Tear-Down: Lian Li Galahad AIO Disassembly vs. EK AIO, Arctic Liquid Freezer II, NZXT X63

[@DonBeardy]

The gunshot sound effect when he cut the wire got me

[@VAISHALIDORANALA]

Same here.. 😂😂 Was totally not expecting that..

[@KeepEV0LVING]

why would they use one way screws? They really don't want you to open it

[@Ranger_Kevin]

Yet on the other hand they give you a fill port so you can maintain it, which barely any of the other AIO-Manufacturers bother with... makes no sense.

[@alopez0129]

Most likely due to a warranty. If you can't open it without typically destroying a portion of it, it makes it a no brainer for them.

[@Garloth400]

They make a driver to remove those security screws. It looks like either a split standard driver or a driver with 2 small round pegs on it. I agree though, it really looks like a keep out sign.

[@tiavor]

@HuangsLaw MakesmeWannaPoo cleaning the fin stack is also an important part of maintenance.

[@MrMagichobo21]

@@tiavor if you change the coolant regularly it shouldn't become clogged in the first place

[@andremartinez418]

Those screws are "temper proof" flat heads. The ramps are designed to not allow any purchase for a bit once screwed in.

[@DavidLee-df888]

Tamper-proof. And I have a box of these that a contractor left behind when fitting a CCTV camera.

[@andremartinez418]

There is a tool to remove them however. Look up tamper proof screw remover. Its a metal rod with two little rods jutting out the end of it.

[@dciking]

@@DavidLee-df888 same! lazy contractors never want to clean up once the job is "satisfactory"

[@HonorNecris]

The place I see those the most are on public bathroom stalls lol

[@DavidLee-df888]

@@dciking But normally it's things like screws and other hardware and tools that get taken. Packaging, off-cuts and an actual (empty) tool chest are some of the things that some contractors have left behind on my jobs 🤷

[@Delistd]

I love the AIO tear downs. Nobody does them and they really show you what is going on and well they are built. Way more info than just benchmarking them. LOVE GN VIDEOS.

[@mini-_]

I hate this "Evil Screws". Designed to screw in with any normal flathead, but when you try to go "lefty loosey" on them, you can't.

[@GamersNexus]

Ha! Exactly! We had found a bit to make them work, but it was too late in the night to go buy it and we knew it was going to stay apart for comparison anyway, so... Drill!

[@KenS1267]

@@GamersNexus When the bit isn't in the iFixIt kit that is an obscure one and rightly deserves the call out. Thanks.

[@Hyoritan]

Those are actually tamper screws. We use them in production at my workplace when we don't want anything disassembled. They're usually not meant to be removed without destroying the housing or product entirely. However If you have a thick flathead you can angle it slightly to back them out assuming no loctite was used.

[@FadedSparkx86]

@@GamersNexus Security / One way flathead is the dumbest creation ever.

[@roondog9965]

Yeah these are super security bits used for things like bathroom dividers to make them extremely hard to take apart or tamper with

[@Didymuss1]

I like to believe that those screws were chosen particularly for that unit just to annoy GN on the teardown.

[@todayonthebench]

Those screws are typically used for things that shouldn't be disassembled. Even with a bit that is made for them, they are still practically hard to unscrew. Easiest solution I know to remove them is to either whack them out with a hammer, or use a left hand drill bit. (Ie, drill that spinns counter clock wise when drilling. It usually ends up grabbing ahold of the screw and turning it out. Works on almost all screw as well, invaluable tool for disassembling random stuff.) I have seen these screws on consumer gear like extension cords, some space heaters and such, although rather rare. Things that typically doesn't break and when it does, at times not all that safe to just open and fix. Usually due to fairly poor manufacturing quality to begin with....

[@mrcrowley5597]

cause they dont want people to service the pump for it to last longer

[@Maldroth]

Whenever Steve does a tear down I keep thinking of that scene from Fight Club when they ask him why he did it. "I wanted to destroy something beautiful."

[@audioman612]

There have been plenty of comments on the tamper-proof one-way screws already. They are common in public fixtures such as dividers in restrooms. I haven't seen much info on removing them in the comments. The easiest non-destructive way is with what's called a spanner bit. This is essentially a flat-head with the middle missing. These bits can fit into the head of the screw without touching the ramps, which are designed to cause flat-head bits to slip. Note that the screws are designed to be installed with standard flat-head bits, but slip when trying to remove them. If the screws were torqued too high, you might still need to resort to drilling with a left-hand or screw extractor bit, but you should definitely attempt to use a spanner bit first. This is how the screws are meant to be removed.

