AIO Rad Pipes - Top Or Bottom ?
Posted by venomxt12@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 12 comments
Installed my first ever AIO the other day and it's excellent.
I did originally mount the radiator at the front with the pipes ( inlet and outlet ) at the top. But learnt it's not good because air bubbles will rise, and could block the tubes.
I know mounting the RAD at the top of the case is ideal, but my case wasn't big enough
According to what i've learnt.
- Mounting up the top of the case is best
- Mounting at the front with the pipes down is second best.
- Mounting at the front with the pipes up is third best
ruby_1_rush@reddit
So this might be a little controversial because this is a bit of a hot topic right now.
But it technically does not matter which way the pipes are, as long as the CPU block is below them in height. The only negative for having the pipes at the top is that you potentially could have some noise from the air bubbles. Otherwise, you should be fine.
venomxt12@reddit (OP)
Yeah that probably is true. According to what i've learnt. 1. Mounting up the top of the case is best 2. Mounting at the front with the pipes down is second best. 3. Mounting at the front with the pipes up is third best
Super-Candy9080@reddit
Mounting the rad at the top is what manufacturers want where there is worry of their pumps choking or burning out. Mounting the rad at the front or side is best for lower temps and where the fans blow in taking in cool ambient air. Tubes can be down as long as the top of the rad is higher than the CPU block - this is better than tubes up but both are fine as long as the top of rad is higher than the CPU block. Gamers Nexus and Jay's Two Cents 101.
ruby_1_rush@reddit
Yeah, that is the rule in general. Although you will not decrease the life of your AIO with the pipes up. This is a decent video explaining it better than I can, although its a bit long winded... https://youtu.be/DKwA7ygTJn0
QuazyQuarantine@reddit
Wouldn't the pipes at the bottom of the rad cause air to rise into the waterblock, raising temps, or into the pump, which will fry the motor?
Edit: just trying to figure out the right orientation for my radiator First time watercooling
Grimln@reddit
Only if the air level of the rad is reaching the level of the motor pump. Otherwise the air will just stay in the rad and not go into the motor. Water is always an even level plane field. This is why sea level never changes no matter where you are in the world
chisel07@reddit
What about tides? 😆 🤣
Grimln@reddit
What about them? What about tsunamis and wakes created by boats? What about staying on topic? 😉
QuazyQuarantine@reddit
Isn't air in the radiator bad for temps though?
Grimln@reddit
Very minimally, because the water isn’t completely being displaced throughout the entire rad frame. So the air wouldn’t cause the couple of degrees higher temps but the fact that the water isn’t utilizing a tenth of the radiator will have a slight impact.
No_Life_Cat@reddit
Q
ufubo@reddit
In the 2nd option, where pipes exit the radiator from bottom, you create a V shaped loop. One end of the V is CPU block pump, the other end is the top of the radiator where there is a bridge connecting the incoming/outgoing rooms of the radiator. While mounting #2 style, if you trapped any air on any end of the V, they will remain there. If there is air left in the pump side, they won't be able to travel to the bottom of the V and then go back to the top of the radiator. If you mount pipes exiting from top (#3), you'll create a reverse V, or lambda (Λ). In this case, any air in either pump or radiator will travel up to the peak point of Λ easily and the liquid pumped from the CPU block will push itself through the bridge at the top.