Needs assistance with AIO cooler setup or troubleshooting.
Needs assistance with AIO cooler setup or troubleshooting.
I recently replaced some components with newer ones (they’re outdated by US and Canadian standards). I received a 120mm AIO cooler as part of the upgrade. Since my budget hasn’t caught up yet, I’m curious about mounting the AIO on the back of my case. It doesn’t fit water cooling well, especially at the front where only two 120mm fan slots are available, near the 3.5-inch drive bays. The case itself has fixed 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch drive bays, which explains its age. I’m not a big AAA gamer, but I’m upgrading from a 15-year-old system, so I’m wondering about the best orientation and fan setup for the AIO radiator. I could use the side panels to expel heat from my GPU, as they’re conveniently placed opposite the motherboard mounts. I’m not new to computers, but I’m still learning about water cooling/AIO systems and would appreciate some guidance.
Start with the 120mm AIO, it's a poor investment. You can find better air coolers at lower prices without extra trouble. Also, ensure the pump isn't positioned at the highest point in the loop; the radiator should be elevated enough to avoid trapped air bubbles. Typically, the pump is built into the CPU block, which matches your setup. Regarding fan placement, use it as an exhaust if placed at the rear. Mounting it in a "pull" position between the case and radiator helps clean dust more easily, though fan orientation doesn't significantly affect performance. It also hides the RGB lighting.
Thank you for your input. @Tegneren explained the setup details. I’m from South Africa, so stock coolers aren’t available locally and US components are more expensive here than in the US. After proper conversion, I spent roughly 300 USD on the motherboard, CPU, and a single 16GB 3200MHz RAM stick. The RX580 8GB was a new unit, and the entire setup came with an open box upgrade kit. The AIO cooler was included free since the supplier didn’t have one in stock at that time. The components I used were: CPU – Ryzen 5 5600G; Motherboard – MSI B450M A Pro Max II; GPU – Arktek RX580 8GB; Cooler – Cool Moon AR120; Power Supply – Deep Cool 750W; RAM – 16GB 3200MHz; Case – Aerocool PGS V.
I secured a fresh AMD Wraith Stealth cooler and am discontinuing the AIO system.