Why is my Threadripper Cooking?

[Fatty 227]

I'm new to water cooling, but I decided to give it a try on my latest build. It's a Threadripper 3960x, and I built it with a custom water cooling loop, entirely from EK. There's nothing in the loop but the CPU. No GPU or anything. I'm running a 240 x 38mm radiator with a push/pull fan configuration.

 

The problem I'm running into is that when doing video renders, the processor regularly runs upwards of 80-90 degrees. Am I incorrect in thinking that the radiator I have should be more than enough for just the CPU? Or am I running into another issue? Any suggestions would be appreciated

[jaslion]

Just now, Fatty 227 said:

I'm new to water cooling, but I decided to give it a try on my latest build. It's a Threadripper 3960x, and I built it with a custom water cooling loop, entirely from EK. There's nothing in the loop but the CPU. No GPU or anything. I'm running a 240 x 38mm radiator with a push/pull fan configuration.

 

The problem I'm running into is that when doing video renders, the processor regularly runs upwards of 80-90 degrees. I'm I incorrect in thinking that the radiator I have should be more than enough for just the CPU? Or am I running into another issue? Any suggestions would be appreciated

Not too dissimilar from other peoples cooling or aio's. Costum loops aren't necessarily better than all in one coolers or just a regular old noctua one which would be the better cooler.

[Fatty 227]

I actually looked for an AIO for Threadripper, with no luck. So if I really am running into the limits of this system, does that mean I need to go for a 360mm radiator?

[SpookyCitrus]

Depends on if you set it up correctly. If the loop is right you may want to make sure your waterblock is mounted to the processor correctly and that the thermal paste is correctly applied. You're custom loop is essentially just an AIO cooler, so you should get about the same results as a 240mm AIO in push/pull.

[Fatty 227]

Just now, SpookyCitrus said:

Depends on if you set it up correctly. If the loop is right you may want to make sure your waterblock is mounted to the processor correctly and that the thermal paste is correctly applied. You're custom loop is essentially just an AIO cooler, so you should get about the same results as a 240mm AIO in push/pull.

Yeah, that crossed my mind. I'll re-mount the water block then. Just out of curiosity what SHOULD I be seeing with this setup? When kind of performance would a 240mm AIO get with the 3960x?

[Lipe123]

The first thing to check is to see if your cpu block is working as intended, Hold your hand on the radiator and see if the water temp gets anywhere near the 80-90 that you see on the CPU.

My suspicion is that it wont be hot at all. If the rad isn't hot then going to a bigger rad isn't going to help much.

 

Something specific to CPU waterblocks is that they have a dedicated in and outlet for flow direction. Make sure you are not reversing that.

Also maybe double check mounting pressure and thermal paste?

[Senzelian]

Is water flowing the right direction?
Afaik the Threadripper CPU blocks require the water to go a certain direction.

[Fatty 227]

6 minutes ago, Senzelian said:

Is water flowing the right direction?
Afaik the Threadripper CPU blocks require the water to go a certain direction.

I didn't notice any indication on the block of flow direction. But it very well could be that i just missed it. How is that usually indicated?

[Senzelian]

2 minutes ago, Fatty 227 said:

I didn't notice any indication on the block of flow direction. But it very well could be that i just missed it. 

It should be mentioned in the users manual.

Some blocks have it printed in the top, like the EK Supremecy Evo TR Edition.

[Fatty 227]

Mine didn't have any markings on the top, but looking in the manual I think I may have the flow going the wrong direction... What a rookie mistake! Would this have done any damage to the block itself?

[Lipe123]

1 minute ago, Fatty 227 said:

Mine didn't have any markings on the top, but looking in the manual I think I may have the flow going the wrong direction... What a rookie mistake! Would this have done any damage to the block itself?

Not at all, the reason for the flow direction is on the inlet side it forces the water into the little channels and has a "lid" on them so the water cant just go anywhere. That section is typically where the cpu should get its hottest. Reversing the flow just means you get much reduced performance.

