CPU is running way too hot when idle

[sdanielson_15]

So I just built my 2nd computer, and I ran into some problems. First I'll tell you my major issue:
-my PC is running at 89-90 C while just in BIOS. It starts out at room temperature, and then slowly rises up to the 88-89 C mark and just sits there.

During my POST I pulled an idiot move and didn't have power on my Corsair H100i v2 cooler, as I had the plug that was supposed to go to a USB slot into a CHA_FAN slot...

I feel like that may have damaged the CPU but not sure, any ideas?

I have reinstalled the H100i multiple times ensuring that it is perfectly in place to make sure that isn't the issue, but every time- no dice, still 89 C.

I have the warranty on the CPU to return it, do you think I should do so?

 

[getochkn]

Sounds like more you damaged the cooler if you somehow plugged the USB header to a fan header.

 

[sdanielson_15]

Sounds like more you damaged the cooler if you somehow plugged the USB header to a fan header.

That would make sense. It doesn't seem like the pump is working, as one of the hoses heats up while the other one does not. Do you think I have caused any damage to the CPU since it hasn't been effectively cooled through this whole process?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Be aware of several things:

1. Your CPU power savings features are not active in BIOS... so you could sit there at max CPU multiplier in BIOS whereas in Windows, Intel system would downclock to 800 MHz.

2. Fan control software doesn't work until you get in Windows.

3. I have no idea how Corsair Link works ... what does it indicate for pump and fan rpm ?

4. The Fan header has a max current draw of 1 amp.... if anything "got damaged", you would have blown the header. USB charging rates are 0.5 for USB 2 and 0.9 for USB 3, if memory serves.

5. The USB cable allows the cooler to communicate with the Corsair Link software ... See Item 3 above

6. Review the instalaltion procedure here:

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2013/february/how-to-install-the-hydro-series-h100i-cpu-cooler

Tho he has the fans installed up side down, they should be blowing into the case.

The sensor cable relays pump RPM information to both the BIOS and to the Corsair Link V2 software, and lets your motherboard know that you have a CPU cooler installed.

7. Check the CPU Fan header and make sure it's functional by connecting a PWM fan to it.

 

[getochkn]

^^^ but fan header is 12v and USB is 5v so regardless of Amos, send 12v through the USB header could have tried it.

 

[sdanielson_15]

Be aware of several things:

1. Your CPU power savings features are not active in BIOS... so you could sit there at max CPU multiplier in BIOS whereas in Windows, Intel system would downclock to 800 MHz.

2. Fan control software doesn't work until you get in Windows.

3. I have no idea how Corsair Link works ... what does it indicate for pump and fan rpm ?

4. The Fan header has a max current draw of 1 amp.... if anything "got damaged", you would have blown the header. USB charging rates are 0.5 for USB 2 and 0.9 for USB 3, if memory serves.

5. The USB cable allows the cooler to communicate with the Corsair Link software ... See Item 3 above

6. Review the instalaltion procedure here:

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2013/february/how-to-install-the-hydro-series-h100i-cpu-cooler

Tho he has the fans installed up side down, they should be blowing into the case.

The sensor cable relays pump RPM information to both the BIOS and to the Corsair Link V2 software, and lets your motherboard know that you have a CPU cooler installed.

7. Check the CPU Fan header and make sure it's functional by connecting a PWM fan to it.

Ok so yes my CPU does bounce between 55-90 C for idle when I pass BIOS and go into Windows, but that is still dangerously high. In Corsair Link, all I can see is the fan rpm which is at 65286, or basically just full speed. Fans are installed correctly. I tested the header and it is working correctly, so that shouldn't be the problem either.

I'm really thinking I may have just damaged the pump.

 

[getochkn]

You should be able to put your finger on the waterblock and feel it pumping water. Now you said you took it off many times, did you reapply thermal paste each time?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

^^^ but fan header is 12v and USB is 5v so regardless of Amos, send 12v through the USB header could have tried it.

The USB cable does not supply power to anything, power comes from the 12v SATA cable connector. USB has the capability to send power (up to 0.5 amps) to charge things but that is not the case here. The only thing passing thru the USB sensor cable in this case is speed information which won't fry anything.

one is for the included USB cable and it connects the H100i to a spare internal USB 2.0 header on your motherboard and allows the cooler to communicate with the Corsair Link software.

A communications signal should not be capable of burning out anything

Ok so yes my CPU does bounce between 55-90 C for idle when I pass BIOS and go into Windows, but that is still dangerously high. In Corsair Link, all I can see is the fan rpm which is at 65286, or basically just full speed. Fans are installed correctly. I tested the header and it is working correctly, so that shouldn't be the problem either.

