As the CPUs are made from silicon, it produces a lot of heat as a byproduct.
Ensuring a proper cooling system is crucial to preserve the lifespan & get the best out of a chip.
For tech enthusiasts, it is pretty common to spend petty cash on the best available product.
In this article, I will show some quick ways to find out about a liquid coolers status.
What is Liquid Cooling & its Types?
There are usually 3 types of water cooling; AIO, water cooling kits & custom liquid loops.
Its very easy to install, cheap & less risky for leakage.
Lastly, the custom loop offers more customization but is very complex to install & maintain.
How to Tell if CPU Water Cooler is Working Properly?
Random PC freezes, BSOD, performance fluctuation, high temp during normal load, etc.
indicates a lack of a proper cooling system.
In a water cooler, a pump is the most important component that helps to circulate the fluid.
Without the flow, the cooler doesnt even work.
Here are the 5 ways how to tell if your CPU water cooler is working:
1.
If it fails to distribute the fluid to the radiator, the intent of the liquid cooler flops.
Always keep track of the pump.
So, understandhow to tell if the CPU liquid cooler is workingproperly.
Then check the pumps condition and monitor the pumps RPM or manually examine the pump.
To monitor the RPM through software, connecting the pump cable to the motherboards fan header is a must.
Or else, connecting through PSUs Molex connector will not let you monitor the pump speed.
Checking the pumps RPM:you’re free to check the pump speed in bios or on Windows.
I have an X570 Aorus Extreme motherboard.
Usually, I check the pump fan speed in BIOS.
I will walk you through my mobo as a reference to check the pump RPM in BIOS.
Match the speed with the products claimed speed.
If it matches, then the pump is ok.
If the value shows 0 or N/A, then something is wrong with the pump.
you could also view a glimpse of all fan speeds in the bottom section of Aorus Easy Mode.
Alternatively, using 3rd-party software likeHWiNFO64to monitor the speed on Windows is another great option.
It is a popular software for monitoring various items including voltages, temperatures, power consumption, etc.
Otherwise, its not functioning.
Monitor CPU Temperature
Failure of the cooling system will increase the CPU temp to a critical level.
This overheating indicates that the cooler is not doing its job & cant scatter away the heat.
This is an easy way to tell how the cooler is performing.
Using BIOS mode or third-party apps, you could easilycheck CPU temperature.
Also, the MSI Afterburner program lets youmonitor CPU temperature while gaming.
Here are the steps to find out processor temp by HWiNFO:
There you will find various temperatures.
Find the CPU temp & keep tracking.
If it is reasonable under load, then the liquid cooler is ok & functioning.
Ensure the Reservoirs Fluid Level
Maintaining the proper fluid level is necessary to operate the cooler appropriately.
If the level is low, then the cooler will be unable to cool down the CPU.
Take necessary steps to avoid spilling water on the other parts of the computer.
Examine Thermal Paste
If your PC is aged, then chances are you didnt change the thermal paste.
So, you need toreapply the thermal pasteafter a certain time to maintain thermal conductivity.
After repasting the thermal paste, if the temp does not drop, then the cooler might not work.
Inspect for Any Leakage
Coolant leakage is the biggest risk of a liquid cooling system.
Take the full cooling system out of the casing.
Reassemble the liquid cooler again and confirm the pipes are tightened enough.
To get a solution, read along.
Besides these, if the reservoir fluid level gets low, renew the fluid at a proper level.
Also, verify theCPU cooler is seated properlyand that thecooler is installedthe right way.
Now, even after doing some fixing & cleaning, dont you get the expected cooling performance?
Then its better to know how long a liquid cooler can give you service.
Thats just right ahead.
How Long Does Liquid Cooling Last?
That being said, it becomes a popular choice for its longevity alongside the easy installation.
A good quality All-In-One water cooler can survive about4to6years.
A long time, right?
However, a custom loop only lasts for1to3years without maintenance.
The reason for a short lifespan is, the custom loop usually requires servicing after around 6 months.
The coolant requires to be flushed out & cleaned.
It is not an installation & forget-key in system like anair cooler.
If the maintenance can be maintained, it can serve you for a longer period.
What is the Difference Between Liquid & Air Cooling?
Whats the benefit or drawback?
FAQs
Can I run a CPU without a Cooler?
The system will not boot to the system if it doesnt detect a CPU fan.
When to change thermal paste for a liquid cooler?
But you better clean the paste with isopropyl alcohol & repaste whenever removing the heat sink.
Do I need a Liquid Cooler for a locked CPU?
If the CPU is not unlocked, or you dont want to OC, a stock cooler is fine.
However, a cheap after-cooler is recommended for longevity.
For mild overclocking, AIO is considered to be good.
Whereas, for extreme OC, liquid cooling is preferable to push to the chips limit.
But, identifying the functionality of a liquid cooler is a bit complex.
As a liquid cooler consists of a pump, radiator, pipes, fans, etc.
it can stop working if any of these malfunctions.
