~80C with AIO Cpu Cooler - How to fix

[Shane Bovell]

Hey LTT Community,

 

Built my first PC over a year ago with a Core i7 6700k, MSI GTX 1070, 16gb of RAM and a 650 watt power supply. It has been fairly smooth except for numerous Windows 10 related issues and poor CPU overclocking performance (currently on MSI boost mode to 4.4 Ghz).

 

However, recently I realised my CPU temps have gone from 42-45C at idle and 60-68C during full gaming load to 50+ at Idle and 70 to 81/2C during gaming. 

I've cleaned out the dust regularly over the 16 months or so I've had the PC. I also live in a fairly hot climate with daytime temps being around 32C or more.

My AIO cooler is from a lesser known brand and is called an ID Cooling Frostflow which I found off a toms hardware guide and had gotten good reviews and also matched my color scheme while coming in 20$ cheaper than an H100i. At the time it seemed like a good idea to try it out and it has worked well for the most part. Now I am concerned that it may be failing and that has resulted in the inability to cool the CPU as effectively as it once could.

 

I used some Arctic Silver thermal paste when I originally built the PC and have not repasted it since.

 

What do you guys think? Do I need to buy a new AIO liquid cooler? I even reversed the fans on the radiator and it has had minimal difference in thermals.

 

Would like to keep the cooler if I could but will change it if it turns out that it is the issue.

 

Will provide any further info you guys may need. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

[Crunchy Dragon]

Check the pump while the computer is running and make sure it's not dead. If you can hear water flowing through it and feel it vibrating, it's working. If there's nothing happening with it, chances are it's dead.

[Tabs]

If we think about it logically, if you've been keeping your machine clean, the only plausible explanation is that the cooler is no longer working properly.

 

The reasons could be varied, but that's pretty much the gist of it. The AIO loop may have leached over time, the pump may have failed/be failing right now, or there could be some kind of corrosion or contaminant within the loop causing bad thermal transfer.

 

Any of these would indicate the need for a replacement AIO/different cooler. 

 

To confirm, you'd have to try to test it in another machine with known temperatures, since then the only confirmed variable would be the cooler. But I'm not sure how many volunteers you'd get to potentially test a failing AIO on their rig.

[zombienerd]

Remove the block, check the paste.  Pinch the tubes gently to feel for flow.  It could have blockages even if the pump is still running.  If you feel pressure on one side, but not so much on the other, you might have your answer.  There are a few guides on YT on cutting, cleaning, refilling AIO's if the pump is still running.  It might not be pretty, but it is cheaper than a new cooler.

[Shane Bovell]

Thanks guys will do all those things. I did notice that the tubes that hold the water are always warm to the touch, never touched them before I did all my cleaning so I'm not sure if they were always like that but will definitely listen for the pump noise and get back to you guys.

 

Thanks for the suggestions thus far.

[Shane Bovell]

Update: Checked for flow in the tubes, both are still hot and I'm fairly confident the water is stilling flowing. Pinched abit to check for blockages and didn't discover anything weird in that regard.

 

However, letting Witcher 3 run for awhile caused the temps to go over 80 consistently, this has never happened before. I will repaste the cpu first and check and if that doesn't work I will replace the cooler altogether.

 

I am the type who just likes his setup to work without much hassle so I'd never go for a custom loop or anything of that nature.

 

So my next question is, what air cooler can I get that would give me stable temps and work like a champ. Noise is not much of an issue for me as my PC is down below the desk and ambient noise is always a thing.

 

What do you guys recommend? 

 

Oh and btw the paste I am using is about 5 years old, not sure if that is a factor or not.

 

Thanks!

[oahbpn]

25 minutes ago, Shane Bovell said:

what air cooler can I get that would give me stable temps and work like a champ

https://www.bequiet.com/en/cpucooler

http://www.cryorig.com/product.php

https://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail

 

[Shane Bovell]

14 minutes ago, Sirjfc said:

https://www.bequiet.com/en/cpucooler

http://www.cryorig.com/product.php

https://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail

 

Thanks, will try to go with Noctua by default since Linus is always singing their praises.

[oahbpn]

3 hours ago, Shane Bovell said:

Thanks, will try to go with Noctua by default since Linus is always singing their praises.

There are benchmarks to confirm Linus' singing.lol

http://www.relaxedtech.com/reviews/noctua/nh-d15/8

 

Do make sure there is enough clearance in your computer case.

 

Good luck.

[Damascus]

19 hours ago, Tabs said:

If we think about it logically, if you've been keeping your machine clean, the only plausible explanation is that the cooler is no longer working properly

Or the TIM is dry, whether it be the IHS or the cooler

[Ilan Yakov]

Try re-applying the thermal paste.

If eventually you do replace your cooler, if there's enough room in your case then I would get the Noctua NH-D15 or the NH-D15s.

Ugly and uncomfortable but excellent performance.

[Shane Bovell]

8 hours ago, Ilan Yakov said:

Try re-applying the thermal paste.

If eventually you do replace your cooler, if there's enough room in your case then I would get the Noctua NH-D15 or the NH-D15s.

Ugly and uncomfortable but excellent performance.

I repasted it Sunday at first it seemed to have only a slight decrease from about 80+ to 72-76C but then I restarted my comp and it was hovering around the 65 to 69 ish mark until I moved to the grounded areas in gw2 which caused it to go up above 70C again.

 

My case is an NZXT H440 so I have to check to see if it will fit but I definitely want the noctua.