I'm really thinking I may have just damaged the pump.

To damage the pump electrically, I would thing that a excessive feed would gave to come from the pump power feed which is supplied via the SATA cable. USB or fan cable connections would not seem to supply enough oomph to burn out anyything

 

[sdanielson_15]

You should be able to put your finger on the waterblock and feel it pumping water. Now you said you took it off many times, did you reapply thermal paste each time?

Yes each time I removed it I cleaned and reapplied. Also, I have never felt the water block doing anything, so that definitely has to be the problem.

 

[sdanielson_15]

Ok well the cord that is supplying power is the 3 pin connector that is supposed to be running to CPU_FAN, correct? Because I have tried plugging that in to CHA_FAN, CPU_FAN, and then I even tried the whole connection my case provides (NZXT H440) and I still have been getting the same results. One of the hoses heats up on the end closest to the CPU, and then the other one doesn't change at all.

 

[sdanielson_15]

Also, do you guys think that it may be my processor at this point? Because it has been running at very hot temps while only under 1-5% load. Multiple times during my POST I booted up trying to figure out only that I didn't have power running to my pump... Could the CPU have been damaged then?

UPDATE: I just remounted the pump and reapplied thermal paste again so I could rotate it to see if it was the hoses being at a weird angle causing the problem, and I'm still getting high temperatures but not as bad. While sitting at the desktop, I get 47-50 C. Mind you, they go up to 89-95 C when starting up, but that could merely be the software making false calculations... hopefully (I'm using Core Temp)

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Ok well the cord that is supplying power is the 3 pin connector that is supposed to be running to CPU_FAN, correct? Because I have tried plugging that in to CHA_FAN, CPU_FAN, and then I even tried the whole connection my case provides (NZXT H440) and I still have been getting the same results. One of the hoses heats up on the end closest to the CPU, and then the other one doesn't change at all.

No, not at all ... The 3 pin connector has just one wire ... you can't supply power with just one wire, need two postive and negative (ground) .... did you read that link ? Power is supplied by the "SATA Power Cable"

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2013/february/how-to-install-the-hydro-series-h100i-cpu-cooler

Start reading where it says....

The H100i has an integrated 4-fan hub which is where you will want to plug in your H100i fans. You will find two ports on top of the cooling unit, where you can plug in the included fan power adapter cables. Each adapter will support two fans, and by plugging the fans directly into the fan power adapter cable and into the cooling unit, you will be able to monitor and control the H100i fans through the Corsair Link V2 software.

Fans on the cooler ==> Fan Hub

The cooling unit itself has two cables to plug in, a SATA power connector, and a pump sensor cable. The SATA power connector should be connected directly to an available SATA power cable from your PSU, and the 3 pin (with only a single sensor wire) fan connector should be plugged into your CPU fan header on the motherboard. The sensor cable relays pump RPM information to both the BIOS and to the Corsair Link V2 software, and lets your motherboard know that you have a CPU cooler installed.

The Bold part gets you power ... the underlined part is an rpm speed signal. Look at the picture below from same link

The bottom wire provide power. PSU ==> SATA Cable ==> H100i... The power cable provided the power. Now look at the top cable / connector. You need two wires to provide power Positive and Negative (or ground). This cable only has 1 wire so it can't provide power, it is sending communication signal

http://pinouts.ru/Motherboard/MbCpuFan_pinout.shtml

Pin 1 - GND
Pin 2 = +12V
Pin 3 =Sense (spin sensor)

Your 3 pin connector has a wire connected only to Pin No. 3 ... it is incapable of supplying power. Mixing this with your case control system would be a very bad idea.

At this point I would return the unit ... and exchange it for a Swiftech h240 X2. Far superior unit, copper instead of aluminum rad, better fans, better construction, stronger pump, better aesthetics.

 

[sdanielson_15]

Yes I read that, and I do not have a SATA link coming from anywhere on the cooling unit. No SATA cables were supplied and every installation video that I've seen has never mentioned anything about SATA. I just assumed the power was coming from the plug that went to the CPU_FAN..

Sorry I'm still new to a lot of this, as my last PC was built 3 years ago and since then I didn't do much with it. Thanks for your help.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

An older model may have a 4 pin Molex connector.

http://pinouts.ru/Power/BigPower_pinout.shtml

 

[JackNaylorPE]

An older model may have a 4 pin Molex connector.

http://pinouts.ru/Power/BigPower_pinout.shtml