Help me with major temp issues in a custom loop :(

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8 Jul 2018
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6
Hi,
this is my first post here, and the first time I'm actually asking for help w.r.t. liquid cooling... I thought I was handling it fine, but I guess not really, since my most current build is reaching temps in the 80s under load even before I start playing around with OC.

My current setup:
* [Case] BeQuiet Dark Base Pro 900
* [MB] MSI Z370 Gaming Carbon Pro AC (https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z370-GAMING-PRO-CARBON-AC.html)
* [GPU] EVGA GeForce 980ti Hybrid (https://www.evga.com/products/specs/gpu.aspx?pn=16add31d-8463-430a-a2a3-f9f1fd49e9a6) (original waterblocks removed, replaced with EKWB full cover block)
* [CPU] i7 8700k with EKWB Supremacy EVO waterblock
* [PSU] EVGA Supernova 1000 P2
* G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32G (2x16) 3200 (https://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-3200c15d-32gtzr)
* Samsung 860 EVO M.2 (https://www.samsung.com/us/computin...rives/ssd-860-evo-m-2-sata-250gb-mz-n6e250bw/)
* Kingston SSD 500G

Loop is based around a 420mm radiator at the top of the case with intake fans, and a 280mm front facing radiator with intake fans as well.
Exhaust is handled by a single 140mm fan at the back of the case.

I've been previously using a 2600k cpu with a much older mobo, and my stress temps never hit over 50-55 degrees. Now I've cut down on the tubing significantly thinking that it would further reduce the temps cause the water spends more time in the rads compared to travelling, but after the change I am seeing alarming temps of up to 80-85 degrees under moderate load.

I did a 15 min torture test in Prime95 ending with an 83 degrees measurement on CPU sensor, and 94 on the MB sensor...

Below you can find the image of the assembled loop.
XwOs8ZZ.jpg


I'm not exactly sure what I did wrong to warrant such huge temps...
The only major difference I know I've made is that the front rad fans (2) are connected to the MB pins, while the top rad fans (3) are connected to the GPU PWM pins, and managed by the vanilla case fan pwm splitter.
Compared to my previous build, all the fans were managed by the GPU PWM via a non-vanilla splitted, but since the fans are spinning, and the stats claim they are doing their max RPMs, I don't think that that is the problem :(

Help?

PS:
Already done the regular checks.
I can't seem to find any indication of an air bubble somewhere (liquid level in reservoir is rock steady, no air bubbles anywhere).
I've temporarily disconnected the pump PWM cable so that it runs at its max setting, this did not help either.
I've set all the fans to 100% PWM - no help either.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the reply!
Yes I've tried remounting the block with new paste applied (first time I tried a cross, second just a dot in the middle - after the first attempt and removal of the block the paste seemed to be spread quite thin and evenly).
I've also refilled the loop again just to make sure its not some air trapped somewhere - not much has changed.

I think you are right about the airflow though... I've temporarily removed the side panel of the case, and rerun the tests. Prime95 still gets the cpu very hot, but while gaming the temps were at a comfortable 60-65 degree range...
I'll try swapping the fans to exhaust - will let you know. I'm also planning on adding an intake fan on the side panel once I get a panel that actually has a fan slot... :(
 
Temps on GPU never hit over 55 before the change, now with the new CPU they tend to be in the neighbourhood of 60. I'm guessing thats due to CPU heating up more. (thats all under load mind you).
I didn't think I'd need to actually delid it if I wasn't gonna OC it... This sounds really bad... Considering RMAing it now...
 
Sorry I think my post was a bit confusing...
I first noticed the high temps when gaming with the case closed up tight. The temp was in the mid 80s, which kinda got me alarmed.
Later on I removed the side panel to ease up the airflow in the case, and I was barely able to exceed 80s with Prime95, hence my conclusion that I need to improve the airflow quite a bit :)
 
Thank you very much for your tips guys.
I ended up installing two additional fans on the side panel, and now my temps are at 50-53 degrees while gaming :D
And thanks to pwm and the amount of mb pins I could set it up so that if the temps are below 45 all fans shut down, and pump slows down to 30%... Whisperquiet ;-)
 
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