CPU running hot (on idle 40C/104F) idle - need help please!

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

MY BUILD:
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/yqmKqs

MOST RELAVENT PARTS:
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Mobo: Asus Z87-PRO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Fans on Rad: Two Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fans
Also: 3 Built in Fans for 5 fans total

PROBLEM:
My CPU is running hot - like 40C/104F when idle in a cool room off a fresh boot. When I run Prime95, it quickly went up to +90C/194F in a few seconds before I stopped the stress test.

WHAT I'VE TRIED:
I tried removing the cooler, cleaning the chip and cooler with ethanol and reapplying the thermal paste. I made sure all the fans were working correctly and static fans are on the radiator. Also, reinstalled the Corsair Link app for the cooler. I did this with two of my developer friends - they are stumped and cant figure out why it's running hot.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

GS

timeconsumer · Jul 7, 2016

I assume you are able to see through Corsair Link that the pump RPM is correct? Have you verified that in the UEFI? Can you hear/feel the pump?

Supahos · Jul 7, 2016

Dont use prime, use Intel burn test or something most versions of prime put and unrealistic load on the cpu using a few specific instruction sets that you won't ever use in that quantity.

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

Not sure what average RPMs for the pump are, but it's listed at 2223 for the pump. It feels like the pump is working by touching it. I'll have to get back to you in a sec about UEFI. Dunno if you can read it, but here is a pic of the Corsair link readout: http://imgur.com/0HVVjOj

timeconsumer · Jul 7, 2016

That's a little high for the pump. But given the temps understandable. Is the pump the lowest part in the loop? It's possible there's some air inside it and it's cavitating.

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

Supahos :

Ok, good to know, ill use that in the future...I stopped Prime95 pretty quickly when I saw it was overstressing/overheating the CPU.

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

timeconsumer :

I guess that's possible, not really sure how to check for it though. There has been no leak or breach that I know of, so not sure how air would get in and cavitate. Any way to diagnose if this is the problem or way to fix it?

Not sure what you mean by lowest part of the loop? The chip is in with the cooler mounted on top, snuggly. And, we've even pressed down very lightly on the cooler atop the chip to see if it affected the temp and it did not.

Also, just checked again and after 5 minutes of idling, CPU temps were up to 50C. Turned it off for now. Updated pic: http://imgur.com/3z2yF0r

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

Here is a quick pic of the inside of my PC so you can see the mount orientation. It's off at the moment so that's why the pump light is off.

http://imgur.com/ZoXY2z7

timeconsumer · Jul 7, 2016

Well these closed loop coolers can slowly have liquid evaporate over time (can take years) and air seep in. It's not enough to notice a leak or anything. If there is air in the pump you can try to get it out by laying the case on its side.

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

Ok, thanks, Ill try that. Will let you know in a few minutes.

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

No dice.

timeconsumer · Jul 7, 2016

Well, you have me stumped. I'm assuming this is a relatively new development and it was working fine until very recently?

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

Yeah, It's worked fine for 2 years. The longer story is - It cut out while I was playing a game...and when I tried to restart, it would only boot into a black screen from the windows logo. Ended up formatting the drive, reinstalling windows and it boots up fine now, but at a high temperature. No other programs are running, as it's a fresh install. Maybe the high temp caused the initial crash, not sure.. and I can't figure out if it's the cooler or the CPU for sure. Might have to buy a new cooler and see if that fixes it. If that's not it, maybe a new CPU. Was hoping to avoid that route. Thanks for your help anyways though.

timeconsumer · Jul 7, 2016

You know, I never bothered to ask, is your CPU overclocked? If so, perhaps change it to stock clocks and see what your temps are like. Also, do you still have your stock cooler? Give that a test and see what idle/load temps are like.

Smarticus · Jul 7, 2016

It was not overclocked. Should be original UEFI settings. I dont have stock cooler, but just convinced a friend to bring a spare cooler over on the weekend, so we'll get to the bottom and see if it's the h100i. Will update when i get to the end. Thanks

lfkfkfkffs · Jul 7, 2016

One of my systems had a 4670k in it and it would just run really hot idle and no matter what cooler was used it would be the same thing over and over. Here the h100i ended up bending the board in such a way it made it impossible for the bottom of any cooler to sit on top of the chip properly. I did manage to bend it back into shape and it went back to normal.

CompuTronix · Jul 7, 2016

Smarticus,

It sounds like your pump has failed ... unfortunately many AIO cooler pumps don't last more than 2 to 3 years, especially if you leave your rig running 24/7. You may have already exceeded the manufacturer's MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) specification, or you simply have a defective pump.

Smarticus :

Supahos's statement is misleading, and is just partially correct.

The issue with Prime95 is VERSION specific only.

To use the term "most" versions as a blanket statement isn't quite accurate. However, he would've been correct had he said that "later" versions of prime put an unrealistic load on the cpu using "AVX" instruction sets that "many" owners or gamers won't ever use.

A correct statement is that it's not recommended to run versions of Prime95 later than 26.6 unless you use processor intensive AVX apps for tasks such as rendering and transcoding.

Just for the sake of accuracy, there's no problem whatsoever with Prime95 version 26.6.

Version 26.6 Small FFT's is actually the most ideal utility for thermal testing because it's a steady-state 100% workload, and is as close as you can get to replicating Intel's Thermal Design Power (TDP) values.

It's all explained in this Sticky ... you might want to give it a read: Intel Temperature Guide - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1800828/intel-temperature-guide.html

CT :sol:

Supahos · Jul 8, 2016

I would like to know what % of downloads in the past 12 months (would be whoever is on here asking about temps) are 26.6 or later? I guarantee its over half which is why I just went with most.

CompuTronix · Jul 8, 2016

Supahos,

That's an interesting point. One of our goals here at Tom's is to make every effort to provide clear explanations of the most accurate information available.

Intel's Thermal Specifications are at best, unnecessarily complicated and very difficult to understand, so there's an abundance of misinformation. It's no wonder that most owners find this topic so confusing. I've been researching this topic for over 9 years, and I still occasionally find myself overwhelmed by the high degree (pun intended)

of Threads proceeding on false assumptions.

Although our Terms of Use and Forum Rules ask that everyone please read the Stickies, even when new Members do, we can't expect anyone to remember all the details, let alone explain it clearly. Among other reasons, this is why you might see a Moderator pop into a Thread, just to help clarify the topic.

CT :sol:

Smarticus · Jul 9, 2016

Hi all. Just wanted to give you all who tried to help me a final update. We swapped in my friends cooler and the temps are down (maxing at 60C under stress), so looks like my cooler just broke...not sure what was wrong with it. It sounds and felt like it was on and working, and nothing showed it wasnt functioning (besides the high CPU temp)... perhaps is was air cavitating, perhaps something else. But I guess im just going to buy a new cooler and replace it. Thanks for all your help.

CPU running hot (on idle 40C/104F) idle - need help please!

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