Question Am I in risk of damaging my components?

[ARTOS99]

Hello. This is my new PC Build. Unfortunately, I couldn't place any of the AIOs at the front with the tubes on the bottom. I had to put my CPU AIO (Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360) at the front with the tubes at the top as intake, and my GPU AIO (Saphire RX 6900 XT Toxic Extreme Edition) at the top as exhaust with the tubes tied to the case, like in the picture.

I saw that this CPU AIO positioning is not good, so am I in risk of damaging anything, any of the radiators/pumps/tubes set up like I have?

 

[Lutfij]

You might want to follow this;

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 Rev 7 - User Manual

Get your ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 Rev 7 user manual. Detailed explanation with coloured schematics, photos, animations and videos.

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whereby the tubes of the CPU's AIO aren't above the pump block.

You risk cavitation in your pump block and causing the pump to run dry, thus ruining the pump.

 

[Albert.Thomas]

Check the user manual, usually the manufacturer will indicate if front mounting is supported.

I've seen a lot of AIOs which suffer when front mounted. Cooler Master's new Core 360L AIO is one of the strongest I've recently tested when top mounted, but performs (slightly) worse than a 240mm when front mounted.

 

[ARTOS99]

You might want to follow this;

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 Rev 7 - User Manual

Get your ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 Rev 7 user manual. Detailed explanation with coloured schematics, photos, animations and videos.

support.arctic.de

whereby the tubes of the CPU's AIO aren't above the pump block.

You risk cavitation in your pump block and causing the pump to run dry, thus ruining the pump.

What if I can't install any other way?? The case is big by itself, but the tubes aren't long enough. Assuming I'm going to be pushing this to play at 1440p ultra for some gaming sessions during the week, but I'll do regular cleaning and maintenence, do you think it can last me long enough?

 

[ARTOS99]

Also just checked Jayz' video on this, and this position is fine. Not optimal as if it was upside down, but still fine

 

[Phaaze88]

"You risk cavitation in your pump block and causing the pump to run dry, thus ruining the pump."
That's IF the chamber is at a higher y-axis than the top of the radiator.

"I've seen a lot of AIOs which suffer when front mounted. Cooler Master's new Core 360L AIO is one of the strongest I've recently tested when top mounted, but performs (slightly) worse than a 240mm when front mounted."
Fans, and the size and shape of the perforations between the front and top panels play a part in this. Some fans are more effective at pushing air through a surface vs pulling, or vice versa, and the perforations are yet another influence.

AIO (Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360) at the front with the tubes at the top as intake

The worst that happens is annoying noise in the little reservoir at the top of the rad.
It takes some years for that happen, and the AIO may kick the bucket to mechanical pump failure before that does occur.

Also just checked Jayz' video on this, and this position is fine. Not optimal as if it was upside down, but still fine

Glad you found that one. Front mounting rads gets a lot of flak for little reason.

 

[ARTOS99]

"You risk cavitation in your pump block and causing the pump to run dry, thus ruining the pump."
That's IF the chamber is at a higher y-axis than the top of the radiator.

"I've seen a lot of AIOs which suffer when front mounted. Cooler Master's new Core 360L AIO is one of the strongest I've recently tested when top mounted, but performs (slightly) worse than a 240mm when front mounted."
Fans, and the size and shape of the perforations between the front and top panels play a part in this. Some fans are more effective at pushing air through a surface vs pulling, or vice versa, and the perforations are yet another influence.



The worst that happens is annoying noise in the little reservoir at the top of the rad.
It takes some years for that happen, and the AIO may kick the bucket to mechanical pump failure before that does occur.


Glad you found that one. Front mounting rads gets a lot of flak for little reason.

So I'll be safe for a few years? I don't mind the little noise, I mind the actual performance and if it doesn't ruin my other components. Unfortunately, didn't plan my build correctly enough, even though I did a big enough case. Today I'm testing the airflow with some incense and installing that pesky lil Windows and updating all drivers and installing everything. Just got to figure out fan speed settings from the Motherboard, but Arctic actually provided a good guide for that, I think I'll follow it too

 

[Phaaze88]

So I'll be safe for a few years? I don't mind the little noise, I mind the actual performance and if it doesn't ruin my other components.

