Help with EK-Supremacy EVO Cpu Block please

Carper1967 · 14 Apr 2017 at 20:10

Hi all,looking for any help and advise on my current water cooling build,especially on the EK-Supremacy cpu block.
After 2 rebuilds with different adjustments to the loop,i still am not happy with how my cpu block fill looks.
Is this normal or is it faulty in your opinions.
The fins/cells in the block do not appear to be filling fully at all,are they supposed to?.As you can see from the pics some cells are half full and some are empty.
I have ran this loop,again for the past few days to clear all air pockets which still seem to remain in the cpu block?Also it looks like condensation is also inside the block?
I do not fancy draining for a third time and to flush/refill and it still doing the same thing.
The pump has no issues and flow is strong as should be.
My I7-7700K at default clock runs at 65c underload and at 85c clocked at 5ghz stress testing and up to 80c after an hour of wildlands. ,i do intend on delidding this chip and as you can see the temps seem fine,or do they?
Does the block look normal?
Any help would be appreciated. thanks.

Evil-I · 14 Apr 2017 at 22:21

What are your temps like? As expected or is this a new item?

Have you had to take the block apart for any reason (changing jetplate etc.)? When cleaning mine once i managed to get the plastic insert the wrong way round, so it performed about 10 degrees worse than expected.

Also sometimes you need to tip your rig in funny angles to get all air cleared from your blocks, and do this several times over a couple of days as air makes its way round your loop. Just make sure your res is done up tight and can't leak

If you're really concerned and haven't done it for a while, take the block out of the loop, strip. clean and rebuid (chcking you get everything back together correctly and the insert the right orientation to the fins on base of the cooler) and leak tested before going back in your rig. I often lie my rig on its back for a little while with the pump turned up to max and that usually clears any air bubbles in the CPU block.

Brizzles · 14 Apr 2017 at 23:15

Just trapped air.

Lay your pc on its back, then lift the right hand side. ( this will raise the block outlet above the inlet )

The bubbles should pass on through the loop then

Carper1967 · 14 Apr 2017 at 23:27

Hi Evil-I,Block was fitted "as is" from out of the box as it states it was the correct insert and jetplates for default LGA1151.
This is a complete new build just over a week old now and twice i have drained and refilled the loop over the past week and still the block does not seem right with regards to the liquid fill.
I have taken great care in tilting this to every angle possible to remove any air.
The block is brand new and would fall under any warranty,so i wouldnt feel its right to redo everything and even for the 3rd time just to find out it does the same thing,id rather get it replaced.
Just curious as to peoples input who use this same block,if the pics look correct and the block should look part full especially on the right side outlet, or there same block is totally full of liquid.
As with all these cpu`s,temps are and can be hot.its all down to the right voltages etc.
Just hope all my efforts tweaking are to no avail because of the block not working as intended.I would love full cpu cooling not part cooling if you get my drift.
Stress testing cpu all seems fine even though all 4 cores are jumping all over the place ,its just that until after an hrs game play and cpu temps jump to 80+c with this loop that is causing me concern,hence the question about the blocks liquid fill looking correct.

Carper1967 · 14 Apr 2017 at 23:33

Hi Brizzles,done all that to no avail,no where else on the loop does it appear to be not filled correctly,gpu card etc.
Would you say looking at the pics that liquid is just not filling up correctly on the cpu block then?

Brizzles · 14 Apr 2017 at 23:54

Carper1967 said:
Would you say looking at the pics that liquid is just not filling up correctly on the cpu block then?

Yes. there definately should be no condensation inside a waterblock.

Here's an EVO image i grabbed of the net. This is what i would expect a properly function waterblock to look like ;

What speed are you running the D5 pump at ?
Run it at maximum or setting 5 ,if it's a vario with the red dial, to maximise the pressure and help blow the air at, then you can dial it back to number 3.

Carper1967 · 15 Apr 2017 at 00:19

Many thanks for the input Brizzles and thanks for the pic showing how it is supposed to be.
Clearly the block i have is half filling especially on the right hand side.Even after refilling the loop 2x now and exactly the same thing happening would you return the item or would you for the third time drain,but this time strip the block and try again?
Id hate for it to be the same a 3rd time ;-(

VKleita · 15 Apr 2017 at 08:44

A refill wont do anything new, without taking stuff apart.

It needs to be running and on its right side so the air can lift up and out of the block and through the tubes.

If it still does not the only other reason would be contaminant in the cpu block, IE grease or something similar, or finally the plastic top part is not machined correctly/ flow routes are broken in some form.

I am afraid the answer is take it apart and have a look

Brizzles · 15 Apr 2017 at 13:12

The problem seems to be in input/left side.

I've googled the block and how it flows and the fluid should be forced against the central clear plastic 'divider' then pushed down onto the jetplate ( the central vertical line in this image ).

In your image the fluid is not even reaching the central divider.

Compare these 2 images and you should see what i mean ;

It is either lack of flow/pressure going into the block as the left side as it is not even filling. Or the central clear divider is missing/damaged.