[@funspoyler]

"This screwdriver seems to fit"

[@GamersNexus]

Screwdriver goes BRRRR

[@gfromshankside]

lol ...right? I'm really becoming fond of this particular channel.

[@VAISHALIDORANALA]

"That's how you're supposed to remove them" 😂😂

[@beardyface8492]

@@GamersNexus You'll find left hand drill bits an even better fit.

[@rednammoc]

I LOL'd

[@startedtech]

9:06 I think everyone with a tool set owns some ancient screwdriver and they have no clue where it came from.

[@ADMNtek]

they made up of all the missing pens and 10 mm sockets they vanish. and fuse into screw drivers.

[@matthewquetcher2078]

I got a bunch of ancient screw drivers iv borrowed from kmart warehouse department when purchased a flat pack of them. Iv froget to return them been 16 still haven't been asked to return them

[@startedtech]

@@matthewquetcher2078 well Kmart is out of business I'm pretty sure, so they will never be returned

[@matthewquetcher2078]

@@startedtech i didn't know kmart was gone in the us. They are still going strong in Australia.

[@gmodiscool14]

mine looks exactly like the one in the vid lmao

[@FortuneSeek3rz]

I was looking for a white 360mm model but they were all sold out. Then I saw an Alphacool Eisbaer. I had no idea Alphacool made AIO's so I bought one. It looks very unique and the quality looks terrific. I'm almost done with the build and can't wait to see how it performs.

[@aquilux-vids]

8:19 suggestion to make stubborn screw removal easier: center punch, and a left handed drill bit. PS: That's definitely a one way screw, specifically designed to not be unscrewable due to the ramps in the counterclockwise directionwith no "correct" bit for it (though there are some that can help).

[@TDslugger06]

The FU bit: Coming soon to Tear-Down Toolkit near you!

[@marionfarrell1716]

The advert I got before this was a hair care product survey. The KZbin algorithm is trying to analyse Steve's hair.

[@EMETRL]

it looks cool how the metal shavings organized themselves around the magnet

[@DankestJedi]

Steve is the Doom Slayer when it comes to teardowns.

[@ADMNtek]

so true rip and tear until its done.

[@EthyrielY]

That assortment of screwdriver bits in the background is beautiful. 3:39

[@youssefhanna9208]

the screws at 2:12 are anti-theft screws, they're not intended to be unscrewed once they are screwed in. They're usually put on number plates to stop people removing and stealing the car.

[@michaelnicholas691]

Take a precision diamond tip grinding bit on a high speed pen grinder and cut channels for a flat head screwdriver in the one-way screws. This is the best way I've found to remove/replace this type of fastener.

[@volvo09]

That pump impeller looks well made. I like the ceramic bushing and shaft, should last a long time as long as the electronics hold up and it doesn't corrode for some reason.

[@xDownSetx]

Back when I used to work construction during the summer we had a school bathroom demo job where the stalls used those one way tamper screws. The contractor of course wanted to have the stalls removed non-destructively. It felt great to tear a school bathroom apart though.

[@KasperLidegaard]

Hi Steve thx for an other indept and honest video. I wished that all tech youtubers were as transparent, skilled and honest as you.

[@BaliAgha]

The silver long aluminum piece is also glued like that so it doesn’t rattle

[@trash3570]

When I worked for the city, we would use those screws on playgrounds and bathroom stalls so people cant take them apart, and they work really well. Unfortunate that they decided to include them here

[@donotworried]

YESS! I was waiting to see the insides. Build quality is important. Also, wish you a good recovery Steve!

[@Rheinguard]

I hope you guys review the new EK-AIO Elite 360 D-RGB. Looks like they definitely made the new finish on the pump block with you in mind Steve.

[@MichaelSotoCE]

Seems like its the same set with 3 extra fans and a less embarassing pump block

[@xzivr4894]

Bet that adhesive on the rad plates also prevents them from rattling against the rad.

[@jayfowler4747]

I use a flat head driver and alot of pressure to remove those, when there in plastic like that it usually works. But you can also end up with a screwdriver stuck in your hand.... so be careful.

