Temps way too high for custom loop

[nj4ck]

I have a custom loop cooling my 4670k and R9 290. The 4670k is running at 4.2 GHz @ 1.3V (crappy silicon) and the R9 290 is running +19mV on the core.

 

This setup used to run pretty cool, CPU temps below 60°C under load and GPU stabilizing at 45-50°C, depending on the overclock. 

Now I haven't been bothering to maintain the loop for some time and I haven't been monitoring my temps, until I opened up Afterburner after a session of Rainbow Six Siege earlier. Well, the CPU peaks at 88°C and the GPU is at 61°C max. I have a total of 6x120mm radiator space, which should be more than enough. The radiators are slightly dusty (I last cleaned them out about a week ago), but not clogged.

 

I also changed the coolant and cleaned the CPU block a few months ago, although I did not take apart the GPU block (no microchannels, I assumed it was unlikely to get clogged).

 

So all in all, I can't quite explain these temperatures. My CPU is delidded with Arctic MX4 under the IHS and the GPU is using Coollaboratory's liquid metal as thermal paste, so that's probably not the problem. Fan speeds and pump speed has also remained the same, so I really don't know what could be causing this. I suspect I'm going to have to completely tear down the loop anyways (needs new tubing, I haven't swapped it in over a year), but I wanted to ask if any of the more experienced watercoolers here may have any suggestions on what could be causing the problem before I empark on that journey.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[W-L]

-SNIP-

 

Sounds like a bad mount of the CPU block, but also what pump are you using for your system, make sure it's operating normally. If you just filled the loop give it about a weeks time since air will need to bleed out from rads and blocks slowly.

[Atmos]

Check your rads, make sure they are not clogged with dust.

Check your pump to make sure its still... pumping away.

Make sure your loop isn't clogged, lower the coolant level on one of your reservoirs and run the loop a bit to make sure you're still getting a good flow rate, and the coolant isn't completely clogged with debris.

Make sure you're blocks are not clogged, even without microchannels they can still clog.

Make sure the blocks are mounted correctly.

 

A custom loop should be maintained once every month idealy, but wait no more than a couple months between maintaining it.

[nj4ck]

Sounds like a bad mount of the CPU block, but also what pump are you using for your system, make sure it's operating normally. If you just filled the loop give it about a weeks time since air will need to bleed out from rads and blocks slowly.

I already re-mounted, I don't think that's the problem. It also wouldn't explain why the GPU heats up much more than it used to. I am running a fairly low-end pump, an EK DCP 4.0, but I can tell by the vibrations that it's running normally. Loop was last filled several months ago, so there's definitely no air in it.

[nj4ck]

Check your rads, make sure they are not clogged with dust.

Check your pump to make sure its still... pumping away.

Make sure your loop isn't clogged, lower the coolant level on one of your reservoirs and run the loop a bit to make sure you're still getting a good flow rate, and the coolant isn't completely clogged with debris.

Make sure you're blocks are not clogged, even without microchannels they can still clog.

Make sure the blocks are mounted correctly.

 

A custom loop should be maintained once every month idealy, but wait no more than a couple months between maintaining it.

Good idea, I'll check the flow rate. Yeah, maintenance is a bitch on these. Sometimes I wish I had just stuck with air cooling. The loop hasn't had full maintenance in over a year if you include giving it new tubing, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that it's acting up.

[W-L]

I already re-mounted, I don't think that's the problem. It also wouldn't explain why the GPU heats up much more than it used to. I am running a fairly low-end pump, an EK DCP 4.0, but I can tell by the vibrations that it's running normally. Loop was last filled several months ago, so there's definitely no air in it.

 

Oh if it has been several months then yeah it shouldn't be a problem, sounds like your blocks may be clogging then with debris what fluid and tubing are you running in the loop, usually the max your suppose to go is 12months before the next fluid change.

[Atmos]

Good idea, I'll check the flow rate. Yeah, maintenance is a bitch on these. Sometimes I wish I had just stuck with air cooling. The loop hasn't had full maintenance in over a year if you include giving it new tubing, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that it's acting up.

 

Oh dear GOD. One full year... without maintenance.

 

Your rads may be as clogged as the shag carpet in a hipsters attic.

Or your loop is full of crap, especially if you didn't chem bath your rads and tubing before use.

[nj4ck]

Oh if it has been several months then yeah it shouldn't be a problem, sounds like your blocks may be clogging then with debris what fluid and tubing are you running in the loop, usually the max your suppose to go is 12months before the next fluid change.

Using Primochill tubing and destilled water. I have a few drops of UV die and some PT nuke in there, otherwise just water.

[W-L]

Using Primochill tubing and destilled water. I have a few drops of UV die and some PT nuke in there, otherwise just water.

 

Yeah that all sounds good, but it may just be needed maintenance to the loop where everything needs to be broken down and cleaned at this point since it has been over a year you said that it's been running on that.

