Radiator at the bottom, Pump at the top - Still alive? Why?

Got bombarded with my AIO setup before and I don't think it's ending any time soon but since I need to dismantle my rig already I might as well take the opportunity to talk about this.
The problem is that people do not understand that AIO is a LOOP, just because the pump is above the radiator that doesn't mean it will fail hard, or at all.
The key is to understand how liquid behaves within a confined space, by understanding this you will know what sort of placement is available for your AIO as you ensure that the pump is always submerged.
Best video by for this topic is by JayzTwoCents • STOP DOING THIS!!!!!!!
The video by Gamers Nexus that started the mess for everyone • Stop Doing It Wrong: H...
The follow-up video by Gamers Nexus, very good video that everyone seemed to have missed • Ask GN 114: My AIO Wil...
Paul's Hardware's video about a failed AIO • You guys were right. T...
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[@stevevang03]

I was losing hopes on my NR200p built with a bottom mount radiator but I'm glad I found this video. Thank you!

[@goldfries]

People are getting worked up over something that while logically is true, is still subjected to the design and the placement of the product. In the end - use it, none of the components will die. If you AIO die, well 240mm AIO aren't that pricey and if it dies within warranty period you still can claim it.

[@stevevang03]

@@goldfries thank you for making this video. I'm just gonna wait until someone say something about my bottom mount AIO and I'm just gonna send the link to this video to them haha.

[@christianmino3753]

@@goldfries AIOs aren't only for CPUs. IF the custom aio on my 3080 died, I don't even know how I would repair it.

[@sbfguy7793]

Im doing it. I already bought 2 aio's that won't fit on top, but will on the bottom. Tempted to even run this PC on its side.

[@thepan]

so what you're saying was.... - it's completely fine to mount AIO at the bottom - ...if the water tubes isn't placed below the pump head - that way the pump is still submerged with water correct?

[@goldfries]

Yes. There's another video I made using the Geeek G1 SE, in that case the installation was the same but the water level seems low and there's gurgling sound on the pump and it happens quite often. That's a sign that the water level is low and barely covering the pump, that setup got dismantled.

[@GnatGoSplat]

In my vintage IBM Aptiva case, I had to put the radiator below the pump. The tubes weren't even long enough for me to curl them around like you did, so the pump was the highest point. Even with such abuse, my Corsair H60 (original 2012 version with CoolIt pump) survived 8-years before it "died". It got noisy and CPU quit cooling sufficiently. Apparently, over time, the permeation got bad enough that the coolant level in the pump got too low. Well out of warranty by then, so I took the cold plate off and topped off the coolant level (it did require quite a bit). It's been working perfectly the last 1-1/2 years cooling an i7 9700K. This is my main PC and it's seen very heavy use. Even on 24/7 for several years GPU mining. Pump at the top isn't ideal, but I don't think it's a guarantee of pump death. Then if it does "die", as long as the pump still runs, they can be refilled pretty easily.

[@goldfries]

8 years is VERY long. :D Just goes to prove it's not that bad as what most made it to be.

[@Dgonra]

This is going back nearly a year now but I just noticed something that confused me. The Pauls Hardware video with the Phanteks case that you referred to featured a bottom-mounted radiator, but the tubes, or at least one of the tubes is higher than the pump. The pump still failed though. Do you think the tubes needed to be higher, if so how much higher might the tubes need to be? Is it okay if just one tube is fully above the pump? I'm interested as I'm doing a similar build with an AIO in the same Phanteks case (It's a horrible case but I got it for free...)

[@goldfries]

If it's higher I think it MIGHT fare better, or at least not die so soon. It's difficult to say how much higher it should be because we don't know the amount of liquid fills the capacity. That's why in another one of my video I did the same as this one and did not proceed because the AIO was giving some "sloshing" sound at the pump, didn't feel like it was safe. Basically pump above rad, yes BUT we have to visualize how or whether the liquid is covering the pump.

[@Dgonra]

@@goldfries I see! If pump is above rad, make sure the tubes are as high as possible in the loop and I guess listen/observe to see how it sounds/performs. Thanks!

[@boomshaka918]

Which aio can I buy right now and not have to worry if it's at the bottom? I have the Galax version of the tecware fusion white color. Interesting video.

[@chantzi8533]

I am considering the same question due to case size. I have found about some external pump AIO like Be Quiet Loop 2 FX or Thermalright Frozen Notte. Those AIO's pump seems keep sinking inside the coolent even you bottom mount the radiator, but the cooler may suffer the air like the pump pumps up a coolent fountain, at least no mechanical threat of the water pump. Currently there has no youtuber to test those AIO mounted at bottom have or do not have those worries and i really concern about the results.

[@hy0chan]

2:55 there is still air. is that fine?

[@aecoIAN]

You are poisoning me towards a smaller build and this case so much!

[@c.hi_ef]

I have my kraken zg53 bottom mounted should that be ok ?

[@goldfries]

Not sure, have to try. Many of them will be OK but I do come by AIO that just wouldn't work well that way.

[@milothess]

Finally a voice of common sense...

[@jameswong9721]

where do you put ur gpu? thanks

[@goldfries]

Can refer to my NR200P video, basically horizontal (regular) installation.

[@Coffee-ql1xv]

I bought a custom built pc and told them to mount my MSI Suprim X radiator at the bottom of my Phanteks NV7 showcase full tower case. Am I fine?

[@goldfries]

Not sure, you have to check with them. Does the pump give any gargling sound?

[@Coffee-ql1xv]

@@goldfries not really

[@Coffee-ql1xv]

@@goldfries either way the temperatures are completely fine

[@goldfries]

@@Coffee-ql1xv Nice, I wouldn't worry about it either. If it breaks, there's warranty.

[@Coffee-ql1xv]

@@goldfries Yeah, pretty sure its a 2 or 1 year warranty anyways. Either way, thank you for the help though I appreciate it!

[@danteknight2235]

The AIO you have does NOT, in fact have the pump in the block. I have the EXACT same AIO and the pump is in the rad. That's why your setup has not failed.

[@goldfries]

Nope, you're mistaken. Mine is the Frostflow X 240 Snow which has pump on the block. The one with pump on the radiator is the IceFlow model. The CPU block design is different as well.