The main difference between placing the radiator at the front and top is that a radiator in the front could heat components inside the case and a radiator at the top could pull hot air from inside the case through the radiator which could heat up the CPU. Considering this, should my AIO be intake or exhaust?
1. AIO cooling CPU. If it gives off crap tons of heat like the 9900k, then better as Intake, since the CPU relies on being cool enough to run and boost. Otherwise, Exhaust is better (especially if the AIO can cool your CPU to a low enough level even with the hotter air it Exhausts out).
Furthermore, is push or pull better for radiator? A Push configuration is more efficient in cooling when its blowing cool(er) air from outside the plenum through a radiator. A Push also makes your build louder. In Pull configuration the fan or fans are drawing an air stream out of the radiator.
Subsequently, one may also ask, where should you mount your radiator?
Do: Mount the radiator so its airflow is not impeded by other devices in the machine. One of the best spots on a machine is the top of the case. Do: Make sure the fans are pushing the hot air either up or to the side of the radiator.
Are 120mm AiO worth it?
No, not worth it. As mentioned, Hyper 212 EVO or similarly priced Cryorig would do fine. If you want to spend a little more, for $45 you can get a Thermalright True Spirit 140 Direct and it performs like a Noctua NHD14/15.
Related Question Answers
Do I need fans on both sides of radiator?
fans) so using them on both sides can get a lot more air through, and if the fans are really quiet you won't hear them. For anything not right on the extreme edges (Performance/Silence), fans on just one side will do very nearly as well. How hot do AiO radiators get?
However, there is noticably hot air coming out the radiator when you put your hand over it (probably 80-100 degree Fahrenheit air). Are GPU fans intake or exhaust?
The intake fans bring cool air in, and the outtake fans expel the hot air that's been warmed by your computer's various parts. An open-air GPU cooler has exposed heatsink fins on the top and bottom. A blower GPU design covers these fins with plastic. How does AIO cooler work?
AIO coolers work in a similar way to a car radiator. A pump, positioned on top of your CPU, circulates a special liquid (usually a combination of distilled water and a thermally conductive fluid) around a soft tubing system, configured in a closed loop. Is AIO better than air?
AIO cooling used to be significantly better than air cooling. Today, however, there are many air cooling systems that rival AIO cooling systems. Technology has closed most of the performance gap between the two. At the same time, water is always going to be better at dissipating heat than air. Is AIO cooling worth it?
Ok short answer, no its not even close to a requirement. A decent air cooler can be as good if not better then an aio while being cheaper sometimes. Also 120/140 AIOs are not useless, they typically good for compact builds, I know for a fact that the NZXT X42 is almost as good as their 240 AIO due to fin density. How long does an AIO cooler last?
between 5-7 years
Do you have to put water in an AIO?
AIO (All In One) liquid cooling solutions, also called Closed-Loop liquid coolers, are sealed coolers. Meaning they don't require any maintenance at all since they can't be refilled in the first place. But because water can evaporate through the tubing, some AIO coolers are built to be user-refillable. Are AIO coolers safe?
AIO coolers come in a single package comprising the radiator, fans, water block, fittings, tubes, and a pump for safe and effective liquid-cooling. While aio coolers are considered most efficient option for CPU cooling, most users avoid using them because they're concerned about leakages. Where do I plug in my AIO pump?
If you want to control everything from BIOS (Using Q-FAN for example on AIS3) you can connect to AIO Pump, then your CPU fans through the CPU_FAN header directly. Do AIO coolers need thermal paste?
Distinguished. Yes, you do need thermal paste, no matter what cooler you use. However, the H100i has paste pre-applied, so all you have to do it attach the cooler to the CPU, plug in the cables, and it will work. How do I know if my AIO is working?
Even if the pump is dead you can probably be ok by entering the BIOS for like 30 seconds or so to check, worst case scenario your system will shut off due to temps but it should be ok relatively speaking. And just your fingers on the tubing or pump should be enough for you to feel if water is flowing through. Do AIO coolers come with fans?
All you have in the AIO is the pump head, soft tubes, and the radiator (and fans). No big monster metal air cooler! How do I know if I have an exhaust fan or intake fan?
When looking at our fans, the Front or Intake side of the fan will always be the side that has the Cooler Master Logo in the center of the blades. The Rear or Exhaust side (the side that the air comes out of) of our fans will always be the side that houses the fan motor. How do I know if my fan is intake or exhaust Corsair?
Case fan position - The Corsair User Forums. Computer fans are the opposite of your typical household fan. When looking at the fan, the "pretty side" with the blade is the intake side. The opposite side with the support structure vanes and specification sticker is the exhaust side --- or the direction air will travel. How long do closed loop water coolers last?
5 years