What speed are you running the D5 pump at ? D5 max rpm should be 6000+ as a guide
Run it at maximum or setting 5 ,if it's a vario with the red dial, to maximise the pressure and help blow the air at, then you can dial it back to number 3.

Let me know your pump settings before you go any further

Carper1967 · 15 Apr 2017 at 21:25

Hi,and thanks for the replies
After a very frustrating dilema,i totally stripped the loop again.
Drained,flushed rads out and stripped and cleaned the block out.To my horror The blocks rear jet plate was not alligned with the plastic insert and there was dirt/grease on the fins of the metal copper base.I installed as default as EK states straight out of the box!
So throughout last night until the next day i totally rebuilt the loop again,this time removing my home made drainage outlet,replacing it with a straight piece,just incase that was causing flow issues.
I put all the loop back together and with a fresh bottle of Ekoolant,now on my second bottle i might add lol i started to fill the loop.
My pump is https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-xres-100-revo-d5-pwm-incl.-pump-wc-883-ek.html and before this drainage i had it plugged into the W.Pump header on the Asus Maximus IX Hero header.
Now in bios or Ai Suite 3 i could not control the so called PWM,instead it was running max fan speed at 4770rpm`s,but this time i have it plugged into HAMP fan header and can now control it through PWM but still max fan speed is 4770rpm`s.Front rad fans are plugged into cpu header and top rad fans are plugged into cpu_opt header and rear case fan is on chasis fan1 header.All 5 fanS are linked through PWM.
Now my major issue is,once i started filling the reservoir,powered by using the external ek psu adapter ,all seemed fine,plenty of power,the liquid went looping with no issues,until i could fill no more.
I spent all day (still no sleep) trying my damn hardest to remove any and all trapped air.
The gpu block filled fine and then i looked at the dreaded cpu block,again only 3/4 filling! aggghhh the pain.
So throughout the day i lay the case on its back and sure enough the block filled as intended,again i did my utmost best,angle and cornering weight lifting techniques to remove any trapped air,trying to feed any such air to the pump.Took a while but i eventually got the res level to drop by feeding air to the pump.Refilled what liquid it needed back up.Now i did this with the cap off and cap on all throughout the day until i was happy with what i thought was good pressure with no air locks.
As soon as i stood the case back up the liquid in the cpu block then went back to 3/4 full.missing fins on the right side and top part on the left side.Ok stayed calm,let it run,fed out whatever air there was left and waited.
The cpu block just will not fill regardless of what manipulation i do to the loop.
I feel that there is insufficient pressure on my system loop and am clueless as to how EK can state from their website configuration,after putting all my exact pc details in ,that they came up with this pump,rads etc.to give me the exact working build.
I am now contemplating because the cpu block does fill up when the case its on its back that all pics i see of this same block are taken when its in that same exact scenario,on its back.
It just will not fill up properly,regardless when standing up.
So is my issue with pressure?Even though i can see the liquid through the whole loop cycle really working.Is my pump just not good enough for gpu and cpu even though EK recommended it?
Looking at my pics would you attempt to try and fix the pump higher?Even though im limited with space and had to use the EK fan/rad bracket.
few more pics below showing cpu block on its back and then upright after yet another refit.would be interesting to see if anyone else using exact same setup is also having same issue.

seems to fill up when flat

then empties when standing up

took out drainage loop

Carper1967 · 15 Apr 2017 at 22:32

Well out of keen interest i stared browsing youtube to try and find familiar loops and came across this guy.
Similiar pump same cpu block omg how interesting!

I know its long winded if not teeth grinding,especially when the liquid comes out lol but please fast forward to about 11.35ish and look at that!
Absolutely no liquid on the right hand sides top and bottom fins of the exact same cpu block with the case upright.
No way can this cpu block achieve 100% coolness to liquid coverage ratio when not fully covered?
Surely an issue with pump/block combination then?

Thoughts anyone?

Brizzles · 15 Apr 2017 at 23:02

10/10 for perseverance, i feel your pain and frustration.

I'm confused as to how the block fills normally when flat but doesn't when stood up ?

The D5 is the go to pump, the best. More than powerful enough for your loop ( i run a single D5 on the rig in my signature and that is far more complex than yours and i run at 2/3rds power)

You have it running at 4770rpm which is virtually maximum ( not 6000+ as i previously posted )

If the block fills when horizontal, then the block is working correctly.

How long did you leave it horizontal ?

You will want to totally make sure all air-locks have moved out of the loop before standing it back up, or else you will stand it up and another airblock from the radiator could potentailly move onto the block.

Have the temps improved now the left side is filling properly ?

