Hey there everyone, just wanted to get an OPINION. I've got a fairly big case with a 3700K Intel CPU and a Corsair all-in-one liquid cooling unit. I run games like The Witcher 3 for extended play sessions so it GETS a fairly heavy load.

I RECENTLY moved across the country and I guess things got jostled around so now the fan is missing a blade and rattles, which is driving my nuts. Can I run this CPU at load for extended periods of time with just the radiator or is the fan essential? The radiator is attached to the TOP of the case with a big vent above it and the fan below it blowing upwards. Way I'm thinking is that since the heat will rise out of it, I might (hopefully) wont need to use the fan anymore and can be free of this maddening rattle.

So, safe? Or should I try to find a replacement fan?Buy a fan.
When they put forced air coaling into a design, the BTU moved goes up a lot like a magnitude. (10X).

Here is an anecdotal story from the past. Apple tried to get away with convection coiling on a very small system years ago. But it could not be used on a spacecraft. Without gravity, the hot air just stays in one PLACE. They had to add a small fan.
Fans are cheap, don't risk it!"Passive" cooling is possible, but the Corsair and other all in one units are NOT designed for this, don't attempt it. Any 120mm fan will suffice as a replacement but it does need fairly focused airflow, a fan just blowing in the general direction won't be enough.