should i replace my AIO?

[kaitlin4599]

been using my cooler master masterliquid ML360R 360mm aio, since either late 2019 or mid 2020 cant remember when i bought it.its currently cooling my 3900X but since im jumping to a 7800X3D im wondering should i replace the aio or just migrate it over to my AM5 rig and use it at least till next year then replace it?

im not sure how long thse last? she runs with 6 fans in a push/pull cfonfig using mx-4 thermal paste and has kept my 3900X under 60c but then i hardly push the aio over the last year she has only seen light gaming no hard core overclocks

link below for info on the aio

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13229/cooler-master-launches-masterliquid-ml360r-rgb-360mm-aio-cooler-with-rgb?fbclid=IwY2xjawEnwMpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVq7_O43pjTMchB8SOuNpVxCIvD2QtII35y5eHuNOXQ34LoKEKhwQO8YiA_aem__EGrG0DaN9SZ2UWgQ93s3A

[LIGISTX]

29 minutes ago, kaitlin4599 said:

been using my cooler master masterliquid ML360R 360mm aio, since either late 2019 or mid 2020 cant remember when i bought it.its currently cooling my 3900X but since im jumping to a 7800X3D im wondering should i replace the aio or just migrate it over to my AM5 rig and use it at least till next year then replace it?

im not sure how long thse last? she runs with 6 fans in a push/pull cfonfig using mx-4 thermal paste and has kept my 3900X under 60c but then i hardly push the aio over the last year she has only seen light gaming no hard core overclocks

link below for info on the aio

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13229/cooler-master-launches-masterliquid-ml360r-rgb-360mm-aio-cooler-with-rgb?fbclid=IwY2xjawEnwMpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVq7_O43pjTMchB8SOuNpVxCIvD2QtII35y5eHuNOXQ34LoKEKhwQO8YiA_aem__EGrG0DaN9SZ2UWgQ93s3A

If it’s working, no reason to replace it. Run it until it stops functioning…. Which will likely be many more years. 

[kaitlin4599]

@LIGISTX i thought aios had a limited life span did i miss something? i.e. use them for 3 years then replace

[cekcons]

37 minutes ago, kaitlin4599 said:

@LIGISTX i thought aios had a limited life span did i miss something? i.e. use them for 3 years then replace

yes aios has somewhat life span but i say its on luck - i have a pc that works more than 10 years with same aio and a dead aio in 2 years. Both mid-high tier / brand. Just be sure to do your maintence and top up liquid from time to time.

[Dedayog]

5 hours ago, kaitlin4599 said:

@LIGISTX i thought aios had a limited life span did i miss something? i.e. use them for 3 years then replace

Yeah no.  

 

I'm on 7 years with my Thermaltake.    Working great.

 

Mounting orientation can mitigate water loss.

[LIGISTX]

7 hours ago, kaitlin4599 said:

@LIGISTX i thought aios had a limited life span did i miss something? i.e. use them for 3 years then replace

Definitely not. 
 

2 hours ago, Dedayog said:

Yeah no.  

 

I'm on 7 years with my Thermaltake.    Working great.

 

Mounting orientation can mitigate water loss.

This…

 

They will lose some fluid over time, and if mounted incorrectly they will wear faster as they will run dry and the pumps will prematurely fail. But I’d expect an AIO to last 5+ years easily. But this is honestly why air cooling is almost always better. This water cooling fad really is a little crazy. So much waste as a result. 
 

I still have old hyper 212 evo’s that I use from time to time when I need a heatsink in a pinch. 212’s are not great… but they work. If you get a quality noctua heatsink today, it’ll last for decades and noctua will provide updated mounting hardware for free when you upgrade your platform. And performance is on par with AIO’s….

 

Just my .02

[YoungBlade]

AIOs have a shorter expected life than an air cooler because they are more complex and have more points of failure. The most common ways for an AIO to die are loss of water from permeation and pump failure.

 

Because physics, water will slowly escape from the inside of the AIO. It's like evaporation, but slowed by the walls of the tubing and rad. The exact rate depends on a ton of variables, but it will slowly happen over the years. Eventually, this will reach a point where the amount of water is insufficient for cooling. If your AIO doesn't have a fill port, and you aren't comfortable getting creative with a Dremel to find a way to fill it, then the AIO is effectively dead.

 

Permeation can take anywhere from a few years to over a decade - it depends on the coolant temps, starting fill level, build quality, room temperature and humidity, etc.

 

Pump death is the most common mechanical failure. The pump will fail much faster if an air bubble forms around it, which can happen if the pump is at the top point of the loop.

 

A pump can last, again, from a few years to over a decade. At 4-5 years, it might fail tomorrow or you might have 5+ years left to go. We can't know for sure.