 

Just swap the tubes at the reservoir or somewhere easy.

[Fatty 227]

Ok thanks for all of the suggestions, everyone! I just went in, drained the system, re-applied thermal paste, re-seated the block, and changed the flow direction to the proper side. The net result was... no change. The temperature doesn't fluctuate as quickly, but it still gets WAY too hot.

 

One thing I did note is the tube coming off of the CPU felt fairly warm, but the tube coming from the radiator didn't really feel much cooler. So, does that mean the radiator is inadequte? Or, is the radiator direction specific as well?

[Fatty 227]

Even at idle it's sitting 60-70.. I feel like I must be missing something obvious here.

[HM-2]

What CPU block are you using? Is it a TR4 socket specific one?

[Fatty 227]

Yeah it's the ek quantum velocity for tr4/str4/trx4

[Lipe123]

If there is a big difference between the tubes going in and out it means the block works but you need to one or all of:

• up the flow speed
• a bigger/better rad (since you say the tube coming to the cpu is cooler the rad is working you might just need faster flow.
• more airflow through rads?

[Jeppes]

Is there air in the loop? Are you using some weird case that gives no airflow to that rad?

[Fatty 227]

I'm using the nzxt 510 with the radiator front mounted, using push pull. I have the pump on the cpu_opt header. Even with all fans and the pump set up 100% all the time it's not seeming to cool hardly at all.. so I'm wondering if

1) the fans aren't good enough for radiator duty

Or

2) there's air stuck in the radiator that I can't see

 

[Lipe123]

7 hours ago, Fatty 227 said:

I'm using the nzxt 510 with the radiator front mounted, using push pull. I have the pump on the cpu_opt header. Even with all fans and the pump set up 100% all the time it's not seeming to cool hardly at all.. so I'm wondering if

1) the fans aren't good enough for radiator duty

Or

2) there's air stuck in the radiator that I can't see

 

Sorry if you already mentioned, what kind of fans do you have?

There are fans specifically for radiators with higher static pressure, they typically have wider blades with bigger curves to force the air through the small openings in the fins.

 

Just unscrew the rad and shake it around, you'll hear if there are bubbles.

[MISTERDIEABETIC]

On 6/16/2020 at 3:37 PM, Fatty 227 said:

I'm new to water cooling, but I decided to give it a try on my latest build. It's a Threadripper 3960x, and I built it with a custom water cooling loop, entirely from EK. There's nothing in the loop but the CPU. No GPU or anything. I'm running a 240 x 38mm radiator with a push/pull fan configuration.

 

The problem I'm running into is that when doing video renders, the processor regularly runs upwards of 80-90 degrees. Am I incorrect in thinking that the radiator I have should be more than enough for just the CPU? Or am I running into another issue? Any suggestions would be appreciated

I'm not quite sure how the thermals compare between processors, but I'm running a 3900x with a H115i 280mm AIO, and in addition to the x2 140mm rad fans, I've got an additional x6 120mm fans in the case. With all 8 fans, and pump running at max I see 85° on average and spikes up to 94° while folding. And those are very consistent as thats still what I'm seeing after folding 24/7 for a week straight now. 

 

Btw, do you happen to have a temp sensor to tell you what the water temp is? Mine idles at about 31°, and only gets up to about 35° (which honestly, doesn't seem right to me. But this is my first ever build so still a learning experience)

[SavageNeo]

On 6/18/2020 at 9:57 AM, Fatty 227 said:

I'm using the nzxt 510 with the radiator front mounted, using push pull. I have the pump on the cpu_opt header. Even with all fans and the pump set up 100% all the time it's not seeming to cool hardly at all.. so I'm wondering if

1) the fans aren't good enough for radiator duty

Or

2) there's air stuck in the radiator that I can't see

 

NZXT h510 has very poor airflow.