Expected temps?

[KE2012]

Hey all, just completed a custom loop for my GPU and I don't think my temps are right, ontop of that I've noticed some odd activity (about that later).

 

My loop. (Sorry for no PCPartPicker, I couldn't find all the watercooling parts after a search)

 

Radiator XSPC 360mm EX360

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-098-XS

 

Pump  EK XTOP REVO 5 PWM 

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-884-EK

 

GPU block XSPC Razor 980 980TI (My GPU is the EVGA GTX 980 SC) 

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-338-XS

 

Coolant EK-Exocoolant 

 

CPU loop is a separate entity for now.

 

The thermal paste used to apply the block to the GPU is XSPC K3 (My other good stuff leaked unbeknownst to me till I came to do the loop) anyway I also have the stuff on my CPU and it's temps are fine.

 

My GPU temps are ~74DC when under heavy load (the original ACX 2.0 air cooler kept it at ~71DC) and idle temp ~40. The odd behaviour is this, when gaming I get those temperatures, but if I pause the game to go into the menu for example, that temperature plummets instantly to ~45, then nearly the second the game starts again I'm back at the high temp. Are these temps and this behaviour normal for my set-up?  My room is less than 20DC, probably somewhere just north of 15, so should I expect some lower temps than what I'm getting?

 

Cheers for reading!

 

 

EDIT:

 

My GPU has died from a suspected PSU failure. Cheers for all those who helped!

Edited November 5, 2015 by KE2012

[OddsCrazyStuff]

Which fans?

[KE2012]

Three of these are on the radiator. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00L64NYPC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

[xgn]

That is a really good fan maybe you just need another radiator or you could go push/pull if you have space for it.

[KE2012]

That is a really good fan maybe you just need another radiator or you could go push/pull if you have space for it.

 

Right now I have a 360mm for just one GPU water block, surely one GPU doesn't need more than that to achieve better results than air cooling? EDIT: After some more testing right now its performing considerably worse than the air cooler it came with? Something mustn't be right but I can't work out what.

[OddsCrazyStuff]

Try plugging the fans straight on the powersupply. If that dont fix it, then the problem is else where.

[KE2012]

Try plugging the fans straight on the powersupply. If that dont fix it, then the problem is else where.

 

I've got them on a fan controller and running them at 100% only makes a few degrees difference from 40%. I'm begging to wonder if XSPC K-3 thermal paste is rubbish or something. Or am I just expecting too much from the system?

[Deli]

I've got them on a fan controller and running them at 100% only makes a few degrees difference from 40%. I'm begging to wonder if XSPC K-3 thermal paste is rubbish or something. Or am I just expecting too much from the system?

A 980 can be cooled easily with even a 120mm rad.

 

What is the pump speed of your D5?

[KE2012]

A 980 can be cooled easily with even a 120mm rad.

 

What is the pump speed of your D5?

 

1500L Per hour at 100% which I tried running it at but it made little difference in temps if at all. 

[0ld_Chicken]

1500L Per hour at 100% which I tried running it at but it made little difference in temps if at all.

kinda sounds like your block mount contact might not be the best, I'd try remounting the block.

I know it sounds crazy but there wasn't a protective sticker or cling on the gpu side of the block that got left on somehow? I don't mean to insult you but I've seen it happen a few times. I'm running a heavy OC'd 980 and 4790k with 360mm off rad space and my gpu maxxes at 47c with my fans at a pretty quiet level

Edit: 1,000 posts! Yay

[KE2012]

Okay, tried redoing GPU block and I believe the temps are worse now as I'm exceeding 80DC in a very very short time.  Oh and congrats on spending enough time here to get 1k posts

kinda sounds like your block mount contact might not be the best, I'd try remounting the block.
I know it sounds crazy but there wasn't a protective sticker or cling on the gpu side of the block that got left on somehow? I don't mean to insult you but I've seen it happen a few times. I'm running a heavy OC'd 980 and 4790k with 360mm off rad space and my gpu maxxes at 47c with my fans at a pretty quiet level
Edit: 1,000 posts! Yay

[0ld_Chicken]

Okay, tried redoing GPU block and I believe the temps are worse now as I'm exceeding 80DC in a very very short time. Oh and congrats on spending enough time here to get 1k posts

yikes! I'm assuming you reapplied thermal paste. Can you visually see that your pump is running and moving water? Like the water line in your res or something like that? Also have you bled all/most of the air out of your loop? I don't think that would cause that big of an issue unless it was nearly blocking flow (i couldn't really see that happening with a d5)

Ps thanks it's been a fun and very informative 9 months on LTT

[KE2012]

yikes! I'm assuming you reapplied thermal paste. Can you visually see that your pump is running and moving water? Like the water line in your res or something like that? Also have you bled all/most of the air out of your loop? I don't think that would cause that big of an issue unless it was nearly blocking flow (i couldn't really see that happening with a d5)

Ps thanks it's been a fun and very informative 9 months on LTT

 

Yeah the pump is defo spinning, I can hear it power up and slow down, and I haven't seen any  bubbles in the tubes now for a good 3-4 hours after running the pump at various speeds, pinching the pipes, and tilting the rig around a bit.

