new build cpu cooling question (5960X)

[zero8387]

Gentlemen (and Ladies), 

 

first time posting here, been watching LTT for a while now. I've definitely benefitted a ton from the channel, and I appreciate the fact that there is a good community behind the scenes.

 

So I'm building my dream computer for myself and my wife's business this week  ! This build has been a long time coming and I am very excited. I will be adding watercooling to the system as soon as EK releases their 980 ti g1 waterblocks. In the meantime, I'll be running the graphics cards with their stock coolers. This isn't my first rodeo with building or watercooling, but this will definitely be the most technical build I've done. I'm going to do two separate loops, one in the basement of the 900D for the SLI, and one in the main area for the cpu. I'm going to wait until I get the waterblocks to install all of the watercooling at once, but I'm going for a layout similar to Jaystwocents' Skunkworks V3 (see below). 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MPIDYTO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

 

In the meantime, I'm using a thermaltake triple rad (see link above) all-in-one watercooling loop for the processor (Intel 5960x). My question is this: In the past I've never constructed the computer outside of the case to test the parts before mounting the motherboard and running all of the cables. I've always just done everything, crossed my fingers, and pressed the power button. This will be my 5th build and I've learned a ton since finding LTT. One of those things is the merit of testing the main parts outside of the case. What I'm wondering is if I need to attach the all-in-one closed loop cooling system to merely test everything?

 

I'm literally going to boot into the bios and then turn it off if everything posts. Would I endanger the cpu by not having any heatsink on it for a few seconds? The 5960x does not have a stock cooler and my wife's current system (she's a video editor/cinematographer) has an open loop on it. Thus, I don't have a spare heatsink I can use. The all-in-one watercooling loop has pre-applied thermal paste on it too, so I want to just stick it on there one time. I literally just want to make sure the motherboard, cpu, graphics card, and ram are working. I would still build everything the same unless the motherboard or cpu weren't working. So, those are just the two parts that would be a hassle to take out if they were DOA (especially the mobo!). 

 

 

I can certainly mount it if necessary outside of the case. However, if there's no need, I would rather just wait until I've installed the mobo into the case. I'm assuming the motherboard (rampage V extreme) has some kind of safety shutdown feature to protect the processor in the event of hitting a thermal limit, but I'd rather not have that happen!

 

My thinking is that just quickly posting into the bios wouldn't really hurt anything, but I'm not keen on taking any chances with this processor!

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

[russemerson]

I've had the same question, and (though I haven't yet done my build) I decided to spend the $20-30 for a cheap air cooler to use during POST, primarily because if something occurs (or fails to occur) during POST, longer "on" times might be required to allow for troubleshooting.

I'm thinking of it as cheap insurance.

[blazeface]

I once missed applied my thermal past and the cpu over heated but it was not messed up but it might have been partially cooled I would find a cheap cooler just in case

[zero8387]

Yeah I was thinking about that. I've got a buddy coming over tomorrow whom I am going to teach how to build a system, so it's definitely going to happen tomorrow. I'll have to find one locally if I do.

 

Also, I ordered some gelid "extreme" thermal paste for this build. So that also weighs into my options:

 

Option 1: just boot really quickly with no heatsink outside of the case to check on things <--possible of risk damaging the CPU?

 

Option 2: find a crappy heatsink to check the parts with outside of the case <-- would rather go with option 4 and don't have a crappy heatsink at the moment

 

Option 3: just build it in the case and risk having to pull the mobo or cpu out <-- could be the biggest trouble if the motherboard doesn't work

 

Option 4: build it outside of the case with the all-in-one loop, clean both the heatsink and the cpu and apply the better thermal paste for marginially better temps. <-- confers the benefits of potentially better temps and allows me to tes thet pump on the all-in-one cooler. Drawback is that it is the most trouble assuming everything is fine.

 

I'm leaning towards option 4 over 2. Options 1,2, and 4 potentially save me a lot of trouble in the event of the mobo failing. And option 3 is what I've done in the past. So what option do you all think would be best/what would you do? I'm not going to go with option 1 without confirmation that it is safe. I like option 4 because I can apply the better thermal paste and get some better temps while I wait to get the parts for my custom loops. That's probably what I'll go with unless it's safe to just test it out without a heatsink. 

 

Thanks!

 

PS: I will have a barely used thermaltake triple rad all-in-one in the next two months after I build my open-loop. If anyone is interested in it at a good price, PM me and I'll be happy to put it in a good home! I will save the box and all the parts so it will be in great condition. I'll post if on the classified section later if no one is interested.

[mosin40]

-snipd.

I'll choose option 2