[DildorTheDecent]

You're better off using Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra on the CPU die. Far better compared to when i had MX-4 applied to my 3570K. Temp drop alone is 20C just by using liquid metal.

 

MX-4 is fine for the IHS but for actual dies it isn't as great i find. 

[nj4ck]

Oh dear GOD. One full year... without maintenance.

 

Your rads may be as clogged as the shag carpet in a hipsters attic.

Or your loop is full of crap, especially if you didn't chem bath your rads and tubing before use.

Hang on there, I didn't say NO maintenance, just not FULL maintenance... here's what the loop has seen in the roughly 2 years I've had it:

 

2 coolant changes

1 tubing change

1 acid bath and scrubbing of the CPU block

...and of course a lot of blowing dust out of the rads.

 

I just don't have a regular schedule for full maintenance where I do it all at once. I didn't chem bath anything, what I did was run boiling hot water through both the blocks and radiators until it came out clean. When I cleaned the CPU block a few months ago, it was slightly clogged, but didn't look too bad. It had what seemed to be plasticizer from the tubing stuck in the microchannels, but there was no sign of corrosion or any serious clogging. This was after over a year of use, mind you.

[nj4ck]

You're better off using Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra on the CPU die. Far better compared to when i had MX-4 applied to my 3570K. Temp drop alone is 20C just by using liquid metal.

 

MX-4 is fine for the IHS but for actual dies it isn't as great i find. 

Yeah I was planning on using it, but read somewhere that it may be almost impossible to get it off of the die without damaging it... have you had any problems?

[DildorTheDecent]

Yeah I was planning on using it, but read somewhere that it may be almost impossible to get it off of the die without damaging it... have you had any problems?

None so far. Ultra doesn't solidify as bad as Pro so when i removed the IHS just as general inspection thing it pays to be careful. I also ran a quick stress test to get some heat in the processor and free the paste up. With the cooler on of course.  

[nj4ck]

None so far. Ultra doesn't solidify as bad as Pro so when i removed the IHS just as general inspection thing it pays to be careful. I also ran a quick stress test to get some heat in the processor and free the paste up. With the cooler on of course.  

Huh. Guess I'll give it a try then. I'm going X99 as soon as broadwell-e comes along anyways, so I'm not too worried about messing with my 4670k as long as it lasts a few more months

[Atmos]

Hang on there, I didn't say NO maintenance, just not FULL maintenance... here's what the loop has seen in the roughly 2 years I've had it:

 

2 coolant changes

1 tubing change

1 acid bath and scrubbing of the CPU block

...and of course a lot of blowing dust out of the rads.

 

I just don't have a regular schedule for full maintenance where I do it all at once. I didn't chem bath anything, what I did was run boiling hot water through both the blocks and radiators until it came out clean. When I cleaned the CPU block a few months ago, it was slightly clogged, but didn't look too bad. It had what seemed to be plasticizer from the tubing stuck in the microchannels, but there was no sign of corrosion or any serious clogging. This was after over a year of use, mind you.

 

Alright. Just make sure your rads are clog free, your tubing and blocks aren't built up with debris, and your pump is actually well... pumping. If those check out, then something has gone wrong with the mounts, you'll need to remove, and remount the blocks and see if the problem persists, if it does then something strange is amidst.

[nj4ck]

Alright. Just make sure your rads are clog free, your tubing and blocks aren't built up with debris, and your pump is actually well... pumping. If those check out, then something has gone wrong with the mounts, you'll need to remove, and remount the blocks and see if the problem persists, if it does then something strange is amidst.

Yeah, I think I'll just take apart both the blocks tomorrow and see what's going on. Rads are OK, slightly dusty but flowing. I'll have to get some canned air to fully clean them out, but they've looked way worse before. I think I'll be switching back to air cooling gradually as I upgrade my rig, so maybe I'll just get an NH-D15 and take the CPU off the loop. Then I'll fully remove the loop with the next GPU upgrade. I love watercooling, but man it's just too much work. 

[Atmos]

Yeah, I think I'll just take apart both the blocks tomorrow and see what's going on. Rads are OK, slightly dusty but flowing. I'll have to get some canned air to fully clean them out, but they've looked way worse before. I think I'll be switching back to air cooling gradually as I upgrade my rig, so maybe I'll just get an NH-D15 and take the CPU off the loop. Then I'll fully remove the loop with the next GPU upgrade. I love watercooling, but man it's just too much work. 

 

I hear you.

 

I once forgot to clean out my rad for like... three months and just wondering, checked my cpu temps because games had not been running smoothly, turns out at idle I was at 78c... OHHH MAN.

It was a literally wall of dust, gotta love having 5 cats...

I'll probably never leave water cooling though because... I mean c'mon, I love that e-peen extension.

 

Best of luck finding the problem mate.