Corsair H100i Pump Failure Experiences. Need Help!

[iFaymous]

So close to a year ago I purchased the Corsair H100i CPU Liquid Cooler from Newegg. Ever since I purchased it, I have had issues with it. Every 2-4 weeks, the cooler will flash from red to blue and the pump will be at 0rpms. The only way I have found to fix the issue was to reapply thermal paste to the CPU and remount the cooler. So last month, I decided I should send it in for a repair/replacement because I am just fed up with spending the money on thermal paste and time to fix it. I just want it to work. I got it back, and it seems like a whole new device. It was all packaged like it was new and even had the cables organized and connected together. So after I saw how it was packaged, I totally thought it was brand new. Now over the past month and a half, the device pump had failed twice, and the led is flashing colors again(I guess it does that when the pump stops working). I recorded a video for you all to see exactly what it does, and the cpu temperature to show you that the pump DID fail once again.

Youtube Video of this Issue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryXLi6UiVPk&feature=youtu.be

If anyone has a fix for this issue, it would help me out greatly. I have tried many things to try to fix it but here are some of the common steps I see on these forums that I have already tried multiple times.

- Uninstall/Upgrade/Downgrade Corsair Link Software
- Check bios for the CPU fan speed rpm
- Change pump connector to new fan connector

Here are my system specs as well

- i5-3570K (I've tried the stock clock as well as overclocking, but have noticed that overclocking makes the cooler fail quicker.)
- 4GBx2 Corsair Vengeance 1866 DDR3
- MSI Nvidia GTX 970
- Asrock Extreme4 Z77 Motherboard
- Hyperx 3K SSD
- 1.5TB HDD
- 750W Seagate PSU
- NZXT H440 Case
- Windows 8.1 64bit (Recently reinstalled windows because I like my computer to be clean)

I am open to trying pretty much anything. Just really want this problem to disappear!


TLDR - Corsair H100i pump fails after a few weeks. Flashes red and blue at 0rpms randomly. Have tried many things to fix, even sending to Corsair, but have not found the solution. Temp fix is to reapply thermal compound.

 

[bgunner]

sounds like a software or power issue. have you run it without the software? make sure there is no other software that can control fans intstalled on the system like Asrock's software. these can cause issues when more than 1 is installed.

 

[Bossyfins]

I would never go with a water cooler. Look into a d14/15 from noctua. Will beat the h100i, and will be able to fix easier because its just 2 fans

 

[makkem]

Hi
Could be temperature causing the pump to stick slightly and the motherboard voltage is too low to unstick it.
If it was me I would connect the pump to a fan controller and not the motherboard and run the pump at a higher RPM,this will mean a higher voltage and a cooler system which may solve the stickiness.

 

[bgunner]

I would never go with a water cooler. Look into a d14/15 from noctua. Will beat the h100i, and will be able to fix easier because its just 2 fans

the D14/15's are extremely heavy and can and have hurt motherboards due to this plus for actual cooling they do not beat the liquids but they do cool to 3-5° warmer but do it much quieter. this is the main reason for them getting the recommendation.

I think it was Q1 last years system builder marathon where Tom had this exact issue and he killed 2 Asrock boards with the DH 14 so for you it may be the best choice but for others that have seen this happen shy away and do either a custom loop or an AIO liquid cooler to prevent damage to the board.

 

[iFaymous]

sounds like a software or power issue. have you run it without the software? make sure there is no other software that can control fans intstalled on the system like Asrock's software. these can cause issues when more than 1 is installed.

I actually do not have the Corsair Link software installed currently as this is a new version of windows. Its completely blank, so there should not be any problems with it running off another program.

 

[iFaymous]

Hi
Could be temperature causing the pump to stick slightly and the motherboard voltage is too low to unstick it.
If it was me I would connect the pump to a fan controller and not the motherboard and run the pump at a higher RPM,this will mean a higher voltage and a cooler system which may solve the stickiness.

My computer has the motherboard fan slots, a hub for fans that comes with the case (runs at 100%), and also a NZXT Grid+ which is a digital controller. Which would you recommend?

 

[iFaymous]

I would never go with a water cooler. Look into a d14/15 from noctua. Will beat the h100i, and will be able to fix easier because its just 2 fans

I would get a new cooler, but I really like the style and features of this one. I mean, I already put $110 into this cooler, I should expect it to work properly.

 

[makkem]

I would try it on the NZXT if you can set a minimum speed of about 75%,otherwise use the hub.

 

[bgunner]

Since there is no software installed then it sounds like a power issue. to test this theory connect the pump to the psu and have it run at 100% for a while to see if the issue returns. if it does not return then hook it up to one of your fan controllers and set it to what you want. if the issue does not return it is possible the fan header is lowering the voltage to low for the pump to spin.

if the problem does return the pump is bad.


EDIT remember that many boards need the fan tach signal to the CPU header to allow it to boot properly.

 

[Bossyfins]

If you want a new water cooler, CoolerMaster has some of the best ones in my opinion. I have yet to see a 'bad' review regarding a pump problem