My new Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 arrived in the same shipment as my PC case. I live in the humid Philippines, and there was also moisture inside the case's packaging. After unpacking the cooler, I noticed what looks like a significant amount of water around the fittings and nearby packaging. I wiped everything dry and placed cardboard underneath, but I cannot find an obvious leak.
The cooler still seems almost completely full, although I can hear a small amount of liquid moving when I shake it. The moisture seems concentrated near the tubing connections rather than spread across the radiator, so I am worried that it could be a very slow leak instead of ordinary condensation. Returning it would be difficult, but I do not want to risk damaging the rest of my PC.
What tests can I perform to determine whether the cooler is leaking, and would you keep it or return it?
2 Answers
If you cannot confidently rule out a leak, returning or replacing the cooler is the safest choice. A failed cooler could damage expensive components, and testing it with the rest of the system installed is not worth the risk.
A sealed liquid cooler normally contains a small air pocket, so hearing some movement is not automatically a problem. If there is no visible damage and the fluid level seems normal, it may be fine, but carefully move it around and inspect the fittings for fresh moisture.
I can hear a little squishing, but it seems roughly 90–95% full. I agree that the amount of water looks like more than ordinary condensation, especially since it was concentrated near the fittings.
I am keeping it away from the electronics for now and checking it over cardboard and tissues. If it stays completely dry, I may let it sit for a few weeks before deciding whether to install it.