It's fine. Can't ruin anything, unless the unit bursts, you rip it open, or you do what I took a mention to earlier - position the pump chamber above the highest point of the rad, which doesn't even appear possible in that case.

 

[USAFRet]

It's fine. Can't ruin anything, unless the unit bursts, you rip it open, or you do what I took a mention to earlier - position the pump chamber above the highest point of the rad, which doesn't even appear possible in that case.

As air collects in the system, where will it collect?

At the highest point in the loop.
Currently, where is that... 🤔

 

[Phaaze88]

As air collects in the system, where will it collect?

At the highest point in the loop.
Currently, where is that... 🤔

The highest point of the OP's cpu loop is the rad, not the pump chamber. There's no problem there.
Nevertheless, it still takes time for the accumulated air volume to start producing those gurgling or dripping sounds, and they're just annoying, not harmful. Plus, some units die before it becomes a problem anyway.

 

[USAFRet]

The highest point of the OP's cpu loop is the rad, not the pump chamber. There's no problem there.
Nevertheless, it still takes time for the accumulated air volume to start producing those gurgling or dripping sounds, and they're just annoying, not harmful. Plus, some units die before it becomes a problem anyway.

Right.
The top of the rad, where the hoses connect.

Air will collect there, and the pump is then sucking air.

Or so the theory goes.


If the rad were flipped 180, no problem.
But it appears these hoses are too short for that.

 

[Phaaze88]

... the pump is then sucking air.

Or so the theory goes.

Does it? I didn't see it doing that with the Eisbaer Aurora 360, and that cooler has a little window that you can look into to see the fluid level and any air pockets(if present).

 

[USAFRet]

Does it? I didn't see it doing that with the Eisbaer Aurora 360, and that cooler has a little window that you can look into to see the fluid level and any air pockets(if present).

Where is this window?

 

[Deleted member 2838871]

I ran an AIO setup like this with the rad at the top for years... never had a problem.

Honestly I don't get why you would ever want a rad at the front... I mean... unless I'm missing something intake fans at the bottom/front with exit fans at the rear and the top (blowing thru the rad) are the way to go. It makes the most sense to me anyway.

My ambient temps are quite comfortable too though so that "blowing warm case air thru the rad" never really made any difference.

 

[USAFRet]

I ran an AIO setup like this with the rad at the top for years... never had a problem.

I'm not saying it "will be" a problem.

I'm just pointing out it "could be" a problem, sometime in the future.

I wouldn't configure any of my systems like that.

 

[Deleted member 2838871]

I'm not saying it "will be" a problem.

I'm just pointing out it "could be" a problem, sometime in the future.

I wasn't implying that you were. I remember doing a lot of research prior to getting my first AIO and if memory serves the general consensus was top mounted was the way to go... but there's more than one way to skin a cat.

I gotta say though... after experiencing this Noctua I don't think I'll ever run another AIO.

I wouldn't configure any of my systems like that.

Front or top rad?

 

[Phaaze88]

Where is this window?

This window:

Spoiler

Alphacool also recommends that the window be facing up at all times.


EDIT: FYI, I've no idea why more companies don't do this. It's so handy.
I don't think Alphacool has a patent on it..?

 

[USAFRet]

I wasn't implying that you were. I remember doing a lot of research prior to getting my first AIO and if memory serves the general consensus was top mounted was the way to go... but there's more than one way to skin a cat.

I gotta say though... after experiencing this Noctua I don't think I'll ever run another AIO.




Front or top rad?

Front, with the hoses at the top of the rad.

Front with the hoses at the bottom, no prob.
Top, no prob.

 

[Deleted member 2947362]

I ran an AIO setup like this with the rad at the top for years... never had a problem.

Honestly I don't get why you would ever want a rad at the front... I mean... unless I'm missing something intake fans at the bottom/front with exit fans at the rear and the top (blowing thru the rad) are the way to go. It makes the most sense to me anyway.

My ambient temps are quite comfortable too though so that "blowing warm case air thru the rad" never really made any difference.

same here, I even considered taking my old cooler (corsair) to my mates workshop drilling a hole in the radiator and brazing a connection for a small a top-up header tank didn't bother in the end but If i get another one I prob's will just to experiment with lol