Condensation issues with water cooling loops

I’ve got a bit of a situation with my Predator 360—the pump is leaking just a tiny bit, like a slow misting or something.
The cooler is actually that newer version they released after the initial redesign...

So, is this actually normal behavior, or should I be worried? Honestly, this is my first time ever dealing with liquid cooling, so I'm flying a bit blind here.

driftingdrifter88 said:I’ve got a bit of a situation with my Predator 360—the pump is leaking just a tiny bit, like a slow misting or something.
The cooler is actually that newer version they released after the initial redesign...

So, is this actually normal behavior, or should I be worried? Honestly, this is my first time ever dealing with liquid cooling, so I'm flying a bit blind here.

just sell it then☕

Robert Rodriguez2 said:just sell it then☕

I’m hoping they'll be at the next big tech expo so I can personally throw this cooler at them.

Is it actually possible for the central heating to cause this kind of mess? I've got three intake fans running...

If they were standing right in front of me, I’d ask them a few questions with a much different tone...

Honestly, I’m stumped on what could be causing condensation. Usually, that only happens when there's a massive temperature swing—like if you have a surface that's significantly colder than the surrounding air. That doesn't seem to be the case here, so I highly doubt it's actual condensation.

And now they're asking for a photo.

So, the i9 idles at about 66 degrees Fahrenheit... but now that the heater is kicking in and the apartment is sitting at 77, is it possible that's why it's sweating?
It’s not really "sweating"... more like a tiny little droplet forms and just sits there after about two hours of runtime.

The case is a Thermaltake Core V71.

Time to open a PayPal dispute immediately.

Where on earth did this droplet come from? Any chance you could snap a photo?
I’m clearly not firing on all cylinders today, but how in the world is your CPU temp sitting lower than the ambient room temperature on a water cooling loop?

Angela Flores4 said:Where on earth did this droplet come from? Any chance you could snap a photo?
I’m clearly not firing on all cylinders today, but how in the world is your CPU temp sitting lower than the ambient room temperature on a water cooling loop?

Well, it can't... I'm just thinking out loud here...

It’s right on the cooler housing where the pump sits... probably some microscopic hairline crack somewhere. Thank God it hasn't dripped down onto the motherboard or anything, otherwise we'd be having a much worse conversation.

There is absolutely no logical reason for condensation to be forming on a pump, let alone a single solitary drop. It’s leaking. Return it.

I'm just going to tell my buddy he needs to ditch those cheap parts and finally install some decent cooling, and then it’s all over...

driftingdrifter88 said:I'm just going to tell my buddy he needs to ditch those cheap parts and finally install some decent cooling, and then it’s all over...

Look, I'm not denying water cooling wins on temps and all that, but air cooling is the way to go for me. It's easier to maintain, and if a fan dies, you just swap it out. Simple as that.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:Look, I'm not denying water cooling wins on temps and all that, but air cooling is the way to go for me. It's easier to maintain, and if a fan dies, you just swap it out. Simple as that.

I’m right there with you.
But when you drop $250 on a unit and it shows up dead on arrival, that's a different story.
It’s such a headache they don't carry these at Best Buy... if they did, I could just walk in, get my money back, and maybe they'd even throw in a credit for the trouble.

Does anyone have a solid recommendation for an air cooler? I'm running this on my i9.

driftingdrifter88 said:I’m right there with you.
But when you drop $250 on a unit and it shows up dead on arrival, that's a different story.
It’s such a headache they don't carry these at Best Buy... if they did, I could just walk in, get my money back, and maybe they'd even throw in a credit for the trouble.

Does anyone have a solid recommendation for an air cooler? I'm running this on my i9.

I've got the AMD version😬
So, what's the budget for this cooler?

Robert Rodriguez2 said:I've got the AMD version😬
So, what's the budget for this cooler?

Honestly, as long as it's quiet and actually available, I don't care. My buddies over in Chicago told me to just grab this Predator model and we'll settle up later... if anyone can swing two Venmos, let me know.

Which i9 are we talking about here?

driftingdrifter88 said:I’m right there with you.
But when you drop $250 on a unit and it shows up dead on arrival, that's a different story.
It’s such a headache they don't carry these at Best Buy... if they did, I could just walk in, get my money back, and maybe they'd even throw in a credit for the trouble.

Does anyone have a solid recommendation for an air cooler? I'm running this on my i9.

Look, defects happen. It’s just part of life.
Even if a little bit leaked somewhere, would it really be the end of the world?
Beyond that, it’s standard industry practice to stress-test any installation that has even a slight risk of leaking—whether it's inside a PC or not—before it ever goes live. Of course, this assumes you’re doing regular maintenance; you have to open up your case every few months to clear out the dust anyway.
Take me, for example: I’ve been running an NZXT Kraken X63 for several years now, fully aware it has enough potential to soak two incredibly expensive GPUs, and yet, I sleep perfectly fine at night. In fact, I’m already planning to move over to a custom Corsair loop soon. 😁

https://postimg.org/image/t7ootrh95/
Here are the photos... you can see condensation starting to build up right above this metal piece here
i9 6700k

driftingdrifter88 said:Honestly, as long as it's quiet and actually available, I don't care. My buddies over in Chicago told me to just grab this Predator model and we'll settle up later... if anyone can swing two Venmos, let me know.

http://www.amazon.com/s?k=scythe+fuma

Hmm, I can’t quite tell if there’s a slow leak right where it’s tightened down, or if I’m just obsessing over some microscopic hairline crack. It’s a bit strange, isn't it?
Look, if the power is still on, why don't you grab a piece of toilet paper and just lightly dab that space between the gold-plated fitting and the black tubing? If the paper picks up any moisture, you'll know immediately whether you're dealing with a faulty gasket or if the connection just needs a better tighten.

It’s forming right in the middle, precisely at the center
I just leave it sitting on the "heat"... once the water gets up to temperature... after about five hours, you can see the droplet actually getting bigger.

driftingdrifter88 said:https://postimg.org/image/t7ootrh95/
Here are the photos... you can see condensation starting to build up right above this metal piece here
i9 6700k

After running it for about 6 hours, this is what we're looking at:
https://postimg.org/image/y2sb5xl4n/

The droplet slides from the center down onto the fitting, and then a new one starts forming

Just to be crystal clear... it isn't leaking from the fitting itself, it's forming right above it.

Swap that out ASAP ☕

analogtiger19 said:Swap that out ASAP ☕

The refund process is already in motion,

and then there’s this crossed-out mention of liquid cooling...