Is using an AIO risky?

[Kowalski]

I’m thinking of getting a cooler master masterliquid 240mm RGB liquid cooler and was wondering what are the chances of it leaking or breaking and will I still be able to move my system around like a did before and finally does the Coolant in the cooler ever go Mank because I heard in custom loops you need to replace your coolant every 6 months to a year

[Omega]

An AIO is completely safe. The risk of leaks is basically zero.

AIOs require zero maintenance aside from blowing the dust out of the radiator every now and then.

You can move your case around without worrying about the AIO.

[RGX12]

Leaking or breaking is very unlikely. Apart from simpler installation, their robustness is one of the main reasons people choose closed-loop systems over custom/open loops.

[DefinitelyNotMonk]

Originally posted by RGX12:

Leaking or breaking is very unlikely. Apart from simpler installation, their robustness is one of the main reasons people choose closed-loop systems over custom/open loops.

well, price has a HUGE part to do with it $100 vs 500+ hehe

but to OP aio's are very safe, easy to fit, look good and offer great cooling performance only matched by the huge noctua air coolers, unless you go to 280 or 360 then the aio's take the lead.

[Arya]

AIOs are perfectly safe and can be a great cooling solution. But you get what you pay for.

High-end AIOs are a delight. They look fantastic, they're whisper quiet and their cooling power matches the biggest air coolers, with none of the downsides. EK's coolers are also expandable, letting you cool your CPU and GPU off a single radiator, for only a small price increase.

They're extremely safe, and typically come with very strong warranty coverage in the rare event something does go wrong.

Cheaper ones offer none of that. They're typically LED encrusted or tinted clear plastic horrors, with 35+ decibel fixed-speed pumps and nasty plastic tubing. Cheap fans and a thin radiator mean that their cooling performance is suspect, a good midsize air cooler can typically beat them for both noise and temp at a much lower cost.

Because of their crude construction and poor quality plastic pipes, there's a small chance these can actually fail. I've heard plenty of horror stories about Deepcool Captain AIOs leaking and destroying PCs, although I've never seen anything to back them up.

So there you go. A well made AIO will cap off any enthusiast build, while a cheap one makes annoying noises and looks like plastic crap.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

I'd seriously consider a better brand though; Corsair, EVGA, NZXT, EKWB...

[Arya]

Originally posted by Bad_Motha:

I'd seriously consider a better brand though; Corsair, EVGA, NZXT, EKWB...

And of those, I'd go for EKWB. Again you get what you pay for - EK are expensive for good reason. They use the best materials, their AIOs are the best built, and they have the unique advantage of being expandable.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Depends on Budget; you're not even going be seeing EKWB within your grasp if you're talking something like, under $150 range.

[HoboHandsome]

The liquid inside an AIO is distilled water and non conductive so even if it leaks it will not take your computer with it.

[Omega]

Originally posted by AceTheSpaceCase:

The liquid inside an AIO is distilled water and non conductive so even if it leaks it will not take your computer with it.

I am pretty sure there are more anti corrosives and anti algue inside those AIOs then distilled water.

I can still feel my hands itch.. (OK not really but that stuff is pretty chemical)

[Arya]

Originally posted by Omega:

I am pretty sure there are more anti corrosives and anti algue inside those AIOs then distilled water.

I can still feel my hands itch.. (OK not really but that stuff is pretty chemical)

I remembering hearing an urban myth once that AIO fluid was so full of anti-algal products that it would eventually thicken and destroy the pump. Not true obviously, but given the stink it gives off you could almost believe it.

[DefinitelyNotMonk]

Over time all liquid becomes conductive when it is in contact with metal, also, ek don't make an aio, they do however make an aluminium open loop that is priced crazy competitively with other aio's that can easily be expanded and updated, it uses soft tubing so is very easy to setup but does require maintenance once a year ish unlike closed loop aio's.

[Arya]

Originally posted by DefinitelyNotMonk:

Over time all liquid becomes conductive when it is in contact with metal, also, ek don't make an aio, they do however make an aluminium open loop that is priced crazy competitively with other aio's that can easily be expanded and updated, it uses soft tubing so is very easy to setup but does require maintenance once a year ish unlike closed loop aio's.

Although it's worth mentioning that they're pretty easy to look after. If you're curious, you can view the user maintainance guide for free from EK's website.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Have opened many AIO's before, it's pretty standard liquid inside, resembles the standard one people used to get back in the day before custom colors were a thing. It resembles the look of mountain dew

[Arya]

Originally posted by Bad_Motha:

Have opened many AIO's before, it's pretty standard liquid inside, resembles the standard one people used to get back in the day before custom colors were a thing. It resembles the look of mountain dew

Ahh, so that's what MTN Dew is. AIO fluid. That explains the behaviour of the people who drink it.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Back in the day we even used regular car radiator fluid, but u had to ensure to use the "green" environment friendly stuff.