[@samfedorka5629]

Great teardown review and very informative. Just one small error I think. 11:55 "Fin pitch is the angle of the fins." I believe fin pitch is the distance between fins. 1mm between fins or 2mm per fin for example. If you do an image search online you will see how it's dimensioned. Fin density is the reciprocal, the number of fins per distance, often Fins Per inch or FPI. 11 fins per inch would be an example. This is true for many heat exchangers: An air-to-water heat exchanger (radiator), or solid-to-water heat exchanger (coldplate or heatsink), Air-to-air heat exchanger (intercooler) are all examples specified this way. I'm not sure how the angle of the fins has an official name. Some basic searching online did not give any results: all the patents I found just expressed it as an angle. Should I stop leaving these comments? Is there a better way I can word things? I don't want to be condescending like that redditor, but I'm really bad at understanding how my words get interpreted by other people. Steve has very few errors in his teardowns that it's hard to find even the small ones like this.

[@chandans9846]

Man the camera movements is not so good in this video.... But always love watching your teardowns with the ramblings!

[@whattheduck69]

Ex’s pump design looks most impressive to me. Looks similar to a typical pump impeller you find in modern circulating and booster pumps.

[@saulverde]

They're security screws. They designed to be one way only. Usually they're on items that companies don't want to 'walk away'. Absolutely insane they would be used for this.

[@oOWaschBaerOo]

would you want to be held viable for an idiot opening it, filling it up with some shit that aint compatible, trapping air inside and then yelling at you for selling a faulty product although they caused the fault ?

[@zhenjiexu4295]

@@oOWaschBaerOo 👍

[@Junebug89]

@@oOWaschBaerOo That's a cop-out. Other manufacturers do not have this as a major issue and they use normal screws.

[@algofire]

I was able to unscrew them with a simple Philips screw bit, just needed to a apply a bot more pressure on them.

[@Junebug89]

Hope they reconsider using these anti tamper screws for their upcoming AIO. You should be able to service your own cooler.

[@_GntlStone_]

Old screwdrivers are the best screwdrivers. Old steel was very hard. I cherish my grandfathers old tools, even the "junk"ones.

[@toonnut1]

Hi can make a video about the failure of these units? As it's an known issue

[@jdoggsgarage4494]

You need a set of left handed drill bits for the fu screws

[@thegrafxguy1]

they sold those bits at an Ace hardware i worked at when i was in high school. they weren't locked up or anything, just with all the other bits. 'tamper-proof' weird looking thing specifically made just for those. they're essentially a one-way screw. easy to tighten, but special tool to remove.

[@TheSmileyTek]

Nothing graceful about the GN teardown 🤣. It's great. Straight to the point. Thanks.

[@katzicael]

I snort-laughed at the gunshot with the wire cutting... Hahahahaha!!!

[@HululusLabs]

Destructive teardown? Just put some glue on it, since that solves everything

[@KokoroKatsura]

HUGE ANIME BREASTS

[@antonioaden7480]

2am japan time love watching these videos while on mids thanks mate

[@MrJackal64]

The screws are a security screw and they sell the drivers to remove them or at least they use to. The places I've seen them used the most are / were in public bathroom stalls.

[@lucaciprian8923]

Thanks for this teardown, but the continuous zoom-in zoom-out of the camera not focusing on the object mentioned in the sentence told by Steve almost caused me motion sickness...

[@nikushim6665]

"We have never seen this type of bit" You probably have and not realized it, they are pretty common they have multiple names but Its a One way tamper screw. Normally you see them on stuff in public area's like restroom doors. There not really designed to be removed at all, but a spanner bit or snake eye bit sometimes works.

[@davehill9951]

I bought this unit and works well for me, quiet and the accessories that come with it is a bonus for the price point. Ive run a Deepcool Captain 240 in my older computer for 5 years now and still working like a champ! Hopefully this Lian Li 360 will last as long.

[@Alex-tu5vu]

How is it holding up? I've seen quite a few of those break after like a year

[@davehill9951]

@@Alex-tu5vu the old Deepcool 240 is still working in a computer i built for work, 6 years old now

[@Alex-tu5vu]

@@davehill9951 That's nice, I'm considering buying some deepcool cooler. How's the Galahad?

[@davehill9951]

@@Alex-tu5vu The lian li Galahad 360 makes the 5900x very happy!

[@nikkoyalca3170]

@@Alex-tu5vu mine broke after a year

[@michaelpolishchuk6028]

Please do a review of the Phanteks Eclipse P600S

[@devilmikey00]

Not sure if the screws were just too small but if you used a smaller drill bit you can usually drill into the center of a screw then back out real slow and the screw will twist back out with the bit. Then just clamp down with some pliers on the screw and back out quickly to save the bit afterwards. A lot less destructive.

