Do AIO coolers run out of water/liquid?

Overblod

Overblod

Limp Gawd
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Mar 28, 2018
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I have a Corsair Hydro series 240mm cooler, its about 1.5 years old, has been running great, cooling performance has not deteriorated/changed, but still, I am wondering, as custom loops use reservoirs or T-links, does AIOs run out of liquid too?
 
no, they do not run out of liquid.. there's still a certain amount of overtime evaporation which it's in fact more related to become somewhat "thick and dry" liquid but it take really a lot of years to achieve a point where it really matters..
 
As stated, not really. My original H100 is still running since around launch.
 
my coolit eco c240 did.

well the o-ring at the cold plate gave up so...

if no leaks no worries.
 
Granted you don't take them apart and loose any coolant, and granted they don't leak, then no they won't run out.
 
I've heard a few stories of AIOs that are 5+ years old losing enough liquid to affect performance. There were a few posts were people added more liquid and got performance back.
 
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I had an H115i go bad on me -- not sure if it lost liquid or the pump failed. It was also on for nearly 24/7 since purchase across a couple systems. I might've just worn it out.

With that being said they are designed to be sealed units where you shouldn't need to add liquid to them.
 
I'm sure there is loss over time, but as stated, it is likely minimal, I haven't ever held onto an AIO long enough to experience that though. I've seen it mentioned as a concern many places before though.
 
Technically yes, but not in the useful life of the unit, or not before something else fails first.

Short version is liquids pass through solids at some rate, you can't beat chemistry-n-physics but you can do your best to engineer around it.

YMMV for defective or especially shitty products, keep in mind AIO at their core are a budget cost-cutting design (Al + Cu for starters) so there is that to keep in mind.
 
I got a h50 from launch basically still works to this day, would be interesting to open up and see though.
 
when they do fail though you can make them in to their own loop this is my coolit 240mm rad and a corsair h55 waterblock pump.

98398_3158800.jpg
 
Funny how so many posts with so few about how CLCs on very hot CPUs tend to die after a year or two .. because the harder they work / hotter the coolant gets the shorter their lifespan is .. almost always because of coolant loose.

So yes, there is coolant loss .. and if you work your system really hard (high wattage CPU) with a CLC it has a good chance of going bad in 1.5-2 years. It's the reason most coolant systems have a fill cap for topping up coolant. ;)
 
Currently using my aio on i7-6850k, it's overclocked to 4.2 but never exeeds 57 degrees. I was told that it's because it's lid is soldered. But now I am switching to 8086k, delided, and planning to OC it, so was trying to make sure I will be okay with old aio. Seems like it's good for now, but might need replacement in year or so.

Another reason why custom loops need refilling, susceptible to heat, might be because they generally include GPUs too, and those run much hotter than CPUs
 
doyll said:
Funny how so many posts with so few about how CLCs on very hot CPUs tend to die after a year or two .. because the harder they work / hotter the coolant gets the shorter their lifespan is .. almost always because of coolant loose.

So yes, there is coolant loss .. and if you work your system really hard (high wattage CPU) with a CLC it has a good chance of going bad in 1.5-2 years. It's the reason most coolant systems have a fill cap for topping up coolant. ;)
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how do clc's work harder? all mine were constant rpm pumps so the "work" is the same cold or hot.

hell even that corsair one is constant rpm.

sounds like hokum to me.
 
he is kinda right. higher sustained coolant temps, above 60c, can cause premature coolant evap and pumps to wear out. so if you are using an inadequately sized aio it could die early. I think that's part of the enermax issue they are having with their TR aios.
 
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Enermax problem was improper sealing/pressure of the loop according to their own analysis of failed units, their response was posted on this very forum.

Considering the Gen1 handles a 2990WX just fine at stock boost etc I wouldn't call it undersized. If anything they are one of the few that has a proper flow rate on their pump, most of the Asetek units I've seen are fucking anemic. The fact that cooler vendors just threw in an adapter plate and relabeled existing designs was shameful IMO, though I get that AMD also did it for TR's launch because it was new and so much bigger than before.

CLC in generally are definitely overrated as hell, way too much faith in the marketing behind them. It lets you have different case layout options for sure, but if you have the room big air is safer in all situations and even cools better more often than people seem to realize.
 