 

When reapplying the Thermal compound I used the pea method like I do for my CPU so unless you use a different methods for GPUS? I mean looking at the air cooler it had a whack tonne of paste on it. 

[0ld_Chicken]

 

Yeah the pump is defo spinning, I can hear it power up and slow down, and I haven't seen any  bubbles in the tubes now for a good 3-4 hours after running the pump at various speeds, pinching the pipes, and tilting the rig around a bit.

 

When reapplying the Thermal compound I used the pea method like I do for my CPU so unless you use a different methods for GPUS? I mean looking at the air cooler it had a whack tonne of paste on it. 

 

i usually spread mine since i use kryonaut (they recommend it, i think because it's pretty thick heavy stuff) but it wouldn't make more than a couple degrees difference if any at all.

How are your hoses connected to the block? To which ports i mean? Hopefully not to the same side, that would pretty much eliminate the gpu block from the loop. that would definitely do it

When you took the waterblock off of the gpu was the paste spread over the entire gpu and in that shape on the block like they were making good contact? Should only be a thin layer where the chip contacts the block and probably at least some that pushed out on the sides.

I can't really think of much else it could be unless you've got a restriction blocking your flow somewhere. Pump would still spin that's why i was asking if you could see a waterline anywhere or evidence of water flow other than the pump spinning.

I'll keep thinking!

[KE2012]

 

 

 

i usually spread mine since i use kryonaut (they recommend it, i think because it's pretty thick heavy stuff) but it wouldn't make more than a couple degrees difference if any at all.

How are your hoses connected to the block? To which ports i mean? Hopefully not to the same side, that would pretty much eliminate the gpu block from the loop. that would definitely do it

When you took the waterblock off of the gpu was the paste spread over the entire gpu and in that shape on the block like they were making good contact? Should only be a thin layer where the chip contacts the block and probably at least some that pushed out on the sides.

I can't really think of much else it could be unless you've got a restriction blocking your flow somewhere. Pump would still spin that's why i was asking if you could see a waterline anywhere or evidence of water flow other than the pump spinning.

I'll keep thinking!

 

 

I initially thought it could have been a restriction so I didn't put liquid to the top of my resivour so I could see it flowing and boy the water's nearly drilling a hole into the bottom of that tube at max speed, so I don't think its a restriction, and the thermal paste was evenly spread over the die. So the only thing I can think of now is maybe the raidator has a leak that takes it straight from the inlet to the outlet? I might need to do some extended testing to see if the radiator gets evenly hot.

 

Failing that I wonder if I have damaged my GPU in removing and installing the different coolers? But if I did that I doubt the only difference in performance I would have seen is an increase in temperature? I don't have any artefacts or anything like that cropping up. 

[0ld_Chicken]

I initially thought it could have been a restriction so I didn't put liquid to the top of my resivour so I could see it flowing and boy the water's nearly drilling a hole into the bottom of that tube at max speed, so I don't think its a restriction, and the thermal paste was evenly spread over the die. So the only thing I can think of now is maybe the raidator has a leak that takes it straight from the inlet to the outlet? I might need to do some extended testing to see if the radiator gets evenly hot.

hmmmm.

I guess that could happen to some radiators, both of mine are separated so that any leak would leak out of the radiator, not into the other side. one of my rads has a shroud type thing covering it though.

just to check, did you connect one hose to the right and one on the left right? doesn't matter which way is in or out, or if they are on top or the bottom, as long as they're on seperate sides.

Failing that I wonder if I have damaged my GPU in removing and installing the different coolers? But if I did that I doubt the only difference in performance I would have seen is an increase in temperature? I don't have any artefacts or anything like that cropping up.

I'd be surprised if that was the case but I've been surprised before! never hear of that happening though

[KE2012]

hmmmm.

I guess that could happen to some radiators, both of mine are separated so that any leak would leak out of the radiator, not into the other side. one of my rads has a shroud type thing covering it though.

rad.png

just to check, did you connect one hose to the right and one on the left right? doesn't matter which way is in or out, or if they are on top or the bottom, as long as they're on seperate sides.

980block.jpg

 

Yeah the radiator is defo hooked up correctly, any ideas on how I can check if the rad does leak?

 

 

I'd be surprised if that was the case but I've been surprised before! never hear of that happening though

 

It is me were talking about, I have the luck of a man who broke numerous mirrors and walked under multiple ladders. 

[0ld_Chicken]

Yeah the radiator is defo hooked up correctly, any ideas on how I can check if the rad does leak?

It is me were talking about, I have the luck of a man who broke numerous mirrors and walked under multiple ladders.

i was talking about the gpu block connections being on each side but there are also some rads that have multiple ports on each side. Both are very critical.