[@efullart94]

Hands down one of the best reviewers out here! Thanks for listening to the community request! Take care Steve and the gamer nexus team keep up the good work

[@iamdarkyoshi]

"Its filled with copper powder, that's not lian li's fault" Actually yes it is, had they not used one way screws you could have opened it normally Also, small point to make, "flat head" is not a type of screwdriver. Flat head refers to the top of the screw being flat (as opposed to a cap head, etc) so terms like regular, standard, slotted are more appropriate names for a screw with a slot in it. You can have a countersunk phillips screw like the ones used on power supplies and technically that is a flathead screw. I know you guys strive for accuracy so I figured I'd point this out, but as usual don't take my word for it, do some research :3

[@howardsbrows]

This is correct. However the term that the majority of people will recognise including those that understand the technical term will recognise flat head rather than slotted. Definitely valid but teaching people the intricacies of commonly used misconceptions about screw head types terminology is beyond the scope of what GN does. I am totally ok if GN wants to run an episode or two on the use of various heads ect ext.

[@evilbaron]

@@howardsbrows at this point, german is easier for screw types (Schlitz, Kreuzschlitz).

[@iamdarkyoshi]

@@howardsbrows Oh yeah definitely Just one of the weird things I needlessly obsess over lol

[@howardsbrows]

@@iamdarkyoshi I am happy to watch a 2 hour video from GN about screws 👍👌

[@iamdarkyoshi]

@@howardsbrows Whelp GN Make it happen :P

[@boeubanks7507]

Those are one way security flat head screws. They are designed to screw in normally but the sloped sides prevent turing back out. You usually see these in bathroom stalls. Your best bet is to use a small flat driver and hammer to tap the screw backwards until you can remove it easily.

[@alrecks619]

the nvidia glue, the stadia controller construction, and the evil screws the trifecta of maintenance disaster

[@sujimayne]

Eh, it's not glue it's just a pad to prevent bending

[@EXG21]

One way tamper proof screws should be called FU screws on PC hardware. Damn right Steve! We got your back!

[@MRantzWI]

FYI... I just had my Lian Li AIO pump fail due to the "2nd sodering" Issue as reported on their website. I ordered my warranty replacement less than a week ago, and received it today. I wanted to open up the defective one just to see how bad it was clogged up. Regarding the one way screws installed on these, I found that they were not hard to remove simply by using a small headed screw driver, and wedging that on one side or the other, and slightly tapping the end of the screwdriver to wedge it free and just keep tapping it all the way around until it's out. Small screw, probably only about 4 turns and it's out. So try tapping them out, pretty easy. Cheers !

[@Neosid996]

Those screws on the base plate are "one-way" easy to tighten into place but as other comments say they are designed not to allow any purchase when attempting to remove.

[@samuelnearing3615]

Man I wish you would tare down the deepcool castle so we can see the anti-leak tech in the rad

[@sirmonkey1985]

isn't it just a balloon material?

[@cragbot1]

It'd be cool to see a teardown of the kingpin cooler if you think it'll have anything interesting in there

[@aaronquarles3902]

looks like the same pump and cold plate design with the one way screws as a ENERMAX 360 LIQMAX III. I removed the one way screws with some force but not destructively but just didnt put them back as they are not required for structural support for leak prevention

[@derek2501]

I think the adhesive would help with noise from vibrations. Gamers Nexus should invest in some cheap screw extractors....

[@ascrowok3941]

thanks, was looking for something to watch, love your teardowns, do more content with Bill Zoid, thanks for both you guys for the hard work

[@verebellus]

i think the bigger gap on one side of the coldplate and the gasket thing is just alignment during assembly

[@doctorthee]

Was hoping the aluminum ring would come off easily so it could be painted black but I guess not.

[@bervyn]

tape the sides and spray paint it!

[@doctorthee]

@@bervyn yea that seems second best option, though sides are easy to tape It's the circle that is harder

[@Bobzillaaaful]

3:30 jebus,someone smashed the hell out of those rad fins

[@ZeroHourProductions407]

I was trying for months to buy the white 360 version of this cooler, for my i9 build. But since scalpers wanted a minimum 50% premium on top of msrp for it, i went for a custom loop. Seeing those F U bits, suddenly have me thinking i made the right choice.

[@ryche.rising]

My Lian Li Galahad "SN:2021xxxxxxxxx" just died a death from a thousand noises inside it. I don't know what I thought when I entered this fragging AIO bandwagon... since it failed yesterday and LianLi halted all the RMAs until 26/06/2023 because "holy days", I've decided it will be replaced by a Noctua NH-D15 once and for all. after RMA, I think I will try to sell the AIO to another.

