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CPU Overheating Issue Help

PaulyP

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Jun 1, 2021
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Hello everyone,

I need a little help if anyone can.

I have a 5 year system now, though it's had little use over the last 5 years. Specs as below

Windows 10 - 21H1
MB - Asus Z170-Deluxe
CPU - Intel i6700k - 4.2Ghz
RAM - 32GB Corsair
GFX - ASUS GTX-980Ti
HD - 512GB Samsung 950Pro M.2
CPU Cooler - H110iGTX Water Cooler - 2 Fans venting up out of case
3 Other Case Fans

(I've put a photo of the PC internals at the bottom of the post if you want to see how it's set up)

My issue is that some of the fans were getting noisy and when I looked inside there were a build up of dust on some of the fan blades. I stripped it all down (except CPU and attached cooler pump/heatsink) and cleaned all the fans and dust from inside the case (though most of the dust was mainly on the fans).

Now it's all back together and I've reinstalled all software and also installed the latest Windows 10 21H1 build. My CPU temps are now sky rocketing to 100 degrees C. I've removed the cooler and applied Noctua NT-H1 thermal paste thinking that I'd broken the seal on the CPU when removing fans etc which hasn't made a difference. I've done this twice now.

When in idle temps are perfect at 22 to 25 degrees C for the 4 cores and 27 for the CPU package. Under load however the temperatures shoot up in a matter of seconds to 100 degrees C. The fans ramp up to 100% but the temps stay at 100. I've been running the Intel Processor Diagnostic tool to stress the CPU. Within 2 seconds of stopping the CPU stress test the temperature falls below 40 and then drops quite quickly to low 30s or less.
When I do something less intensive like opening a browser - temperatures shoot straight up from say 28 to 45 but then drop straight back down again.

If I hold the water pipes from and to the water pump the outflow feels warm, the inflow feels very cool so the cooler seems to be ok - unless its flow rate that's an issue. I don't know.

I've included image of all temperatures when cool and hot below in case it gives you any clues.

COOL

PC Low Temps.png


HOT

1622564615906.png


Just a side note - when I look at task manager CPU load, it's showing 100% load while the Intel stress test is doing the Floating point test and the temps drop to about 80 degrees. For all other tests is up at around 100 degrees. Its not just stress testing that's giving high temps. Just installed Steam and starting downloading a game to test and even current download has raised temps to 93 degrees within a minute or two of starting it - CPU load according to task manager is around 87%. Once finished download, temps back down below 30 degrees.

Changes in temperature all happen very quickly - often with in a matter of seconds.

I don't know what to do next. Is it a software issue, a CPU issue, a Fan or Pump issue or something else?

Any advise would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Paul.


1622565845029.png
 
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when was the last time you repasted you cpu ? if over 3 year theres a good chance its dryed or cracked;
 
maybe an issue with the aio
what software are you using to "see" temps?
 
Air bubble in your AIO is a possibility...can you cross check with an intel stock air cooler?..
 
Thanks for the answer / suggestions so far.

CPU is 5 year old.

I was using Corsair Link 4 and AISuite initially but then downloaded Core Temp just to check and they all report the same temps.

Don't have a stock cooler but I'll order a cheap one and try it out. If it was an air bubble is there any solution being a sealed system? Or is it a case of throw out and get a new one?
 
Corsair Link hasn't been updated in years / has been replaced by iCUE, which is no better tbh.

Is the AIO pump working at full power?
 
Thanks for the answer / suggestions so far.

CPU is 5 year old.

I was using Corsair Link 4 and AISuite initially but then downloaded Core Temp just to check and they all report the same temps.

Don't have a stock cooler but I'll order a cheap one and try it out. If it was an air bubble is there any solution being a sealed system? Or is it a case of throw out and get a new one?
There are technical ways of filling a sealed AIO...but most involve opening the sealed filling port of the radiator/heatsink plate...i don't recommend doing it...it is better to get a new AIO
 
6700k had the toothpaste between the ihs and the die... they did run super hot but... a 10 C increase in liquid temp is pretty massive for a quad core on a dual radiator with 2k RPM fans. Also the readings are weird... how does a AIO with a liquid temp of 30C cool a processor to 27 C :/

In any case, the cooler seems to be doing what it is supposed to -- seems like the block/contact/IHS issue. I would think just a repaste would fix it.
 
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i can see in your pics that fans and pump are running @ max but the aio temp its only 40º
its not transferring the heat to the aio
strange
 
It is a puzzle.

Yes the Link software is about 4 years old I think but I can't get the icue software to install. I don't know if that's because of Windows 10 version 21H1 but the installer just closed as soon as I tried to run it, it could be just Corsairs crap software.

I agree its not worth messing about trying to refill. Will try out cheap cooler first. I did notice that the radiator was blowing warm air out side but cool air out the other - seems to suggest a potential air block?

Pump always seems to run at full (im assuming 1900ish is full). Fans only ran at full after a minute or so as the water temperature rose. CPU temps go straight up to 100 - water raises more slow. Just run it again and after 4 or 5 minutes water temp got 50 degrees. When the test finished though the cores dropped to 28 after a few minutes while water temp still at 43. Fans run at full until temp drops below 40 again.

Thanks for the suggestions and help.
 
I'm guessing either the water block isn't properly in contact with the CPU or the water pump isn't working.
 
I've ripped a few of those AIOs apart, they tend to gunk up internally after a while

If its not the thermal paste, then you just need to replace it... the effort involved in fixing them is not worth it, and often makes things worse if you arent perfect

With a 6700k you dont need a top tier massive AIO, you could get away with a modern decent air cooler as well, for consideration.
 
Try it with a different cooler. If that doesn't work, the paste under the IHS is the issue. Can't tell you how many 4790Ks I've had to delid becuase the TIM cracked / dried out and temps were shooting up like yours are. All so Intel could save a few pennies.
 
I've ripped a few of those AIOs apart, they tend to gunk up internally after a while
This is why I prefer a traditional air cooling, which is just a metal that lasts forever
 
This is why I prefer a traditional air cooling, which is just a metal that lasts forever

Yep, less risk for damage too. Not just from water damage but from heat damage. AIO pump fails and your CPU can get damaged. Air cooler fan fails and the big metal hunk still does it's job.
 
I would get the iCUE and look at the pump. Switch between modes and see if the pump ramps up as well. It would seem the pump is not working. Idle 25 at load 100? That must be the pump. Also you can check the mounting and maybe re-paste it. Look if the mounting is tight enough and if one of the mounting screws is not loose.
 
Yep, less risk for damage too. Not just from water damage but from heat damage. AIO pump fails and your CPU can get damaged. Air cooler fan fails and the big metal hunk still does it's job.
indeed, a failing fan is also very visually noticeable than a failing pump.. besides, heatsink also looks badass imo
 
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