Whether you’re running a liquid cooled PC, or an air cooled PC, it’s important to remember to change the fluid in the system once in a while. Oxidation is the natural enemy of liquid coolers, and the liquid can easily start to deteriorate if left too long. The amount of oxidation depends on how much heat your system produces. It’s best to check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out how often to change the liquid.
Air cooling vs liquid cooling
Choosing between liquid cooling and air cooling in a PC is an important decision. The two systems have their pros and cons.
Air cooling is a common form of PC cooling. When the computer gets too hot, the fan kicks in to cool the components. While this is efficient, it can’t compete with liquid coolers for performance. Fortunately, technologies are evolving to make the battle between air and liquid cooling a much more even fight.
Liquid cooling offers a few unique advantages to high-performance computers. For example, it helps limit thermal throttling of the CPU. It also provides a steady flow of heat dissipation.
For some people, air cooling is more than enough for their PC. However, others may find that they can’t perform their best when working with air-cooled computers. Some tasks, such as rendering 4k video, may be too demanding for air-cooled computers.
While liquid cooling can be more expensive than air cooling, it has the advantage of being more powerful and more efficient. The high thermal conductivity of water means that it is easier to distribute heat than air. Additionally, liquid coolers are less noisy than air coolers.
In some cases, local regulations may play a role in whether you should choose liquid or air cooling. For example, organizations that are renovating existing data centers may decide to invest in liquid cooling rather than air cooling.
Maintenance of a liquid cooled PC
Getting your PC liquid cooled can change the way you use it. This is a great way to keep your components icy-cold when you are working or playing, and it is also cleaner and aesthetically appealing than air cooling. Using a liquid system can be a little more challenging to maintain than an air system, though. This means you need to take a closer look at the parts in your system, and perform routine maintenance.
The most important part of your liquid cooled PC is the radiator. The fins of the radiator spread the coolant across the PC, and it works to absorb heat from the metal. The cooler air moves to the attached fan, and the fan keeps your computer nice and cool.
The next important aspect is the pump. The pump is the heart of your liquid cooling loop. It is the driver of the water through pipes, and it pushes the distilled water around the system to keep everything cool.
Another important component is the reservoir. The reservoir holds extra liquid for your liquid cooling system. This is used to refill your cooling system when it gets low. The reservoir should be inspected periodically, and the coolant should be replaced whenever it gets low.