I ran my old H100 for like 6 years I think. First on a heavily overclocked FX 8150 then on a heavily overclocked FX 8350. I finally retired it back in November for my H110i but it was working just as well when I took it out as it was when I first installed it around 2011.
 
Master_shake_ said:
how do clc's work harder? all mine were constant rpm pumps so the "work" is the same cold or hot.

hell even that corsair one is constant rpm.

sounds like hokum to me.
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A CLC 'working hard' is the process of transferring high amounts of heat from component (CPU) to coolant and on into airflow. through radiator.

The more heat a CPU makes the more heat / work the CLC has to do to remove that heat. Higher amounts of heat from CPU means CLC runs hotter moving hotter coolant .. and the higher coolant temp the more the coolant is to 'leak' through the hoses as well as break down the coolant additives like corrosion inhibitors. This also means more heat in the pump and pump motor which increases the wear on pump.

Ask around with peeps using CLCs on high overclocked CPUs with lots of heat and you will find there is a significant number of them having CLC failures from about 1 year to 18 months .. usually before 2 years of hard use. "Hard use" meaning transfering high amounts of heat.

Some last longer, some last less time. Problems are a combination of things from coolant loss to coolant additive breakdown and resulting corrosion, coolant thickening, etc. Almost all CLC failures are pump related and many of those are the result of air in the pump .. mostly caused by slow loss of coolant. If you go back and look at when H100 first came out you will find there was an extremely high number of problems with them. So many the market was flooded with 'refurbished' H100s' selling for about half what new ones were priced at. I would say you have been very lucky to have yours last as long as it has. New Enermax Liqtech TR4 started having problems in a few short months with corrosion and other issues.
Heck, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what I was referring to.
 
doyll said:
A CLC 'working hard' is the process of transferring high amounts of heat from component (CPU) to coolant and on into airflow. through radiator.

The more heat a CPU makes the more heat / work the CLC has to do to remove that heat. Higher amounts of heat from CPU means CLC runs hotter moving hotter coolant .. and the higher coolant temp the more the coolant is to 'leak' through the hoses as well as break down the coolant additives like corrosion inhibitors. This also means more heat in the pump and pump motor which increases the wear on pump.

Ask around with peeps using CLCs on high overclocked CPUs with lots of heat and you will find there is a significant number of them having CLC failures from about 1 year to 18 months .. usually before 2 years of hard use. "Hard use" meaning transfering high amounts of heat.

Some last longer, some last less time. Problems are a combination of things from coolant loss to coolant additive breakdown and resulting corrosion, coolant thickening, etc. Almost all CLC failures are pump related and many of those are the result of air in the pump .. mostly caused by slow loss of coolant. If you go back and look at when H100 first came out you will find there was an extremely high number of problems with them. So many the market was flooded with 'refurbished' H100s' selling for about half what new ones were priced at. I would say you have been very lucky to have yours last as long as it has. New Enermax Liqtech TR4 started having problems in a few short months with corrosion and other issues.
Heck, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what I was referring to.
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So what you're saying is, we need to have someone test an array of CLCs for a period of time at higher static temperatures? Maybe even one test at say 50C constant, another 60C, and maybe one at 70C constant. Would be interesting to see a cutaway of the CLCs after say 12-18 months at each temp range to compare any differences.

FWIW, I've been using my H100i for the last 4 years without issue. First on an overclocked X5675 and for the last 1.5 years on an overclocked 3970X. Havent noticed any degradation in performance.
 
FlawleZ said:
So what you're saying is, we need to have someone test an array of CLCs for a period of time at higher static temperatures? Maybe even one test at say 50C constant, another 60C, and maybe one at 70C constant. Would be interesting to see a cutaway of the CLCs after say 12-18 months at each temp range to compare any differences.

FWIW, I've been using my H100i for the last 4 years without issue. First on an overclocked X5675 and for the last 1.5 years on an overclocked 3970X. Havent noticed any degradation in performance.
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That would be nice to see, but I doubt anyone is going to run 3 systems for a couple of years then open up CLCs to see what's there. I don't like CLCs. Don't like the sound of pump running, don't like paying more for no real improvement in cooling over a good air cooler in case setup to flow air properly, don't like how they are not as dependable as a good air cooler. I ran custom loops for many years, but about 7 years ago air coolers had improved to a point they do the job very well at prices way lower than any H2O system can. I know lots of users get 3-6 years, but there are also lots that only last 18-30 months.

