High CPU Temps

[Gavster]

Now I have finished my build I have found that my CPU temps are unusually high, last night I did 30minutes of Destiny 2 and HWInfo reported 100 degrees max CPU temp and the same in PUBG although for the most part my Afterburner OSD was reporting 74-91 degrees but it had spiked to 100 degrees.

The CPU is around 36 degrees at idle which is 8 degrees higher that it was with my AIO and with the AIO it never got higher than 80 degrees. I understand that the monoblock is also cooling the VRM`s so this will add more heat to the system but I don`t think that this is causing my excessive heat.

During gaming my GPU was 50 degrees max and and the coolant was 49 degrees max which seems fine.

I think that the CPU being so much hotter than everything else in the loop points to the monoblock not making full contact with the CPU.

The system seems full bled now, no more bubbles going around the system and it seems that it is just the CPU that is the odd one out.

Any input will be much appreciated, it`s looking like a full strip to reseat the monoblock and have a look at the contact patch of the thermal paste.

Million dollar question, do I need new O rings or will these be ok for a second use?

 

[Gavster]

Sorry for the late information but I`ve been extremely busy this morning.

The system is as follows;

Ek quantum kinetic 160 DDC
EK Z390 monoblock
EK 3080 FE water block
Black ice nemesis GTS 360 top rad
Black ice nemesis GTX 240 front rad
EK 14/10mm hard line tubing and fittings

My build thread is here https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/first-custom-loop-with-a-3080fe.18916643/

 

[Gavster]

Okay, so it is almost impossible to diagnose from afar, but I would put £50 on it being an airflow issue. I cannot tell from your build photos whether you are actually in taking and exhausting air adequately. I had a dual 240mm setup in a case recently, one intake, one exhaust, and the temps were not great due to lack of actual airflow over the radiator fins. This was caused by inadequate ventilation in the case.

My recommendation would be to take front panel off and top panel off and see if they sorts the temps. If so, it is likely an airflow issue. If not, repaste the CPU.

Oh, and can you please confirm one radiator is set to intake and one is set to exhaust as that wasn’t visible to me in the photos.

Both radiators are set to intake, in hindsight the to radiator maybe should be exhaust.
I still think the main issue is the mono block as the CPU temps are way out of line with the rest of the loop and a quick Google finds lots of temp issues with mono blocks.

I'll remove the front and top panels and report back first.

 

[Gavster]

With the front panel off the max coolant temp is now 39 degrees, max GPU temp is 51 degrees and max CPU temp is 91 degrees after 30 minutes of gaming.
Better air flow is part of the solution as all the temps are lower but the cpu temp is way out of line with the rest so definitely a re seating job but the cynic in me still says the monoblock is causing the biggest problem.
On Sunday I will tear down and reseat the mono block and see how that works, the downside of monoblocks is it`s a mobo out to reseat and re-paste.

 

[Gavster]

So two separate issues, but both should be resolvable for free (other than your precious time).

my GPU temps after cyberpunk tend to peak mid 40s. CPU is normally 70 (10900kf, mild over clock). Yours are too high.

There was no visible sicker on the monoblock but reseating is a must and also swapping the fans on the top rad round.

That top rad is set as intake not exhaust. In the last picture you can see the supports that holds the motor to the fan frame (the frameless side of the fan is the intake, the motor side the exhaust). That means you have both rads dumping heat into the case and only a single exhaust. All that heat geting trapped in the case is going to add to the water temp as well as making everything else warmer than it needs to be. That top rad needs the fans turning around so that they are exhausting the air from the case.

Is the loop order Pump>GPU>Top Rad> CPU>Front Rad>Res? If so the GPU inlet/outlet are the wrong way around, not that you can do anything about it without reversing the loop order and making some replacement tubing so that the correct inlet/outlet on the cpu monoblock would be used.

Yes that is the loop order but according to the EK installation manual the inlets and outlets don`t matter but they are correct on the monoblock.

As you say the top rad fans need turning around and I`m going to add two more inlet fans on the bottom of the case as I have them lying around.

 

[Gavster]

And now the mystery is no more

Next to no paste transfer on the monoblock, next time I will check before refitting the motherboard, something I should have done in the first place.

 

[Gavster]

We all learn the hard way.

Yes, at work I always say check twice build once but I didn't follow this and paid the price.

I don't mind though, it's my first attempt at a custom loop and there are always things that won't go right, that's how we get experience

 

[Gavster]

Wow, that is BAD!!!!

Yeah, it makes me wonder if the 1mm pads are thin enough.

 

[Gavster]

That'll do it for sure. Was it fully tightened down?

Yeah, it was fully tightened down, I had used Gelid extreme thermal pads, the same 1mm thick, this time I've used the EK thermal pads and all is good.
I did also find three extremely thin plastic washers, looks like they were from the original VRM heatsink so I removed those. They were difficult to spot and if missed then when installing the mono block as you tighten it up on the rear of the motherboard.
Just running a leak test now and then all being well connect it all up again.

 

[Gavster]

Good luck! I hope it solves it for you (but still switch some fans to exhaust).

Thanks, I have switched the three fans on the to radiator to exhaust and added a 140mm fan in the bottom of the case for an extra inlet.

 

[Gavster]

All back together and up and running, stickers removed from the monoblock. Running Heaven benchmark my CPU temps was now 65 degrees max, coolant was 40 degrees max and GPU was 53 degrees max, all with the front and side panels on and the fans set in the bios at 600rpm.

I can now start to increase the fan speed to get the balance between noise and temps, which are always going to a bit higher than average with a glass panel case but I can live with that.

 

[Gavster]

WooooOOOoTttt!!!!

Well done!

Thank you
It`s a relief that it wasn`t serious and a lesson learnt lol. I also repasted the GPU while I had it drained just to make sure but that was fine.

 

[Gavster]

so glad you sorted it. it would be really disappointing if this put you off watercooling as i feel like its a slowly dying trend.

Cheers, I expected some teething troubles and it`s all experience for next time round. It`s understandable why it`s dying though as it`s expensive and air coolers and GPU cooling solutions are a lot better than they were.
I enjoyed doing it and I like the look which is why I decided to have a go at it, next time round I will probably use a different case for better air flow

 

[Gavster]

Yea it is understandable.

I have just gone and used an nr200 for my custom loop but I kept my 2 360mm rads and jist stuck them under my desk. The performance I'm getting is such better than I was getting with them inside my 011 dynamic air case.

I`m not surprised it`s better with the rads outside

 

[Gavster]

i think its a much better use of the rads tbh. i have quick disconnects on them near the case so i can move them seperatly if need. i was going to put a slim rad inside but i had already spent too much and wanted to get it done sooner rather than later. loving it now.

Nice, mine lives on my desk so the aesthetics have got to be right, even if performance is compromised for now, I`m already looking at alternative cases with better air flow but still need to look good.