I Will Never Watercool Again – Water Cooling Maintenance Guide
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Promos
Get your Laifen Wave electric toothbrush, starting at $69.99, below and save 10%! Thanks to Laifen for sponsoring this video! Laifen Website: bit.ly Amazon ABS $69.99: amzn.to Amazon Aluminum Alloy $79.99: amzn.to Amazon Stainless Steel $99.99: amzn.to TRUST ME – you don’t need to water cool your next PC for a great gaming experience. But it might be too late for you, and we’re here to help you clean and maintain your loop to increase the longevity and performance of your pump, blocks and radiators. Whether it’s an AIO, a pre-blocked GPU or something totally custom – we have you covered in this video. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► EQUIPMENT WE USE TO FILM LTT: lmg.gg ► OUR WAN PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 0:54 Draining the system 3:25 Nasty CPU Block 5:14 Cleaning the CPU Blocks 6:22 Acrylic Top 7:03 Toothbrush go BRRRR 7:56 GPU 8:49 Putting the block back together 9:42 Bad news 11:35 Laifen Wave 12:05 Pump 13:01 Replacing thermal goop 14:01 Water Cooling talk 14:47 New Challenge Appears 16:30 Radiators 17:43 Tubes 19:09 Results! 20:22 Outro
I will Never Watercool Again – Water Cooling Maintenance Guide is a detailed, hands-on exploration of cleaning and maintaining a custom water cooling loop on a gaming PC, with a sponsor plug for an electric toothbrush. The video kicks off with the host explaining the scope: coolant changes, degunking, and O-ring lubrication to restore performance and longevity of pumps, blocks, and radiators. The crew demonstrates draining the loop, removing blocks, and inspecting for buildup, with a focus on the CPU block where corrosion and gunk can significantly slow heat transfer. They then transition to a thorough cleaning regimen that blends traditional solvent-cleaning with a surprisingly detailed brush-based approach. The discussion expands to the broader topic of why water cooling is not always necessary for a great gaming experience, while acknowledging the passion some users have for high-performance loops. Throughout, they emphasize safety, proper reassembly techniques, and the need for regular maintenance, tying the DIY process to practical outcomes like temperature stability and noise reduction. The video also touches on supplier-specific parts, the challenges of reusing old components, and the trade-offs between aesthetics, cost, and reliability in a high-end cooling setup. As the maintenance progresses, the hosts compare different cleaning agents, showcase the use of a toothbrush as a precision cleaning tool, and demonstrate how to reseal and repack O-rings in a star pattern to prevent leaks. The narrative then broadens to discuss radiator cleaning, tubing reuse, and the dangers of dissimilar metals, followed by a reveal of after-clean temps showing the effectiveness of the process. The guide culminates in recommendations for future maintenance philosophy, including the potential benefits of low-porosity tubing and biocide usage, and closes with a practical recap and humor about the overall chaos of a major cleanup project. The host reiterates that while water cooling can be a path to quiet, high-performance PCs, careful maintenance is essential to avoid costly failures and degradation over time. Finally, the sponsor segment is acknowledged, and the video leaves viewers with actionable takeaways: how to drain, clean, reassemble, and optimize a loop for longevity, plus reflections on whether water cooling remains worth the complexity for most users.
Topics · technology · diy · pc_hardware · gaming · maintenance · how_to
Questions answered
- What is the main purpose of the video
- To demonstrate a thorough maintenance workflow for a water cooling loop, including draining, cleaning, reassembling, and testing for temperature impact.
- What are key tips for avoiding leaks during reassembly
- Use O-ring lubrication with silicone-based products, tighten fasteners in a star pattern, and ensure proper seating before powering on the system.
- Is water cooling necessary for good gaming performance
- No, the video acknowledges water cooling is not strictly necessary, but can offer acoustic and cooling benefits when configured and maintained properly.
- What cleaning agents were discussed for blocks and acrylic tops
- Brasso used carefully on copper and nickel-plated surfaces, Plastix as an alternative, and household cleaners; avoid alcohol on acrylic tops.