Seeking a new AIO purchase
Seeking a new AIO purchase
Hey everyone, here’s the quick summary. I recently installed a new PC about three to four months ago. The CPU got too hot, so I checked it and noticed the thermal paste had dried up. I replaced it, but the machine still overheated. This suggests the AIO unit might be defective. I own an Arctic Liquid Freezer Cooler II 240. Checking the warranty, shipping to Germany would cost roughly $75 to $90. Once shipped back, the Arctic would cover the return costs. At that rate, I’m considering purchasing a new one. My dad and I reviewed the reviews this morning, and they’re not very positive—many mention broken warranties, leaks, and faulty parts. I have an Intel 12700k CPU and a Cooler Master MasterBox NT600 ATX case. I’m planning to buy this model from Amazon (Corsair H100x RGB Elite Liquid CPU Cooler). Do you have any experience with it? Has anyone had problems? Would it fit in my current case, which already has the AIO installed on top? Have you ever had to file a warranty claim? Please let me know.
I believe the issue lies in the fact that a 240mm AIO isn't sufficient for a 12700K. It might not dry out in three months unless the paste is extremely poor. An H100x likely won’t perform as well as an Arctic Freezer. Could you share your idle and gaming temperatures with the Arctic Freezer? Also, what are the fan speeds or curves?
The paste came with the cooler, but my CPU stays hot even when idle. The fan speed settings are set to default, which I followed. Turning everything up doesn’t help. I’m considering Corsair, though—even if it costs more. My main goal is to avoid issues and have extra performance.
100°C idling indicates the AIO isn’t functioning properly—either it’s faulty or the pump isn’t connected. It might be that the AF2 model is one of the top AIOs overall, but since there’s no seller warranty and it’s a German brand, getting a replacement could be quite costly.
Yeah that's what I said in my original post. Shipping is like $90 bucks. There is only one plug (in the manual and on the AIO) and its plugged into the pump header with all the suggested settings on.
I understand your concern. Are there any alternatives you could consider? It seems the manufacturer already provides recommendations for each model. Would it be better to purchase another unit instead of buying the same one again? There might be simple ways to verify the installation, and you're right to want it to be secure. Let's explore that.
There’s a reliable solution available—air coolers function effectively, and replacing fans is straightforward.
It needs to perform very well, particularly in the vertical direction. Verify the pump speed should be around 3000 RPM and it should feel operational. If it still doesn’t function properly and one tube appears hot while another is cold, there could be a faulty air compressor.