AiO Waterblock Compatibility

[MechPilot524]

So I had a thought that perhaps I can start out my next rig (to date, a 212 EVO and the airflow of a HAF X case was plenty for my mild overclocks) with an all-in-one watercooler with the intent of upgrading it later. Essentially, I've been without a desktop for some time and need a new one, but I can't exactly build a 6950X rig this minute, so I need to take things step-by-step keeping in mind many things are prone to be upgraded in the coming months.

This question really isn't only geared towards CPU AiOs but any liquid cooling that is not marketed and sold with the intent of being used in a custom loop.

But is it unheard of, or a bad idea, to reuse anything in an AiO loop as part of a custom loop? Will I just need to shell out for the custom gear from day one?

 

Say that I have a MasterLiquid Lite watercooler (very budget, $50 or less) on my CPU from the initial build and later on (as I have Hawaii silicon that should be serviceable short-term) a Vega liquid-cooled edition. I decide I'm ready to go full custom, suppose centered around a reservoir-pump and with a bigger, thicker rad than the AiOs:

- Are the fittings and tubings of such AiOs typically a standard size, eg. are they usually something like 1/2" ID - or is it a thing for many to be proprietary like 13mm?

- I believe most AiOs have pumps integrated into the waterblocks. Will such a thing interfere with a custom loop pump? Conversely, will they combined be enough to power a custom loop with nothing too fancy? (e.g. VRM waterblocks, probs going X399 before X299!)

- Although it's been said most waterblocks are only marginally different from each other, does the same still apply for the pure waterblock performance of AiOs? And is the performance difference between budget and higher-end (e.g. an H100i) due to the waterblock at all, or is it really all the radiator?

 

Alternatively, there is the aluminum loop stuff EK has introduced recently, I saw Linus' video on it. However, I'm concerned that there are few compatible items that won't get corroded. Are liquid solutions such as the Vega 64 LC (tough to guess now, I know) going to possibly be using aluminum, or will they be using copper?

[W-L]

3 minutes ago, MechPilot524 said:

-SNIP-

If you are going for a custom loop get proper custom loop components, while it's not impossible to modify AIo coolers for re-use that is not recommended and at the risk of leaks. The liquid gaming kits are and option if you want to try and save a bit of cost and go with an all aluminum custom loop. 

[MechPilot524]

1 minute ago, W-L said:

If you are going for a custom loop get proper custom loop components, while it's not impossible to modify AIo coolers for re-use that is not recommended and at the risk of leaks. The liquid gaming kits are and option if you want to try and save a bit of cost and go with an all aluminum custom loop. 

Right but isn't aluminum still pretty unused since it's incompatible with copper, and everything's copper already? Like what's the chances of there being a Vega 64 aluminum waterblock anywhere at all - as an aftermarket block or as part of an AiO solution?

[W-L]

Just now, MechPilot524 said:

Right but isn't aluminum still pretty unused since it's incompatible with copper, and everything's copper already? Like what's the chances of there being a Vega 64 aluminum waterblock anywhere at all - as an aftermarket block or as part of an AiO solution?

Everything in their kits is aluminum so there is no other metal, the fittings, blocks, etc. As of currently EKWB has no other blocks or options but will soon have more availability for the expansion of their aluminium cooling kits.