Carper1967 · 15 Apr 2017 at 23:40

Awesome build Brizzles/top notch.but the difference between mine and your pump is like david and goliath lol.
I have left the case horizontal for the best part of today and yes once upright air had to be manipulated back from the block again,but to no avail of any fill especially on the right hand side.
I have browsed so many pics/vids now of this cpu block that i know i am fairly certain, to say :- Lying flat,these blocks will get maximum coverage as expected but once upright just like in the video above they do not achieve the 100% fill rate.
I also have noted another concern with regards to the flow within the cpu block itself especially on my past week of thorough testing.
The in port does as intended gives a strong flow to its right hand side but the outlet port to the right forces more pressure to the left hand side causing both pressures to meet in the middle of the block,hence not filling up correctly regardless of what pressures.These fins should fill up and will do when flat because the liquid rises and fills where the fin slots are.when upright the outlet port forces that pressure mid point and just drains instead of filling.Thats my theory anyway lol.
I have not tested yet with regards to temps flat/full or upright/third full as i am going through another trial of green bios screen on boot scenario.A handshake issue between the 1080ti and my Denon Amp somewhere.I game on my 65"LG Oled Tv and Hdmi issues are another ball game.Dont we just love pcs!
But common sense would tell me that flat and full on this cpu block would achieve better temps for sure.
I have also made a ticket to EK direct so hopefully i will get some insight into this.

mattyc123 · 16 Apr 2017 at 09:07

I have a similar setup, make sure the pump is over 80% I would recommend setting this as a minimum flow, it doesn't have much of an effect on temperature but makes sure to push any air out.

Carper1967 · 16 Apr 2017 at 09:58

mattyc123 said:
I have a similar setup

Hi,are you using the exact same block and pump and if you are can you post pics thanks.
What are your exact loop specs I am more interested in the cpu block as you can see/read.
Any pics of the block standing up running in the same GPu/cpu loop would be most appreciated.

mattyc123 said:
I would recommend setting this as a minimum flow

As far as I am aware the pump I am using can only be changed by fan speed for temps and not flow rate?
The reservoir is topped up to way over 80% as you can see but still allowing any headroom for any expansion.
If there still is any trapped air then no matter what I try to do with regards to angle manipulation,there are no visible air pockets.

mattyc123 · 16 Apr 2017 at 10:06

I have more things in my loop, I have a D5 and all parts are EK. I just set the fan header that controls the pump to 80% (the flow rate will be controlled by the pump %) there will be a lot of people with a similar setup to you. A fresh filled loop will have air trapped in the water as fine bubbles they will drop out wherever they fancy. If your pump isn't pushing the water around the loop then the air will stay there. I had a similar problem which was caused by the low flow from the pump.

Carper1967 · 16 Apr 2017 at 13:22

Hi mattyc123
yes I have tried through pwm the EK-XRES 100 Revo D5 PWM on max cycle,turbo,quiet,manual etc,all running for lengthy periods all to no avail.
At max pwm or any pwm I can clearly see the liquid pushing through the loop especially through the cpu block but just does not fill fully.
With the only signs of air within the cpu block itself and just will not change unless laid flat,then it fills,once stood upright it goes back to 3/4 filled regardless of what I do.
And as mentioned above, every picture or video of the same cpu block,the EK-Supremacy EVO does and looks exactly the same thing when doing a gpu/cpu loop.
I know this is not how it is supposed to be, am I missing something or am I just over exaggerating something that just doesn't look right?
I have read of people adding a bit of soap to remove any remaining air locks,I think this is what I am thinking of doing at this moment as I just do not see any air locks but can easily create some.
Does any one have suggestions of the correct soap method thanks.

mattyc123 · 16 Apr 2017 at 17:31

I wouldn't put soap in the loop i think it would effect the corrosion inhibitor in the fluid. Once it is bless then the only way to get air in the block is through a leak. Are your temperatures ok, has your GPU block got the same air in it?

This might be a stupid questions but have you got the pipes the correct way around as marked on the block?

Carper1967 · 16 Apr 2017 at 18:32

I appreciate any input mattyc123 but if you look at the pictures then you can see the answer to the question with regards to correctness of pipes,there is only in and out ;-)

I left the pc unpowered upright overnight as i felt i needed a break from the whole issue and still unpowered lay it on its back this morning.To my amazement the front right pipe from rad to pump went completely empty,but surely that is normal air pressure?
As there is no way of filling the res up any more while its on its back and even if i could the level is already nearly at max and could not even get the so called air to the pump to get the level down.When stood upright again,what seemed empty just filled back into the res and again appeared normal apart from the block again not filling correctly.
Gpu block fills fine and is filled fine.
Pic below shows the front pipe empty when left overnight and placed on its back this morning,but once placed back upright the liquid falls back into the res,highering the level,is it normal ?
Temps are fine at the moment but will stress test this cpu for sure,full on its back and 3/4 full standing up.
So far i know i have a good stock chip @5ghz without having to delid but will be pushing for more when i feel confident with this cpu block.

Brizzles · 16 Apr 2017 at 21:02

Carper1967 said:
but surely that is normal air pressure?

That is not normal.

You clearly have an air lock somewhere in the loop.

When properly free of air locks the level of the reservoir will be constant, whether on or off ( give or take a mm ), and all tubes and blocks will be full