Yes, upgraded Mobo boards require a tailored water loop for optimal cooling.
Yes, upgraded Mobo boards require a tailored water loop for optimal cooling.
I recently upgraded my CPU and needed a new motherboard. It was a thoughtful gift from someone close, so there was no choice. The board I received is the Asus Maximus XII Formula ATX LGA1200 Gaming Motherboard. I noticed the VRMs have a waterblock that allows you to cool them down. Since I already have an 10850k CPU without overclocking, I wasn’t expecting to need extra cooling. Would it be fine to leave the waterblock in place? Alternatively, using an AIO for the CPU and relying on the existing waterblock for VRM cooling seems reasonable. I’m not sure about potential issues, but either option could work depending on your setup.
The manual doesn't explicitly mention connecting them to a water cooling loop, yet the images of the VRM coolers suggest they would face significant heat without proper cooling. There aren't visible external fins for air cooling beyond what's exposed on the metal parts. I'll argue they likely require water cooling. You should reach out to Asus for confirmation about your specific CPU model. If they confirm it's unnecessary, don't share that information with anyone who might cause damage.
It's okay. You don't have to chill the VRM unless you're pushing it beyond normal limits. The motherboard is built for both air cooling (via heatsink) and liquid cooling.