CLC reviews from day one have been seriously skewed to favor them over air coolers. Most cases have very poor fans, and even if they come with decent fans they rarely include enough of them. End result is airflow through case is bad and air temp into coolers when both CPU and GPU are working hard is way warmer than room .. and with air cooling every degree warmer the air into cooler is the component translates to almost the same degrees hotter component will be. So if air inside of case is 8c warmer than room the components are 8c hotter. But with a CLC radiator as intake it's using coolest possible air and give lower temps. Put half of the extra money a CLC costs over a good air cooler into a couple of good case fans and system will be as cool and almost always quieter too.
 
I'm pretty sure the CLC I am using is 100% better than any air cooler on the market for a Threadripper without being a 5 lb lump of aluminum and copper sitting on top of my cpu right smack in the middle of my case. As for a custom loop, well I know I will need to maintain it every few years so no hardship there. Maintaining my beloved compy is a labor of love.
 
pendragon1 said:
he is kinda right. higher sustained coolant temps, above 60c, can cause premature coolant evap and pumps to wear out. so if you are using an inadequately sized aio it could die early. I think that's part of the enermax issue they are having with their TR aios.
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doyll said:
A CLC 'working hard' is the process of transferring high amounts of heat from component (CPU) to coolant and on into airflow. through radiator.

The more heat a CPU makes the more heat / work the CLC has to do to remove that heat. Higher amounts of heat from CPU means CLC runs hotter moving hotter coolant .. and the higher coolant temp the more the coolant is to 'leak' through the hoses as well as break down the coolant additives like corrosion inhibitors. This also means more heat in the pump and pump motor which increases the wear on pump.

Ask around with peeps using CLCs on high overclocked CPUs with lots of heat and you will find there is a significant number of them having CLC failures from about 1 year to 18 months .. usually before 2 years of hard use. "Hard use" meaning transfering high amounts of heat.

Some last longer, some last less time. Problems are a combination of things from coolant loss to coolant additive breakdown and resulting corrosion, coolant thickening, etc. Almost all CLC failures are pump related and many of those are the result of air in the pump .. mostly caused by slow loss of coolant. If you go back and look at when H100 first came out you will find there was an extremely high number of problems with them. So many the market was flooded with 'refurbished' H100s' selling for about half what new ones were priced at. I would say you have been very lucky to have yours last as long as it has. New Enermax Liqtech TR4 started having problems in a few short months with corrosion and other issues.
Heck, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what I was referring to.
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the "hoses" clcs use are not like rubber water cooling hoses.

they are almost all plastic and they don't allow coolant to evaporate, that is the reason the are closed loop because service is next to impossible.

the biggest point of failure on these things is the pump.
 
My H60 ran 24/7 for 5 years with my slightly OC'd 3770k. I sold the machine 2 years ago to a friend and then my brother acquired it from him a few months later and has been using it 24/7 as well for his media server, so the cooler is over 7 years old now.
 
Master_shake_ said:
the "hoses" clcs use are not like rubber water cooling hoses.

they are almost all plastic and they don't allow coolant to evaporate, that is the reason the are closed loop because service is next to impossible.

the biggest point of failure on these things is the pump.
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If you believe that I've got post holes to sell you.
All liquid cooling loops need maintenance. Doesn't matter if they are AIO, AIO/CLC or custom loop the coolant in them is all basically the same. They all loose coolant, and after a year or 2 the anti corrosion and gunk inhibitors start to fail and corrosion starts.

cyberguyz, what unit do you have on your TR4? Some of the TR4 units are not run of the mill CLCs mostly made by Asetek.
 