 

As long as it's still working, I wouldn't bother replacing it, unless you need your computer to have no downtime. Obviously, if it does fail, it'll take you time to get a replacement, but if having the computer out of commission for a few days isn't a huge deal, preemptive replacement isn't required.

[kaitlin4599]

@LIGISTX my 360mm aio it top mounted i have a phanteks enthoo primo case and the aio has always been top mounted

[Dedayog]

2 hours ago, LIGISTX said:

Definitely not. 
 

This…

 

They will lose some fluid over time, and if mounted incorrectly they will wear faster as they will run dry and the pumps will prematurely fail. But I’d expect an AIO to last 5+ years easily. But this is honestly why air cooling is almost always better. This water cooling fad really is a little crazy. So much waste as a result. 
 

I still have old hyper 212 evo’s that I use from time to time when I need a heatsink in a pinch. 212’s are not great… but they work. If you get a quality noctua heatsink today, it’ll last for decades and noctua will provide updated mounting hardware for free when you upgrade your platform. And performance is on par with AIO’s….

 

Just my .02

Yeah, I got the aio for the 9900k cuz divorce and retail therapy.   The other aio was for the 7700x, and it loved the cooling.

 

For a 7800x3d, if I built another id thermal assassin or phantom spirit all day.  I have one on my daughter in laws machine and it's as good as my 360 on mine.

[LIGISTX]

2 hours ago, kaitlin4599 said:

@LIGISTX my 360mm aio it top mounted i have a phanteks enthoo primo case and the aio has always been top mounted

Perfect. The pump will never run dry that way, and you’d need to lose an exorbitant amount of fluid for the system to stop performing well. 

[TPCEA]

On 8/13/2024 at 2:16 AM, kaitlin4599 said:

been using my cooler master masterliquid ML360R 360mm aio, since either late 2019 or mid 2020 cant remember when i bought it.its currently cooling my 3900X but since im jumping to a 7800X3D im wondering should i replace the aio or just migrate it over to my AM5 rig and use it at least till next year then replace it?

im not sure how long thse last? she runs with 6 fans in a push/pull cfonfig using mx-4 thermal paste and has kept my 3900X under 60c but then i hardly push the aio over the last year she has only seen light gaming no hard core overclocks

link below for info on the aio

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13229/cooler-master-launches-masterliquid-ml360r-rgb-360mm-aio-cooler-with-rgb?fbclid=IwY2xjawEnwMpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVq7_O43pjTMchB8SOuNpVxCIvD2QtII35y5eHuNOXQ34LoKEKhwQO8YiA_aem__EGrG0DaN9SZ2UWgQ93s3A

It's fine for the 7800X3D. 

 

On 8/13/2024 at 10:50 AM, LIGISTX said:

If you get a quality noctua heatsink today, it’ll last for decades and noctua will provide updated mounting hardware for free when you upgrade your platform. And performance is on par with AIO’s….

I'm guessing you have specific heatsinks in mind since Noctua generally has very good quality...

 

On 8/13/2024 at 8:05 AM, Dedayog said:

Mounting orientation can mitigate water loss.

On 8/13/2024 at 10:50 AM, LIGISTX said:

They will lose some fluid over time, and if mounted incorrectly they will wear faster as they will run dry and the pumps will prematurely fail.

Which positions are best, in your opinions, for longevity?

19 hours ago, LIGISTX said:

Perfect. The pump will never run dry that way, and you’d need to lose an exorbitant amount of fluid for the system to stop performing well. 

Never is a bit long, eh? The pump design and materials would be the key with top mount. If the pump doesn't have the impeller immersed in water on the bottom side of the rad, we'll then RIP. The other problem with top mount is the temps will be warmer, although how much warmer varies. 

[Dedayog]

2 minutes ago, RevGAM said:

It's fine for the 7800X3D. 

 

I'm guessing you have specific heatsinks in mind since Noctua generally has very good quality...

 

Which positions are best, in your opinions, for longevity?

Never is a bit long, eh? The pump design and materials would be the key with top mount. If the pump doesn't have the impeller immersed in water on the bottom side of the rad, we'll then RIP. The other problem with top mount is the temps will be warmer, although how much warmer varies. 

Top mounted or front with tubes on bottom.  Either one keeps the coolant available to the tubes/pump.  When permeation happens you'll still have the coolant on the lower part of the rad, and the air can collect to the top out of the way.

 

Same way fuel pumps and gas tanks work in cars.  As gas is consumed, you still have access to all of it.

[TPCEA]

3 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Top mounted or front with tubes on bottom.  Either one keeps the coolant available to the tubes/pump.  When permeation happens you'll still have the coolant on the lower part of the rad, and the air can collect to the top out of the way.

 

Same way fuel pumps and gas tanks work in cars.  As gas is consumed, you still have access to all of it.

Totally agree, and front mount gives better temps on intake. So does side mount, but usually on exhaust.