To install an all-in-one (AIO) liquid CPU cooler, first confirm that the cooler fits your CPU socket and case, then mount the radiator so its highest point is above the pump. Attach the correct socket bracket, install the pump block and radiator fans, and connect the pump and fans according to your cooler and motherboard manuals. Some coolers arrive with thermal paste already applied, so check before adding any.
Before you start: check compatibility and prepare
Use the cooler’s manual and your case manual to verify the parts and clearances for your exact build. A radiator’s nominal length alone does not confirm that it will fit: account for its dimensions and thickness, mounting points, memory and motherboard clearance, and the space needed to route the tubes.
- Confirm that the cooler supports your CPU socket and that you have the correct mounting bracket and hardware.
- Check that the case supports the radiator at the intended location and that the fans and tubes will clear nearby components.
- Identify the cooler’s pump, fan, and controller cables, then check the motherboard manual for the relevant headers.
- Have the cooler’s supplied screws and the tools specified in its instructions ready. The cited manufacturer guidance does not establish a need for a specialized tool.
Compatibility and cable requirements vary by model; the manufacturer instructions do not provide a universal compatibility table. [NZXT installation guide; Corsair H-series manual]
Choose a radiator position and airflow direction
The key orientation principle is to keep the radiator’s highest point above the CPU pump. Air in the loop can then collect in the radiator rather than at the pump. Corsair identifies a top-mounted radiator and a front-mounted radiator with tubes at the bottom as good positions. If the radiator must go at the front with tubes at the top, Corsair advises keeping the pump lower than the radiator’s top. [Corsair’s radiator-mounting guidance]
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- CONTACT FRAME FOR INTEL LGA1851 | LGA1700: Optimized contact pressure distribution for longer CPU life and better heat dissipation
- ARCTIC's P12 PRO FAN: More power at any speed - more powerful and quieter than the P12, especially at low speeds. Higher maximum speed for optimal cooling performance under high load
- NATIVE OFFSET MOUNTING FOR INTEL AND AMD: Shifting the cold plate center towards the CPU hotspot ensures more efficient heat transfer
- INTEGRATED VRM FAN: PWM-controlled fan that lowers the temperature of the voltage converters and thus ensures reliable performance
- INTEGRATED CABLE MANAGEMENT: The PWM cables of the radiator fans are integrated in the sheathing of the hoses so that only a single visible cable is connected to the motherboard
| Position | What to check | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Case support, radiator and fan clearance, and tube routing. | NZXT recommends a top mount with the fans configured as exhaust when the case supports it. This is that manufacturer’s guidance, not a universal airflow rule. [NZXT installation guide] |
| Front, tubes down | Case support, tube reach, nearby component clearance, and airflow direction. | A viable alternative; Corsair identifies front mounting with tubes at the bottom as a good position. [Corsair’s radiator-mounting guidance] |
| Front, tubes up | Ensure the pump sits below the radiator’s highest point and confirm tube routing. | If this is the only feasible arrangement, Corsair’s guidance is to keep the pump lower than the radiator’s top. [Corsair’s radiator-mounting guidance] |
Top and front mounting both have trade-offs in case support, clearance, tube routing, airflow, and access to nearby components. The cited guidance does not establish that one position always gives lower temperatures across different cases.
Install the pump block, radiator, and fans
- Prepare the CPU socket mount. Follow the cooler manual for your processor socket and attach the matching bracket. The mounting hardware differs among models.
- Check the cold plate. Look for factory-applied thermal paste. NZXT says its Kraken coolers ship with paste pre-applied, so its new installation does not call for adding another layer. Do not put fresh paste on top of existing paste. [NZXT installation guide]
- Place the pump block. Position it on the CPU as directed by the cooler manual and use the specified retention hardware. NZXT’s example instructs installers to start all retention screws loosely and tighten them diagonally to distribute pressure; follow that method only if it matches your cooler’s instructions. [NZXT installation guide]
- Set up the radiator fans. Choose the intended airflow direction before tightening the assembly. If the fans have direction arrows, use them to confirm airflow. For a top-mounted radiator, NZXT recommends exhaust airflow in its guide.
- Secure the radiator. Use the screws supplied for the cooler and case, and tighten them as directed. Check that the radiator is supported, the tubes are not sharply bent or strained, and the installed position preserves the radiator-above-pump relationship.
When to apply or replace thermal paste
Thermal paste instructions depend on the cooler and whether it is new or being reinstalled. If paste is pre-applied to a new cooler, do not add another layer. If you remove a cooler and reinstall it, follow its manual for cleaning and reapplication: Corsair’s cited manual says to clean off old pre-applied paste and apply a new layer after removal and reinstallation. [Corsair iCUE LINK H100i, H115i, H150i and H170i manual]
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- Simple, High-Performance All-in-One CPU Cooling: Renowned CORSAIR engineering delivers strong, low-noise cooling that helps your CPU reach its full potential
- Efficient, Low-Noise Pump: Keeps your coolant circulating at a high flow rate while generating a whisper-quiet 20 dBA
- Convex Cold Plate with Pre-Applied Thermal Paste: The slightly convex shape ensures maximum contact with your CPU’s integrated heat spreader, with thermal paste applied in an optimised pattern to speed up installation
- RS120 ARGB Fans: RS ARGB fans create strong airflow and high static pressure, with easy ARGB control via a compatible motherboard. CORSAIR AirGuide technology and Magnetic Dome bearings ensure great cooling performance and low noise
- Easy Daisy-Chained Connections: Reduce the wiring in your system by daisy-chaining your RS ARGB fans and connecting them to just one 4-pin PWM fan header and one +5V ARGB header
Inspect the cold plate and consult the instructions for your exact model rather than assuming every AIO requires a separate tube of paste.
