What did *you* upgrade today?

[FourOh]

Over the last couple of months I've been doing some upgrades to Wasp Redux, Z's old rig that I've had since April. I loaded it up with two R9-280x GPUs, a 1000 Watt Platinum PSU from EVGA, and as of today a Kraken X31 CPU cooler. The fan on my Cooler Master Evo 212 crapped out, so I figured I'd step up. Glad I did! Temps are way down.

Yesterday I lost track of Wasp Redux (it's in an office trailer at a project site) so I dropped in today to find water from the Kraken X31 dripping from the block connector down onto the GPUs. The system was still powered up with fans spinning, so I shut everything down and removed the cooler. I pulled the GPUs, blew all the slots out with canned air (which pushed a bit of liquid out) and waited a while to let it dry out. I installed an old air cooler and tried to fire it up... nothing. Not sure what all is fried or if I just need to let it dry out overnight.

Needless to say, I'm not to happy about the Kraken right now. Not so much an upgrade at this point, having taken down an otherwise reliable i7 dual-280X machine within a few weeks of purchase.

Edit: According to this thread, NZXT may pay for replacement of damaged components due to a liquid leak (upon completion of their "investigation"). In this case, I'm probably better off doing an RMA rather than returning the cooler to Amazon for a full refund...
https://www.reddit.com/r/NZXT/commen...en_warranties/

[FourOh]

One (possibly two) of my 280x cards is fried from the leaky Kraken Well, at least it won't crunch.

I think the first PCIe slot is toast as well... with my 2nd 280x card in the 2nd slot the system seems to run ok, but I have some testing to do.

I guess I'll try to go after NZXT for the damages... not really confident about that. The Kraken is still in the return period, and I could try to RMA the 280X. But I'd still have a disabled mobo.

[MindCrime]

One (possibly two) of my 280x cards is fried from the leaky Kraken Well, at least it won't crunch.

I think the first PCIe slot is toast as well... with my 2nd 280x card in the 2nd slot the system seems to run ok, but I have some testing to do.

I guess I'll try to go after NZXT for the damages... not really confident about that. The Kraken is still in the return period, and I could try to RMA the 280X. But I'd still have a disabled mobo.

I'd hope they replace the unit as well as the mobo. That's every builders biggest fear when using a liquid cooled system. If I sold AIOs I would do my best to rectify all issues involving leaks or else word of mouth will kill the product line. Let us know how that goes.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[Aux10]

One (possibly two) of my 280x cards is fried from the leaky Kraken Well, at least it won't crunch.

I think the first PCIe slot is toast as well... with my 2nd 280x card in the 2nd slot the system seems to run ok, but I have some testing to do.

I guess I'll try to go after NZXT for the damages... not really confident about that. The Kraken is still in the return period, and I could try to RMA the 280X. But I'd still have a disabled mobo.

And this is why I'm so adamant about my love for air cooling. Liquid coolers scare the shit out of me. I rather install oversized heat syncs over a compact liquid cooler any day. That's just me though; to each their own.

[FourOh]

And this is why I'm so adamant about my love for air cooling. Liquid coolers scare the shit out of me. I rather install oversized heat syncs over a compact liquid cooler any day. That's just me though; to each their own.

I avoided them for a long time for this very reason. But, I had a CPU fan lock up recently and tried to cook my processor, so any component can fail and potentially harm another. Unfortunately this Kraken took two major components down with it.

Thankfully the system is back up and running, although down to a single GPU. The screen is flashing a bit when running on the Intel HD graphics... I'm hoping it's a mobo issue and not the CPU.

I submitted an RMA to NZXT with photos and description of the damage... we shall see what happens next. If they ask me to send the components in, I'll be down a machine for a while. So basically they'll be forcing me to upgrade i7-5820k anyone?

[Al]

I avoided them for a long time for this very reason. But, I had a CPU fan lock up recently and tried to cook my processor, so any component can fail and potentially harm another. Unfortunately this Kraken took two major components down with it.

Thankfully the system is back up and running, although down to a single GPU. The screen is flashing a bit when running on the Intel HD graphics... I'm hoping it's a mobo issue and not the CPU.

I submitted an RMA to NZXT with photos and description of the damage... we shall see what happens next. If they ask me to send the components in, I'll be down a machine for a while. So basically they'll be forcing me to upgrade i7-5820k anyone?

Geez...there are easier and less stressful ways to work out an upgrade. You are more calm than I would be...at least in your post. I, too, am a big air cooling fan...or x2 fans so to speak...as I never run a cooler that can't be run in push/pull. My logic? It's unlikely that both will go bad at the same time and electricity and water don't mix. I had a closed loop on my first REAL computer and it worked fine for years and I never had a problem and it made it to retirement. Anything can break, I'm just sorry it did so much damage on its way out. Until recently I had been very fortunate, then I had a psu die and fry the mb...I upgraded also.

[Fire$torm]

I would have to disagree, at least in part. AIO units are prone to leaking because they are massed produced products. (One exception would be Swiftech's AIO units. They have a much higher level of QC.) Now custom loops WC setups are an entirely different animal. The ONLY time one will leak is if the owner selected cheap parts and/or did not take time to ensure a proper installation. I currently have 2 rigs with custom WC setups and have never had a leak issue. My gaming rig has had 3 different WC setups (x1 Swiftech AIO & x2 custom loops) with two different WC GPUs.

[DrPop]

Yeah, I would agree with that for the most part - but we're talking how many AIO water coolers out there now compared to custom loops? The custom loops if designed correctly should last a long time - but how many will ever put the $ and time into one? Yes, F$, you are a MAJOR exception, my friend! By the way, great to see you back!

[dcushing]

I upgraded to the latest Boinc on 1 box...

twas a nice day b4 the rain came.... Did nothing else.

Another day successfully wasted!

Next task, replace batteries in remote,, and get another beer)

[Fire$torm]

I upgraded to the latest Boinc on 1 box...

twas a nice day b4 the rain came.... Did nothing else.

Another day successfully wasted!

Next task, replace batteries in remote,, and get another beer)

Now that is funny......