Can I use an AIO?

[darcymccracken]

Can I still use an AIO if there isn't a designated pump or AIO header on the motherboard, what if there is only a CPU fan header on the motherboard?

[KarathKasun]

Use a molex/sata power adapter, problem solved.

[BenR31415]

Yes.

 

An AIO header will provide more power than a regular fan header (and normally run them at 100% by default if I remember correctly) but that will work perfectly fine.

[SupaKomputa]

an aio basically can be powered from any power source including the fan header.

nothing different from powering a heatsink fan.

[darcymccracken]

2 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

an aio basically can be powered from any power source including the fan header.

nothing different from powering a heatsink fan.

But will I still be able to customise it's setting like the fan curve and such?

[WoodenMarker]

1 minute ago, darcymccracken said:

But will I still be able to customise it's setting like the fan curve and such?

Depends on the motherboard and header. 

[darcymccracken]

Just now, WoodenMarker said:

Depends on the motherboard and header. 

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B350M-MORTAR-ARCTIC

 

This one

[BenR31415]

Just now, darcymccracken said:

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B350M-MORTAR-ARCTIC

 

This one

You should be able to control its speed through the BIOS.

 

Which AIO are you planning on using? Some of them (Corsair, etc) have their own dedicated software for controlling speeds. Others will require control from your motherboard BIOS.

[WoodenMarker]

2 minutes ago, darcymccracken said:

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B350M-MORTAR-ARCTIC

This one

If you have a 3pin header for your pump, use a sys_fan header. If it's 4pin, use the cpu_fan header.

You can set an rpm curve from the motherboard settings the same way as for other fans connected to the motherboard.

[darcymccracken]

1 minute ago, BenR31415 said:

You should be able to control its speed through the BIOS.

 

Which AIO are you planning on using? Some of them (Corsair, etc) have their own dedicated software for controlling speeds. Others will require control from your motherboard BIOS.

Im looking on getting one of coolermasters masterliquid 120 AIO's

[SupaKomputa]

8 minutes ago, darcymccracken said:

But will I still be able to customise it's setting like the fan curve and such?

depends if the aio pump supports variable speed.

an aio pump looks the same as an air fan with the blades and all.

the difference is just air and water.

 

Btw you should as yourself why do you need an AIO?

If its for temps, a good heatsink will produce the same results without all the perks like dead pump or leaking.

coolermasters masterliquid 120 will be just the same if not worse than a cheaper hyper 212.

[LienusLateTips]

2 minutes ago, darcymccracken said:

Im looking on getting one of coolermasters masterliquid 120 AIO's

Those aren't worth it. Many air coolers are better, and I heard those are leaky.

[BenR31415]

3 hours ago, darcymccracken said:

Im looking on getting one of coolermasters masterliquid 120 AIO's

Why do you want AIO? I used one as a first system builder, and kinda regretted it (somewhat).

 

The good things about them is that they have fancy LEDs, cool really well, can be installed easily and can deliver heaps of cooling at reasonably low noise.

The issue is that they're typically more expensive than a comparable air cooler, louder, more prone to leaks, less reliable, more easy to break.

 

Let me explain: I have a top of the line (when I bought it) Corsair H115i because I wanted the best on the market, because I never wanted to worry about temperatures again, and wanted a really quiet rig. The first issue was that the corsair software broke all the time (most likely due to a USB hub, but still) meaning that I had no easy way to control the unit, and it reverted to its "normal" (uncomfortably loud) setting whenever this happened.

Then the pump died, temps were over 100 degrees, and then the computer straight refused to boot. If it was on a day where a project was due, I would have been screwed. On the top of the line corsair cooler. I got it replaced under warranty, but I had to pull out my stock cooler, buy some extra thermal paste, it was a pain.

After the replacement unit, it too was pretty damn loud and had the same issues with the Corsair software. Because the included fan leads were too short to reach my motherboard, I replaced it with some of the best fans on the market, and they are super silent (never hear them).

Now, the pump is by far the loudest part of my whole system at idle, and while it's not too bad it does get annoying.

 

Would I have bought an AIO if I knew what I did now for my own personal system? Probably.

Would I recommend other people getting one? I'm not so sure.

My pump died, I've had a lot of issues getting it to be as quiet as expected, spent twice as much as an air cooler all up, and it's still louder than a comparable air cooler. Granted, it does look very nice and cools really really well, but is that really worth it?

 

@JDE is saying that coolermaster units are leaky. I haven't heard that many stories of happening, but I do know that coolermaster doesn't have the best reputation on the market on making reliable, quiet, easy to work with units. For example, cords always kinked, heaps of pump wine (especially on things like the Fury X using a coolermaster designed cooler), them breaking etc.

 

Seriously reconsider this choice.