[SOLVED] When or if to replace the Noctua?

[gn842a]

To get my new build up and running I am using the OEM fan (came with the Ryzen 5 2600X) and actually it's pretty good. But my old build had a Noctua 120 mm fan/heat sink. After watching this video it occurred to me that when a unit has had long service there might be some loss of coolant in the system, as happens, for example, to car AC systems.

My intention was to save some cash by reusing my Noctua heat sink. I had to pop eight bucks for an adapter to use it with the new AM4 cpu mounting. But now I'm wondering whether that's a good idea? My Noctua entered service in 2013 and by my estimate has maybe 15k to 17k hours of service on it. Nice long run, and no guarantee the next one will be as good.

But it has me thinking. I had assumed that the occasional unexplained shut downs and hangups while booting were related to the psu (A thermaltake 850W) for which I had totally forgotten about the bottom vent when doing my twice a year vacuum/blow outs of the case). There was quite a beard down on that vent. No way that psu was getting the cooling it deserved. But now I'm wondering whether it's also possible that "heat sink fatique" was setting in on the Noctua too? No way for me to tell.

I don't have enough experience to know. The build that just failed was my first build. The second nearly identical build is upstairs and still going strong with only about 5k hours on it. I have no experience basis on which to say how long heatsink/fan combos remain effective.

thanks
Greg N

 

[AllanGH]

At 6 years on that PSU, you would do well to replace it, and move back to the stock cooler that came with the 2600X. You can get an improved cooling solution later.

 

[CountMike]

Unless it's damaged there's no "coolant" loss in the pipes but material used to line inside the pipes (spngy sintered bronze or aluminum) may crumble after some time and repeated heat/cool cycles or rough handling. Unless really, really bad case it's not going to drop it's functionality.
It's more important to use good TIM paste (up to 5-6c over old one) and good case cooling which may net 10 or more degrees c.
So, if you already have mounting kit, get some Nt-h2 paste, ad a fan or two to case and it will be ready for any heat any normal OC could possibly create on that CPU.