Liquid cooling noob needs help

[PillowFortEngineer]

So i don't know much about liquid cooling but I'm planning to do mini itx or micro atx build and i've heard liquid cooling is much better for those for-farcotrs. So i can learn how to install and do the maintenance but one quick question, i was watching a video on maintance and I saw that a liquid that needed to stay there for like 24 hours, does that mean i cant use the computer for 24 hours? 

[Enderman]

You should buy an AiO, and no you don't have to do anything with the fluid, it is 100% sealed.

[Fdebijl]

When first filling a liquid-cooled loop, especially custom ones, it's advised to have it run for 24 hours on a separate power supply, with lots of paper towels in the case to detect any leaks. You'll probably want to avoid using the computer during this time, as leaks don't mix very well with live electronics. If you're using an AIO cooler you wont need to do this test for the full duration, but I would advice running it for a few minutes under close supervision to check for leaks, albeit they are very unlikely.

[PillowFortEngineer]

3 minutes ago, Enderman said:

You should buy an AiO, and no you don't have to do anything with the fluid, it is 100% sealed.

Excuse my ignorance but what is AiO and which is the type that looks cooler out of a side panel window?

[Fdebijl]

 

8 minutes ago, PillowFortEngineer said:

Excuse my ignorance but what is AiO and which is the type that looks cooler out of a side panel window?

This is an AIO cooler:

Spoiler

and for reference, this is what my custom loop looks like:

 

Spoiler

 

The custom loop looks arguably better, but requires a lot more money and a lot more time and patience. I'd highly recommend getting an AIO cooler, as doing a custom loop in a Mini ITX or Micro ATX case would be very complicated.

[Rickie cheong]

23 minutes ago, PillowFortEngineer said:

Excuse my ignorance but what is AiO and which is the type that looks cooler out of a side panel window?

AIO'S are all in one liquid coolers whch are the ones you buy just for one specific component of the PC,t he one that looks better on a side panel is a custom loop.custom loops tends to be more expensive to buy,harder to craft the bends of hard tube unless it is soft tubes and you should make it sit there and monitor it for leaks.My personal advice is that if you have no experience with this yet and don't intend to do it often then you should go with an AIO liquid cooler.

[MisterMK3]

It's been said enough here already, but I would definitely agree that an AiO solution would be best for a first time liquid cooled rig builder, and especially with a mini ATX build, as you'll likely be using a smaller case and have less work room for a custom loop solution. 

I run a Corsair H60 AiO cooler and couldn't be happier with the dollar:performance ratio. Check it out here: http://www.corsair.com/en-us/hydro-series-h60-high-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler

Happy cooling!