Question CPU Liquid Cooler

[Xindrrak]

Could someone explain to me what hardware comes with a liquid cooler? Like... I can't seem to wrap my brain around the mounting bracket part I guess I should say. I have an AM3+ socket and I can't seem to find any mounting brackets to get an idea of what it's gonna be like other than retention plates which I don't believe is the same is it? I don't know I'm just really confused is all.

 

[Aeacus]

Could someone explain to me what hardware comes with a liquid cooler?

Depends on which liquid cooler are you talking about.

There are two main avenues:
* AIO
* open loop

AIO is All-In-One liquid cooler, e.g Corsair H110i or Arctic Freezer II 240.
Open loop (aka custom loop) is assembled from the parts. Usually bought from dedicated sites, e.g EKWB: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/

So, which one is it?

AIOs have info with them, of what parts the come with. E.g Arctic Freezer II 240 rev 7: https://support.arctic.de/lf2-240r7
Note: it does not support AM3+ socket.

Corsair H110i does support AM3+ socket,
specs: https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/cpu...e-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler-cw-9060026-ww

 

[Xindrrak]

Sorry should've specified... An AIO.

 

[Aeacus]

Read the AIO manual. It comes with necessary brackets. Also, make sure AIO supports the old AM3 socket, since at current time, AM3 is obsolete.

 

[CountMike]

Depends on which liquid cooler are you talking about.

There are two main avenues:
* AIO
* open loop

AIO is All-In-One liquid cooler, e.g Corsair H110i or Arctic Freezer II 240.
Open loop (aka custom loop) is assembled from the parts. Usually bought from dedicated sites, e.g EKWB: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/

So, which one is it?

AIOs have info with them, of what parts the come with. E.g Arctic Freezer II 240 rev 7: https://support.arctic.de/lf2-240r7
Note: it does not support AM3+ socket.

Corsair H110i does support AM3+ socket,
specs: https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/cpu...e-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler-cw-9060026-ww

AM3 and AM3+ are exactly same.

 

[Aeacus]

AM3 and AM3+ are exactly same.

Yes, they are. Though, OP may not know this, hence why i initially said AM3+.

AM3+ has few extra pins in it, over AM3, but otherwise is the same socket (physically). Same is with FM2 and FM2+ sockets.

I usually refer AM3 and AM3+ as AM3 as a whole. Easier this way.

 

[Xindrrak]

Ok that answered my second question lol

Now am I better off buying a used liquid cooler or brand new?

 

[falcon291]

In general water pumps of liquid coolers are one of the first parts to fail in a computer.
So, buying a used liquid cooler does not make much sense.

 

[Xindrrak]

Makes sense. Alright well that's settled thank you everyone!

 

[Aeacus]

Now am I better off buying a used liquid cooler or brand new?

As said above, 1st thing to go bad on AIO, is usually pump itself. And when pump dies, AIO as a whole is useless. Also, AIOs last 2-3 years. High-end ones 4-5 years.

Though, question remains; why go with AIO at all? Why not use tower type air cooler?

 

[DSzymborski]

Yeah, an AIO doesn't make sense for an AM3+ build in 2023. For one, an AIO that is worth using has a good chance at costing more than the entire current value of the PC, unless there's an inappropriately good GPU in there.

Second, AIOs tended not be great for AM3+ PCs because so many of the boards had anemic VRM configurations that were always blistering hot. I'd be looking for a downdraft air cooler in most cases here, not an AIO.

 

[Xindrrak]

I'll have to look into that thank you.