Really stupid question but do I really need to drain my system to replace GPU?

Nebell

2[H]4U
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Jul 20, 2015
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I don't know anything about water pressure inside computers.

Can I just lay my PC on the back, remove the tubes connecting PC to the GPUs and then just replace them?
Or is there going to be a whole lot of water coming out? My guess is it's going to be a lot of water since if it's going to lay on it's back, the reservoir is going to push the water out because it will be in the higher position compared to the CPU, unless, I leave the tube going from the CPU to GPU connected to the CPU and just remove it from the GPU.

Any suggestions? My 1080Ti is coming tomorrow I think and I don't have much coolant left, only about half a liter. It's not enough to fill it all but it will be enough if I leave like half coolant inside the computer.
I can order more from EKWB but it will take at least a week to arrive :(


Here's a photo of my system:
e7KM21.jpg
 
you might be able to get away with just draining enough to empty the water in the tubes and blocks on the gpu, but if you just undo the gpus prepare for water to start leaking every where.
 
If you're concerned, you can reuse your current coolant once you drain it. Don't risk your hardware to a spill just because you're low in coolant.
 
Definitely drain it, at least part way. Paper towels around fittings as you disconnect them is a prudent idea, too, since even a well "drained" system will will still have some coolant in it, and that coolant is likely to move and settle as you allow more air into the system by opening fittings.

As others have said, snag a clean container and capture the drained coolant. As long as there are no floaties in it, it's probably fine to reuse. =)
 
If you don't drain it, at least mostly, more water will leak out than you expect. At the worst possible time.
 
If you don't drain it, at least mostly, more water will leak out than you expect. At the worst possible time.
Old Man Splitfoot's First Law of Malignity. You're not a watercooler until you've cracked open a GPU fitting and dribbled water from your "drained" loop directly into your power supply.

Ask me how I know. XD
 
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Well, I ordered EK CryoFuel, I found some in a shop nearby and hopefully it will be here today, or else I will have to wait until tomorrow :/
Thanks all, but better not to risk it :)
 
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