Green on my watercooler pump?
Green on my watercooler pump?
The device appears to be a Cooler Master 240 or 280 AiO cooler. The copper body with green color resembles copper sulfate or a fro liquid inside, suggesting a possible small leak. CM offers a 5-year warranty, so if applicable in your area you could return it. They also cover damage from leaks, though the process is complicated. At the very least, remove it, clean it, and connect it to 12V DC to check for leaks.
grimfox :
You can try playing, but be careful. There seems to be a minor issue with the GPU, possibly a slow leak or humidity-related. If you must play, use paper towels inside and consider replacing the AIO with a cooler if possible. Repair or replacement might be necessary. I experienced a similar problem in my house due to high humidity.
I think this strong desire to play games outweighs the chance of hardware failure. It looks like priorities aren’t matching up. As others suggested, reach out and request an RMA for the cooler. This points to a coolant leak—corrosion and buildup are forming as the coolant interacts with the metal. You can’t really gauge how much coolant remains without taking it apart and checking its level. Movement should produce no sound, so if it does, there’s likely air in the system.
I think the main concern here is more about playing games than worrying about hardware failure. It seems like priorities aren’t quite in sync. Others have suggested reaching out for an RMA of the cooler. This suggests a coolant leak, likely due to corrosion forming on metal surfaces. You can’t really gauge how much coolant remains without taking it out and checking. Movement should produce a sloshing noise, but if it’s not moving much, that could mean air is getting in. If shaking the cooler makes no sound when tilted, it probably means there’s a leak.
Most AIO coolers aren't completely full right out of the factory, but a clear movement suggests a significant drop in coolant. Reduced levels can lead to inadequate cooling and risk airlock issues in the pump. The pictures you provided point to a coolant leak that might result in motherboard or graphics card damage from short circuits. It appears the leak is small and slow now because of coolant buildup on the bracket, though it could grow into a bigger problem if this fails.
Most AIO coolers aren't completely full right out of the factory, but obvious movement suggests a significant drop in coolant. This could point to inadequate cooling and risk of airlocks in the pump. The images you shared point to a coolant leak that might lead to motherboard or graphics card failure through short circuits. It seems the leak is currently small and slow because of coolant buildup on the bracket, though it could grow into a bigger issue eventually.
Ultimately it is your call, but keep in mind the warnings we've shared. If you decide to keep playing games (assuming it's Fortnite as your name suggests), be ready for sudden leaks that could lead to bigger hardware issues and costly replacements. This situation won't improve—it will only worsen gradually or all at once.
The simplest fix would be to take out the liquid cooler, install a factory heatsink or fan, or opt for a cheaper air cooler while you return the liquid cooler for replacement.
Looking at the pictures you shared, I wouldn't start the system until the liquid cooler is removed and replaced, but this is your decision.
Whether you play games or not, a properly connected pump will operate at maximum capacity continuously, making it nearly equal chances that a leak could become more severe.