Does your rad separate at the top like in the picture i posted? If so i don't think that there is any possible place that it could leak from one side to the other that would allow liquid to flow "around" the radiator if you will. Even most that seem solid are actually separated with a covering over it. Any leaks at all should be identifiable by liquid leaving your loop (all over your pc).

Edit: Just looked at your rad again and it definitely could leak between but only at the very top. If you take it out of the loop you should be able to see into it with a flashlight or something if you remove the plugs. Alot of work if that isn't the problem

Can you post a picture of the loop/pc?

[KE2012]

i was talking about the gpu block connections being on each side but there are also some rads that have multiple ports on each side. Both are very critical.Does your rad separate at the top like in the picture i posted? If so i don't think that there is any possible place that it could leak from one side to the other that would allow liquid to flow "around" the radiator if you will. Even most that seem solid are actually separated with a covering over it. Any leaks at all should be identifiable by liquid leaving your loop (all over your pc).

Edit: Just looked at your rad again and it definitely could leak between but only at the very top. If you take it out of the loop you should be able to see into it with a flashlight or something if you remove the plugs. Alot of work if that isn't the problem

Can you post a picture of the loop/pc?

Unfortunately with my luck I've been forced back to the parents this weekend so I'll have to give you a picture on Monday or Tuesday depending on the time I get, sorry but I hope you don't mind this wait.

[0ld_Chicken]

Unfortunately with my luck I've been forced back to the parents this weekend so I'll have to give you a picture on Monday or Tuesday depending on the time I get, sorry but I hope you don't mind this wait.

no problem at all!  hopefully some others will post some ideas/solutions over the weekend, meanwhile I'll keep thinking about it.  off hand, do you remember that gpu block is connected correctly?  If both hoses are connected to either the left or right side (assuming you have the card in its normal horizontal position) then nothing will flow through the block.  Sorry I keep asking I just can't find a response to that one and its sticking out in my brain!  no problem if you can't remember though

[KE2012]

no problem at all!  hopefully some others will post some ideas/solutions over the weekend, meanwhile I'll keep thinking about it.  off hand, do you remember that gpu block is connected correctly?  If both hoses are connected to either the left or right side (assuming you have the card in its normal horizontal position) then nothing will flow through the block.  Sorry I keep asking I just can't find a response to that one and its sticking out in my brain!  no problem if you can't remember though

 

Yeah, I made sure that if anything had a right and left side that it was connected with one on each side, over the past few days I think I've watched nearly every video available about water cooling on youtube and followed nearly every guide i could to correctly connect stuff up so I doubt it's my poor judgement in connecting the dots.... but its me. 

 

Anyway, when I'm back home I'll forward a picture of the loop your way and see what you think, and cheers for the patience and time you've spent to to keep up with this issue!

[0ld_Chicken]

Yeah, I made sure that if anything had a right and left side that it was connected with one on each side, over the past few days I think I've watched nearly every video available about water cooling on youtube and followed nearly every guide i could to correctly connect stuff up so I doubt it's my poor judgement in connecting the dots.... but its me. 

 

Anyway, when I'm back home I'll forward a picture of the loop your way and see what you think, and cheers for the patience and time you've spent to to keep up with this issue!

  I'm always up for a challenge!   

[KE2012]

  I'm always up for a challenge!   

 

Alrighty, got back home and managed to get a picture of the loop (I know it looks awful right now but with all the testing I'm not concerned about aesthetics, and yes, that pump is temporarily held down with zip-ties.)

 

 

 

 

[0ld_Chicken]

other than the fact that the d5 looks like it might be pointing top end slightly downhill (they're not supposed to be upside down but on the side is fine) but we established you have plenty of flow.  you can still see the water line a bit right?  does it move at all when the pump is running?   either that or you got unlucky on both tries setting the block and its a mount issue.  did you tighten the block screws enough?  I saw the manual says not to over tighten them but undertightening them is bad as well.

 

any ideas @W-L?  he seems to know everything and i'm pretty much out of ideas

 

[KE2012]

other than the fact that the d5 looks like it might be pointing top end slightly downhill (they're not supposed to be upside down but on the side is fine) but we established you have plenty of flow.  you can still see the water line a bit right?  does it move at all when the pump is running?   either that or you got unlucky on both tries setting the block and its a mount issue.  did you tighten the block screws enough?  I saw the manual says not to over tighten them but undertightening them is bad as well.

 

any ideas @W-L?  he seems to know everything and i'm pretty much out of ideas

 

I nipped the screws tight on the card. 

 

Also I left my comp bench testing for about half an hour, its temps were fluctuating wildly between 75-82DC , anyway, I felt the radiator after a small while and it was barely warm, not sure if that's normal? My CPU radiator get's a little warm so I would have expected the same. 

 

And yeah, the water line likes to swirl around and show that it's alive, defo got water movement, and the pump is ever so slightly on an angle. 

 

I've also ordered some new thermal paste so I'll try reseating the bugger once more with that stuff, whenever it arrives. Should I also try some new coolant? Maybe get some distilled water over the current stuff (EK-Ekoolant)?