Help! CPU Backplate Sandwiched - High Temps

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

Archiver

Commendable
Sep 10, 2016
43
0
1,530
So, like many I'm sure, I received a bunch of new computer hardware for Christmas. I rebuilt my PC into my new case, along with some other upgrades, of which included a Kraken X62 280mm all in one CPU cooler, to replace my 7 yr old Corsair H60 120mm AIO. I used to get temps of about 85 on prime95 with a 4.5ghz OC @ 1.3v on my i7 6700k. When I got the new system up and running, I ran a stress test and to my surprise, my temps were almost identical... about 80-81 max in prime95. My first thought was that the pump wasn't seated properly on the CPU, so I took it off to reveal that only 60-75% of the thermal paste had actually made contact / spread onto the CPU. The bottom right portion of the heatsink on the pump still had its thermal compound perfectly in place (factory pre-applied). I have since re-seated the cooler 4 times, but I cannot for the life of me get proper contact.

My new case is the S340 elite, and I have an Asus Z170-A motherboard (standard ATX). Sadly, the cutout for the CPU backplate isn't quite large enough, and about 1/2 an inch of the backplate is sandwiched between the edge of the cutout, and the mobo (on the same side I'm having issues getting contact..... pictures attached). I am beginning to think that this is the cause of of my issue. I had the same situation in my previous case, both with my old mobo and my new mobo (upgraded mobo / cpu about 3 months ago)... but it did not prevent my AIO from seating properly, as is happening now.

I am still not 100% sure if this for sure what's causing my temps to rise.... but it's pretty evident that it is. My fans are running and set up properly... I have the software controlling the fans / pump set up right, etc. etc.

My only thoughts as far as how to fix this are
1- New mobo with cpu placement to fit the cutout
2- new case with larger cutout
3- use a tool to cut extra room for the cutout, freeing the backplate

I am really pleased with my build, but I am pretty livid about this issue, You'd think that NZXT would accommodate proper space for the cutout on arguably the most basic Betty standard ATX layout board. I was REALLY hoping to solve this issue without tearing down the entire rig, and essentially starting from scratch... but it's looking like that may have to be done.

If anybody could offer some thoughts / advice / possible solutions that'd be extremely appreciated! Thanks in advance, I'll be checking back on this post frequently for replies.

Pictures (4 of backplate, 1 from front) - http://imgur.com/a/4tLAh
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
A

Archiver

Commendable
Sep 10, 2016
43
0
1,530


All 4 screws are in, and I have tried re-seating the cooler 4 times now, screwing them in in an X pattern. Something's got to be off though because they screw down to a certain point and then stop. They WILL NOT tighten down any further, yet the block isn't making 100% contact with the CPU heatsink. Thus, my suspicion of the pressure from the cutout pushing the backplate forward, towards the block.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

Polypheme
Jul 15, 2011
15,519
0
66,960
yet in that picture i can clearly see the top left screw is in further

when you tighten in an x pattern you dont tighten the first screw right down then move on to screw 3

you tighten 1 a little move to 3 tighten a little move to 2 tighten a little move to 4 tighten a little then keep repeating

if thats how you did it then i would take the motherboard out the case and fit the cooler
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Archiver

Commendable
Sep 10, 2016
43
0
1,530


Oh I see what you mean now.... looking at the butt of the screw through the hold with the threads. Yes, that screw is indeed not in as far as the others, and that is both the corner that isn't making proper contact, and the corner that is sandwiched by the backplate. I did tighten in an X pattern, just as you described all 4 times I tried re-seating it with the mobo still inside the case (I put the mobo in the case before seating the cpu cooler when I built it inistally, as well). So you think I just need to take the mobo out, see if I can get that screw all the way in, and re-install? Do you think the sandwiching of the backplate has nothing to do with it? I wonder if that screw / threads on the backplate or standoff post are stripped.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

Polypheme
Jul 15, 2011
15,519
0
66,960
to be honest not sure the sandwiching should matter

but since you have tried so many times already i would do it outside the case

once i do any block that screws down i always look at it from the rear--looking at the butt end of the screws as you called it

all 4 should come near enough the same distance down the screw hole thread if you see what i mean--if they are all equally far in then the block will be on perfectly flat
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Archiver