Master_shake_ said:
the "hoses" clcs use are not like rubber water cooling hoses.

they are almost all plastic and they don't allow coolant to evaporate, that is the reason the are closed loop because service is next to impossible.

the biggest point of failure on these things is the pump.
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hose type depends on brand/model and all do have some evap at high temps. low/normal temps has next to none.
 
they are almost all plastic and they don't allow coolant to evaporate
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Hi there, take that "plastic" and look up the permeability (water/mix at normal temp & pressure). Unless they have invented some new perfect wonder material it will have fluid loss over time. You won't "see" it because normal evaporation is much faster unless its made from bottom grade chinesium blend.

Just because that fluid loss is not the first thing that kills most AIOs does not mean it is not happening.
 
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I have a Nepton 140XL with three years of nearly continuous power on and it's still running well.
 
doyll said:
....

cyberguyz, what unit do you have on your TR4? Some of the TR4 units are not run of the mill CLCs mostly made by Asetek.
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The majority of CLCs are asetek rebrands. Those are not designed for a TR and will leave you wanting when you start overclocking anything over 8 cores. AMD provided the asetek bracket for the TR only because there were absolutely 0 coolers available for TR when it was launched. It was intended to be just good enough for a stock TR, but never for use in an overclocked one.

Mine is an Enermax Liqtech TR4 360 (1st generation - it is there in my sig) until I change it out for a custom loop. It is the only AIO/CLC actually developed to properly fit a TR4 that I know of. It does have a downside in that a lot of these units have been failing due to gunk /corrosion buildup after less than a year. When that happens you can either RMA it, toss it, or tear it down, clean and re-fill it - basically turning it into a custom LC. When mine goes I will tear it down, clean it, refill it using my own brand of alchemy and leave it in my closet as a backup.

One thing that air coolers do have going for them is lack of maintenance beyond occasionally changing the TIM every few years. But their performance doesn't come near a properly designed CLC.

To the others in the thread my CLC uses neoprene (synthetic rubber - not plastic) + a braided polyamide (PA or "Nylon") jacket on its hoses. If any osmosis takes place with that, It will take a very, very long time. Neoprene is popular for gas and cooling hoses, both bare and with braided stainless steel jackets, in cars due to their resistance to heat and low osmosis factors (you really don't want your braided stainless gas lines to be weeping gas in your car!!).
 
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cyberguyz said:
The majority of CLCs are asetek rebrands.
Mine is an Enermax Liqtech TR4 360 (1st generation - it is there in my sig) until I change it out for a custom loop.
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Your's is an AIO, not a CLC. CLCs are factory sealed in such a way they cannot be disassembled .. well not disassembled and reassembled like yours can. While your AIO is not great it is way better built than CLCs are.

Sadly the only good AIO I know of is Swiftech. Aphacool make some but there have been some issues and poor customer support.

Yeah, while yours is the only AIO made for TR4, it is definitely not as good as it should be.

And you are absolutely correct about the tubing used on CLCs versus what is used in internal combustion engines.

criccio said:
Only problem i had was my H100i v2's pump died after 2 years.
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Much of the time pump failures are a result of low coolant level / air bubbles causing the pump to run dry and fail.
 
doyll said:
Much of the time pump failures are a result of low coolant level / air bubbles causing the pump to run dry and fail.
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Probably. I did dismantle it when my replacement arrived (another H100i v2) and while there was still liquid in it, it didn't necessarily seem like enough though i had nothing to compare it to.
 
doyll said:
Much of the time pump failures are a result of low coolant level / air bubbles causing the pump to run dry and fail.
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or improper installation that causes that bit of air to sit in the pump.
 
Hmm.

The amount of “work” done by a CLC is pretty much constant.

Most don’t vary the pump speed. Fan speed may vary but that doesn’t really affect the work done inside the loop.

Higher temps could have a sight effect - lower density on the liquid, but the temp deltas are so small the effect is minuscule.

Given that CLCs don’t have an expansion volume (or rather they just rely on elasticity of the coolant lines) higher temps could also lead to higher internal pressures, and that could lead to premature seal failure. But that doesn’t really have anything to do with work being done by the CTC, the same effect would be noticed with high ambient temps or inefficient/dirty radiator. Again, the temp deltas aren’t that great, but in a sealed system with inadequate expansion that could very well end up being significant. That would be a design flaw rather than a systemic problem shared by all CLCs though - having a semi-elastic line solves the problem neatly enough.
 
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