How and When to Change AIO Liquid Cooling on PC

An air heatsink consists of a block of aluminum sheets and copper heat pipes (with some exceptions), that is, except for the fan it does not have moving parts. An AIO liquid cooler, on the other hand, has a pump constantly pushing liquid, with moving parts that wear out; In addition to that, and despite the fact that it is a sealed closed circuit, with time it produces some evaporation of the liquid, and with the passing of the days there is less and less inside it, greatly reducing its performance.

Why should you change an AIO liquid cooling?

As we mentioned a moment ago, this type of heatsink, to put it in some way, has an expiration date, and although they can last in good condition for many years, the irremediable moment will come when you have to change it. Obviously, if you have given the device proper cleaning and maintenance, it can last for many years in good condition, but it depends a lot on the quality of the product, the environmental conditions and the maintenance that has been given.

Before we get down to business, let’s take a look at the efficiency or effectiveness of these types of heatsinks. If the question arises of how efficient they are, then the answer is that in some cases at least, an AIO liquid-cooled heatsink provides better service than an over-the-air heatsink. For the user who builds his PC on his own or for the customization of a PC, this type of heatsinks is also a great option because they are easy to install and aesthetically allow us to see the hardware we have installed better, although it is true that they also have its disadvantages.

The reasons why you should start to suspect that something is wrong and that it may be time to change the device are mainly two:

• Increase in temperature : when you start to see that your processor gets too hot, much more than when you started using the AIO liquid, it is an indication that something is wrong. It may be that cleaning the radiator and fans and changing the thermal paste will solve it, but it can also be an indication that the pump has worn too much and is no longer pushing enough liquid or that there is no longer enough liquid for good heat dissipation … And both reasons are indicative that the time has come to change AIO liquid cooling.
• Too much noise – A significant increase in noise on the heatsink can also be indicative of a malfunction. The noise generally does not come from the fans (and if so, you will only have to clean them well and check it) but from the pump: when it is already reaching the end of its useful life it begins to make a lot of noise, as if something were rubbing, indicative that it is no longer able to push the liquid properly or that too much liquid has evaporated and not enough reaches it, remaining “in the air”.

Wear of liquid cooling components

Most AIO liquid-cooled heatsinks don’t need to be replaced frequently, and will generally last as long as other PC components. However, there are some important things to keep in mind regarding this type of heatsinks, such as the fact that most consist of hermetically closed circuits, which means that there is no way to change or refill the liquid when and when it evaporates. happens you will have no choice but to change the liquid cooling.

There can be many reasons behind which you feel the need to replace the entire device, but since there are many that are not completely closed, we are going to list the reasons why and when you should replace each part.

• Fans : All liquid cooling heatsinks have at least one fan to cool the radiator. Sometimes the edges of the fans get stuck from dust and soot and start to lose efficiency and make noise, but generally a good cleaning every six months is enough to keep them running in good condition for many years.
• Radiator : the work of the radiator is the most important when it comes to dissipating heat, it is an essential part of the whole and since it is in contact with the fans it can easily become a dust deposit that blocks the passage of air from them. . For this reason, it is also advisable to do a good cleaning every six months.
• Pump : the crucial part of any liquid cooling heatsink, since it is responsible for pushing the liquid throughout the circuit. This part could leak, start to run slower and noisier, or stop working altogether, and the bad news is that there is no specific maintenance we can do on it. When it fails, there is no choice but to change it.

• Coolant liquid : the liquid is in charge of collecting the heat from the processor and taking it to the radiator to be cooled. AIO liquid cooling systems are not 100% watertight, but suffer a very slight evaporation that over time is no longer so light, since many days losing a little liquid causes huge air bubbles to form in the end and that the heatsink lose its effectiveness and make a lot of noise. If your AIO kit allows you to refill the fluid, experts recommend doing it every two years.
• Water Block – Some heatsinks use water block technology which greatly protects them from leakage or oxidation. Therefore, you must verify that the pieces are in good condition, that they are not dirty, and that the thermal paste is in good condition. Experts recommend cleaning every six months and changing the thermal paste once a year.

How often is it necessary to change it?

As we have said before, it is not that there is a moment when you know that your heatsink has “expired” and that you have to change it, but there are some clear signs that will be indicating that it has reached the end of its useful life and you will see forced to do so. Generally, and if you give it proper maintenance, you will not need to change your AIO liquid cooling heatsink for at least five years, although obviously this depends on many factors and it could well be 3 years that could be 8 or even 10.

What is clear is that, unlike air-cooled heatsinks, a liquid-cooled heatsink (in this case, either AIO or custom) cannot function indefinitely and there will come a time when it will “say goodbye” and not You will have no choice but to change it for a new one.