Question High temps with old AIO unit, replacement needed?

[Kogure]

Hey everyone, I'm running into an issue with my build and wanted to get some other opinions before comitting to a purchase.

I currently have an AMD 5600x3D that's cooled by a Kraken 280mm in exhaust, non OC. The water cooler is now 7.5 years old, I can hear the water sloshing around the radiator when I move it around, and the pump has been making a buzzing noise for a couple of years. I've been expecting the unit to fail for a while now, I'm just not sure if it's happening or if something else is the issue.

The temps always used to be around 70's-80's when gaming, but now the CPU runs around 65C even when idle or watching videos, while it's around 90-95C when gaming. The liquid temp is always between 40-50C, regularly less than half the temp of the CPU. I've checked the tubes and radiator with an IR thermometer, and it's all roughly the same as reported liquid temp. I've changed the thermal paste and it didn't help.

The thing is, I'd expect the liquid temps to spike if the pump is failing, not stay low. I obviously don't want to spend the money if I don't have to. Is this kind of a temperature delta a common sign of failure of an AIO unit?

 

[CountMike]

Hey everyone, I'm running into an issue with my build and wanted to get some other opinions before comitting to a purchase.

I currently have an AMD 5600x3D that's cooled by a Kraken 280mm in exhaust, non OC. The water cooler is now 7.5 years old, I can hear the water sloshing around the radiator when I move it around, and the pump has been making a buzzing noise for a couple of years. I've been expecting the unit to fail for a while now, I'm just not sure if it's happening or if something else is the issue.

The temps always used to be around 70's-80's when gaming, but now the CPU runs around 65C even when idle or watching videos, while it's around 90-95C when gaming. The liquid temp is always between 40-50C, regularly less than half the temp of the CPU. I've checked the tubes and radiator with an IR thermometer, and it's all roughly the same as reported liquid temp. I've changed the thermal paste and it didn't help.

The thing is, I'd expect the liquid temps to spike if the pump is failing, not stay low. I obviously don't want to spend the money if I don't have to. Is this kind of a temperature delta a common sign of failure of an AIO unit?

AIOs, specially older ones had specific problems with losing liquid by soaking inner liner in tubes/hoses and liquid deterioration which could gunk up fins in heat exchanger/hot plate. In theory if pump is OK. it could be opened, flushed and cleaned and liquid changed. Most had warranty under 5 years because of that, now mostly 6 years or more. It does seem that liquid flow is the problem. Pumps are lubricated by cooling liquid so cavitation can damage bearings.
For that CPU, a half decent air cooler or 240/280 AIO should be more than enough although. TDP is up to 105W from non x3D 65W.
I either case, you should look up Arctic Freezer 36 (air cooker) or equivalent (good for up to 200W TDP) or 240/280 Liquid Freezer III, both at top in their class but inexpensive.

 

[Paperdoc]

Agreed. The symptoms you cite say VERY likely the AIO liquid loop has lost a significant amount of its water and is party filled with air, so water circulation is reduced considerably even though the pump is working. You really cannot refill and reseal the AIO loop. Replacement is the answer, and CountMike has made good suggestions.

 

[JayGau]

Did you make sure the radiator is clean? A lot of dust accumulation over the years will certainly make the liquid get hot since the heat can't be transferred efficiently because of the dust.

If you need to replace it, be careful with the suggestions people give you. Depending on your current configuration, going to air cooling might be very annoying (unbearable for me). Kraken coolers have a liquid temperature reading that you can use to set your fan curve. If you are set like this, going to air cooling will bring back those very annoying fan bursts when the CPU gets loaded.

Moreover, most of the suggestions I see on this forum are AIOs that DO NOT have liquid temp reading, which goes against the most basic concept of an AIO (the fans cool down the liquid, not the CPU, so the fan speed should be set with the liquid temperature). That's probably why so many people think AIOs are louder than air cooling while it's actually the exact opposite (when used correctly). If fan bursts and loud fan noise don't bother you, then never mind, otherwise stick with NZXT or go with Corsair.

By the way, Asus are probably the worst of them all since they are astonishingly expensive and as far as I know, don't even have the liquid temperature reading.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

Agreed. The symptoms you cite say VERY likely the AIO liquid loop has lost a significant amount of its water and is party filled with air, so water circulation is reduced considerably even though the pump is working. You really cannot refill and reseal the AIO loop. Replacement is the answer, and CountMike has made good suggestions.

Ughh where did you read that? Tons of AIOs have fill plugs.

 

[geofelt]

Agreed, the aio needs replacement.
In time air permeates the tubes or the pump fails or gets clogged.
7 years was a good run.

What is the make/model of your case?
What is the make/model of your ram?

If the case is suitable, a good twin tower air cooler will have about the same cooling capability as a 280 aio.