[@Jsteeeez]

YES MORE STUFF TO WATCH. thanks Steve !

[@legrosroger]

Spaenaur (?) should have bits for your tamper-proof screws. I don't think it sells directly to consumers tho, but your local specialized "bolt" suppliers should be able to get some for you. It ain't very expensive

[@akshaykumar_r]

This takes the _"Screw with confidence"_ motto to a whole new level 🤣

[@Sparkmovement]

EK's impeller looks EXTREMELY simliar to an impeller on a huge swimming pool pump. Super interesting.

[@almaefogo]

maybe they think that if it works for giant pool pumps it should also work in a small tiny pump

[@Sparkmovement]

@@almaefogo To be honest, it makes me want to look at EK for my next AIO setup. Those impellers are typically tanks.

[@chriswunderly6905]

That bit is the fork bit in the ifix it kit.

[@someoneelse7629]

If the scew isn't recessed, you often can dremel a slot for a normal screwdriver in those....

[@hitznkoff4285]

My Arctic 280 is awesome on my 3800X, love it.

[@BRutus2010]

really enjoy your streams and have taught me a lot so thanks and keep up the good work

[@c.m.7692]

Honestly there's plenty more to check in the radiator. How clean is the interior? How are the tubing and the plug actually inserted? Is there any communication between the intake and exit chambers?...

[@Ahmmunition]

Also teardown Cougar Helor 240 and 360 AIOs too pls

[@Puffalupagus360]

@hangers Nexus you can get that security bit in a set for around $10 at any Harbor Freight.

[@mattr791]

Best thing for those security bits is a left hand drill bit

[@LoosedSubset]

The EK water pump is of a similar design to most high service pumps used in water treatment facilities (drinking water that is) if anyone was curious.

[@남기헌-l8y]

That screw seems to be common to all recent apaltek-made AIO cooler. AIOs from Enemax, Lian Li, Cougar and silverstone all have that screw.

[@What_In_This_World]

approximately 160 channels on the lian li cold plate, i could be off a few, but that was a pain to try and count off a screenshot

[@johnieboy93]

You should include the Be Quiet Pure Loop in one of these videos in the future

[@tutelarius]

The adhesive pad on radiator might help avoid any potential buzzing / rattling noises.

[@phant0m_aa668]

so in conclusion.. is it worth buying it?

[@Asdayasman]

"This... Is filled with copper powder, but it's not Lian Li's fault-" Yes it is.

[@HassansinX]

Your reaction to the screws is classic love the video seems as I just bought this can’t wait to use it and say bye to my kraken 240 lol

[@johnconnor4486]

Just ordered one before.vid. great one Steve😊

[@osgeld]

to remove 1 way flathead screws you apply a normal flathead, apply lots of inward pressure, slowly add torque, slip off the screw, stab your hand repeat ... it will eventually give and from there its fairly easy, maybe after 5-6 severe puncture wounds and a new language of swear words invented

[@alt5494]

It wouldn't be difficult to cut a key for those screws with a rotary tool.

[@jedidethfreak]

I'd bet that the adhesive strips behind the metal plates are more to do with vibration dampening than any bowing of the plates - they're not going to do much about that, but when they do bow out, they're gonna rattle a bit due to vibration from the fans and the water running through the radiator.

[@Ganiscol]

A left turn drillbit works best with these one-way screws because in best case you can actually get them to unscrew to safe time. And if not, they are drilled out anyway.

[@ladmad9196]

your height measurement at 11:29 wasnt measuring the fin but rather the material around it

[@Umbryphos]

That's a one way drive bit often used in securing bars on windows it's funny to see it on a cooler

[@benvalle8253]

Everything is a nail, if your the hammer. Nice work.

[@Demonlordfifer]

I already have my pc and im watching this review!

[@spartancaptain5691]

So which should I buy for a 5900x? The Ek 360 or the Galahad 360?

[@condor1234]

I finish the entire thing. Not sure what am i going to do with this knowledge. I just know I know something new.

[@terriblegamers2213]

Thank you for doing something that I'm curious but too scared to do to my galahad 360 lol

[@alec5545]

need a vise and drill press for that coldplate

[@whoknowswho832]

can u tear-down more stuffs? really want to see behind lianli mirror fans

[@impuls60]

Heat the screws with the tip of a soldering iron! Then you can screw them out normally if your quick :)