The solution to improved cooling performance over time for AIOs is finally here, and it just requires a flux filter to ensure no residue goes inside the CPU block.
Valkyrie Introduces Flux Filter on Radiator, Reducing Clogging of Microfins in CPU Cold Plate for Excellent Cooling Performance for Longer Duration
AIOs have a problem of performance degradation, and in a few years, you will see almost all AIOs struggling to retain the same cooling performance. This is due to the manufacturing flux residue, which starts to break off and travel through the loop, eventually finding its way to the microfins on the CPU cold-plate. With time, more and more particles enter the cold-plate, clogging it and resulting in poor cooling performance.
To solve this, Chinese cooler manufacturer, Valkyrie, has introduced a "Flux Filter" to ensure that the flux residue doesn't enter the loop and stays out of the cold-plate microfins. Valkyrie has also introduced "low flow" radiator manufacturing, which should now produce fewer particles in the radiator loop. So, basically, the radiator loop, which uses flux to prevent oxidation of the metal soldering, will no longer be a threat to the micro fins on the cold plate.
To ensure clean manufacturing, they inspect every radiator internally before assembly. That said, the flux filter is added to the inlet area of the radiator, as you can see from the image, and as you may have guessed, it collects all the flux residue to prevent it from entering the loop. This is a clever way of sustaining great cooling performance of AIOs, and as tested by Valkyrie, their new VK N360 benefits hugely from these features.
When tested for 72 hours straight, the VK N360 coolant was heated to 90°C+ continuously, but despite such a long-term stress test, the cooler showed hardly any performance degradation (just 1°C higher), which is an excellent result. It's great to see a cooler manufacturer even talking about this, since most don't, and through these techniques, AIOs can finally retain higher performance for a longer duration.
News Sources: Bilibili, @unikoshardware
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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