CPU overheating error - AIO water cooler now scrap?

Tim Q · July 8, 2016

So just this morning my computer (Specs are in my signature and BIOS ver. is 2501) out of the blue went apeshit with the CPU fans and ramped them up to max before blacking out on me.

After a bit of fiddling it booted me back into the BIOS where it turned out the the 4790K was idling at around 90C.

I removed the Nepton, cleaned up the paste, reseated the CPU and put it all back together with new MX-4 paste. No luck, 90C idle.

I then changed it out for the stock Intel cooler and now it's been sitting comfortably in the mid 30s for a while now (it's still running as I type this).

While I'm pretty sure the AIO is junk now, I just wanted to confirm - there's no saving it and I should just swap it out for a beefy air cooler?

QFA350 · July 8, 2016

Is the pump plugged in? If it is it sounds like the pump is dead. Have you got the pump header set to max in order to get liquid flowing and to clear a possible blockage?

Tim Q · July 8, 2016

I've checked it out - the header that the pump was connected to returned as N/A - not picked up by the motherboard at all. Tried different headers, still got nothing.

I could hear the pump slowing down after turning off the machine.

After I took out the cooler I did notice that the block and lower half of the tubing were warm, but the radiator and upper tubing were stone cold.

I'm thinking a warranty claim might be needed here - documents say it should be good for five years.

QFA350 · July 8, 2016

1 hour ago, Tim Q said:

I've checked it out - the header that the pump was connected to returned as N/A - not picked up by the motherboard at all. Tried different headers, still got nothing.

I could hear the pump slowing down after turning off the machine.

After I took out the cooler I did notice that the block and lower half of the tubing were warm, but the radiator and upper tubing were stone cold.

I'm thinking a warranty claim might be needed here - documents say it should be good for five years.

Damn that's unlucky. I recommend just getting your money back and going for a large air cooler. I know it can look a bit funny but you don't have to worry about bad pumps or leaks and in some cases the air cooler can perform better.