Connect the pump and fans to the right headers
There is no single header map that applies to every cooler and motherboard. Use both manuals to identify each cable and its correct connection, including any controller or software requirements.
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- High-Efficiency Cooling Pump – Equipped with a massive copper base plate for superior cooling at all loads.
- Skeleton-Frame Pump Head Design – Unique pump head with vivid ARGB lighting, fully customizable via motherboard sync.
- Extreme Cooling Performance – High-density fins paired with powerful PWM ARGB radiator fans ensure optimized airflow and efficient heat transfer.
- Universal Compatibility – Supports Intel LGA 115X/1200/1700/20XX and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets.
- Durable Build – Elastic high-density tubing and hydraulic bearing fans deliver long-lasting, quiet, and stable operation.
- Pump: Connect it to the header or controller specified by the cooler instructions.
- Radiator fans: Connect them to the designated motherboard headers or cooler controller as directed.
- Monitoring: Follow the cooler and motherboard instructions for any CPU_FAN, AIO_PUMP, CPU_OPT, or SYS_FAN connections. For its cited NAUTILUS models, Corsair allows CPU_OPT or SYS_FAN if the motherboard has no AIO_PUMP header; that option should not be generalized to other coolers. [Corsair iCUE LINK H100i, H115i, H150i and H170i manual]
- Control software: If the cooler requires a controller or manufacturer software for monitoring or control, complete the setup described in its manual.
Check operation before closing the case
Before finishing the build, verify pump and fan operation using the cooler’s manual, motherboard monitoring tools, or the manufacturer’s software instructions. Confirm that the expected pump and fans are detected and operating. The cited manufacturer materials do not establish one safe temperature threshold or a universal commissioning checklist for every processor and cooler, so use the instructions for your hardware rather than relying on a single generic number.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting installation problems
The radiator does not fit or obstructs another component
Do not force the assembly into place. Recheck the case’s radiator support, radiator thickness, fan clearance, memory and motherboard clearance, and tube routing. If another supported radiator position preserves the pump-below-radiator relationship, consider that option.
Rank #4
- CONTACT FRAME FOR INTEL LGA1851 | LGA1700: Optimized contact pressure distribution for longer CPU life and better heat dissipation
- ARCTIC's P12 PRO FAN: More power at any speed - more powerful and quieter than the P12, especially at low speeds. Higher maximum speed for optimal cooling performance under high load
- NATIVE OFFSET MOUNTING FOR INTEL AND AMD: Shifting the cold plate center towards the CPU hotspot ensures more efficient heat transfer
- INTEGRATED VRM FAN: PWM-controlled fan that lowers the temperature of the voltage converters and thus ensures reliable performance
- INTEGRATED CABLE MANAGEMENT: The PWM cables of the radiator fans are integrated in the sheathing of the hoses so that only a single visible cable is connected to the motherboard
The pump or fans are not detected
Power down and compare each connection with the cooler and motherboard manuals. Check that the pump, fans, and any controller are connected to the intended headers or controller ports; header names and wiring arrangements vary across hardware.
The cooler has been removed and is being reinstalled
Follow the cooler’s specific cleaning and thermal-paste instructions. For the cited Corsair models, old paste should be cleaned off and a fresh layer applied after removal and reinstallation. [Corsair iCUE LINK H100i, H115i, H150i and H170i manual]
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- 【Better Cooling】 The cooler adopts the fourth generation pump head + 240 cold row size black aluminium fin heat sink plate + protective preparation mesh water pipe + standard configuration 120mm ARGB fan, to create a low vibration, high heat dissipation, low evaporation, high life span of the one-piece water-cooled cooler area unit.
- 【Unique Pump Head】 The octagonal shaped cold pump head adopts the exclusive frame of the 4th generation water pump, the swirling rectangle design and the ARGB halo under the logo luminous marking creates a colourful visual experience, and the life of the cold pump head is up to 40,000 hours with a rotation speed of up to 2800 RPM ± 10%, which ensures that the CPU is provided with excellent heat dissipation for a long period of time
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- [CPU Fan Parameters]Equipped with dual-fan TL-C12B-S V2, Speed:1500RPM±10%, size: 120x120x25mm, fan noise≤25.6dBA, power supply interface: 4PIN PWM, light interface: 5V/3PIN ARGB, airflow: 66.17CFM(MAX), with PWM and ARGB function, can automatically adjust the speed according to the CPU temperature, provide strong airflow and lower noise, ARGB light colour can be manually adjusted.
- 【Convenient Installation】 AIO cooler compatibility, support AMD & Intel slots, support AMD: AM4/AM5, Intel: lga1150/1151/1155/1156/1200/1700, comes with accessories that can be installed on the corresponding platforms, the installation is simple, can be installed according to the instructions and tutorials.
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