Commendable
Sep 10, 2016
43
0
1,530


Okay, I will try to re-seat it again with the mobo out in about an hour or so when I get time. Thanks for having such a keen eye and noticing that from the pictures, I didn't even think to look through those little holes. I'll post back later and let you know the results! :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Archiver

Commendable
Sep 10, 2016
43
0
1,530


Okay, so after much more fiddling with this pos I think I have found the problem. That screw thread on the inside of that bottom left corner of the backplate seems to be stripped. No matter what screw I try to thread through it, it stops 1/2 way and won't budge. I even tried to force it with a pair of pliers and no dice... just got stuck and I almost couldn't get it out. However, my old H60's standoffs WILL thread through that hole! So I replaced all 4 of them with the H60's standoffs and plugged her back in. First time around they were just slightly more than finger tight (I took it off just to see if the thermal paste had spread evenly, and it seemed to.... so maybe it did fit well, but hard to tell), but my temps are still around 76-78 max on a lowly 4.5gHz overclock during a Prime95 stress test. Then I busted out the screwdriver and tightened them all the way down until they were practically all the way. However, it seemed to have 0 effect on my temps.

(I made sure to look at the back of the screw holes from the other side, and they all are flush and even)

While all of this was going on, the brainiacs over at NZXT tech support finally got back to me (after I supplied them pictures and a similar rundown of the problem as I posted here), and his glorious solution was to turn all my fans to 100% DC power. Shocking...

So, I wrote him back and asked for them to ship me a new backplate and sandoffs. Hopefully then it will finally seat properly and my temps will be normal.

So for now that's my plan of action... the temps are stable enough to use the PC... they're just not as low as they should be being cooled by a $160 AIO. Unless you have any other suggestions I'm out of ideas.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

Polypheme
Jul 15, 2011
15,519
0
66,960
well its an improvement at least

test the temps just doing normal stuff prime95 puts way more stress on the cpu than you will in real life use

and if you use after a certain version of prime96--cant remember which version--the temps go much higher than previous versions
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Archiver

Commendable
Sep 10, 2016
43
0
1,530


I have the proper version of prime95 (26.6 or whatever), and the temps are identical in realbench. Also, benchmarks of people with the same coooler / CPU at a HIGHER coverclock have temps far, far lower than mine. However, I think I might have been overlooking the issue this whole time while messing with the backplate / standoffs (which WAS part of it, as the one hole on the backplate is stripped).

That being, I think my pump is a dud. I expected it to be quiet, but I never really noticed how it's DEAD silent. Also, my liquid temps in CAM have NEVER, EVER, EVER budged from 32c. Idle, or full load, they're 32c no matter what. Watching other people's videos of stress testing w/ CAM up it's all over the place.

Also, no matter what the pump speed is, I cannot hear it, nor feel much vibration in the tubes from liquid being moved (I think the small amount I can feel is due to it being pressed up against the fans). So, Newegg is sending a replacement which will be here on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. For the time being it's still useable, and laughably keeping my CPU about as cool as my old cooler, even without a working pump :ouch:

So, I'll let you know what happens then... hopefully this nightmare will end in the simple installation of a new unit that works. Thanks for all your assistance.... at least I gained some new knowledge out of all of this in properly installing AIO's for future ^^
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Archiver

Commendable
Sep 10, 2016
43
0
1,530


So I just finished installing the replacement, and my temps have not budged a single degree. With the pump on silent mode, and the fans off - or the fans and pump both on 100%, I get 74-80 or so on my 4.5 gHz overclock. I have not gotten a phonecall through to NZXT for almost 2 weeks now. The only thing I can think of is that it's the backplate not sitting right still somehow... even though this one's screws were all perfect and it fit on no problems.

On top of the cutout not being large enough on the backside, my MOBO also has these little silver pin looking things that I just now noticed while swapping backplates. They stick up maybe 1/4 an inch, and poke directly into the part of the backplate on the top and bottom that bridges both sides together (the thinner portion). From what I could tell, the backplate had enough breathing room to where those shouldn't be an issue, but idk... anything's possible at this point -.-

I refuse to accept these temps.... they're borderline worse than my 7 year old 120mm Corsair AIO's. Far hotter than they should be, according to other people's benchmarks. Same CPU on a 4.7 gHz overclock @ 1.35v should be sitting around 63 under load, whereas mine is hitting 80 at 4.5 -.-

Until I can get NZXT on the phone to hopefully troubleshoot something beyond "turn your fans up" I'm at a loss.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom