a year, and am in Singapore 10 odd times a year. I doubt you make do with ambient temps!

Z...

 

[FoxTwo]

You would also have aircon. I live in Manila for 6 months a year, and am in Singapore 10 odd times a year. I doubt you make do with ambient temps!

Z...

True, but it's not on 24/7. In fact it's rarely ever on, only when the temps go higher than 31C *AT NIGHT*. If it's 28C or less, it's not on. 30C is normal to me. Not hot, not cold.

So yes, I make do with ambient temps.

The difference is, you only come here 10 times a year. I am here 365 days a year, every year. You are not here often enough and still would consider 30C as "hot" (like other foreigners).

As an illustration... right now it's 7.45pm at night, ambient temp is 33C. My CPU is idling at 38C and GPU at 45C. When in ED or other games, CPU temps hit 60C to 65C and GPU the same (or slightly higher, max 70C). Well within tolerance levels.

If the ambient temp stays at 30C+ later around 10pm, I will turn the aircon on before I go to bed.

I do have friends who have liquid cooling in their PCs tho - they do it cuz they're overclocking, and air-cooling doesn't cut it for them.

 

[Para Handy]

...............
But then I don't overclock too, so I applaud you guys who live in cold countries who insist on having liquid coolers... for having cash to burn

I too don't overclock but my choice to fit liquid coolers is in order to achieve low noise levels. By not having a block-mounted fan on my CPU I cut down a huge level of noise, good air-flow though my case means that case fans run slow and GPU fans don't run at all unless a game is running.

(I doubt I could survive in your temperatures - I run a portable air-conditioner in my apartment if the temperature goes over 25C! )

 

[FoxTwo]

I too don't overclock but my choice to fit liquid coolers is in order to achieve low noise levels. By not having a block-mounted fan on my CPU I cut down a huge level of noise, good air-flow though my case means that case fans run slow and GPU fans don't run at all unless a game is running.

(I doubt I could survive in your temperatures - I run a portable air-conditioner in my apartment if the temperature goes over 25C! )

Interesting cuz my air-cooler (Cryorig M9) is already "silent enough" that even under load, there's barely a "whirrr" coming from the PC. My ears could not even detect the PSU fan noise. My other PC, in the other room, is using stock Intel cooler. The temps on it are higher (42C to 45C idle, 80C under load) but the noise levels are also good enough that I don't hear anything when using that PC there. Not unless I concentrated on trying to hear it

The old AMD Radeon 6950 on that PC however, does make a lot of noise when running a game

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Let's not forget, my reason for looking at AIO is because of modding.