[SOLVED] h100iGTX i7-5820k troubleshooting

[MrSquid_]

Hi,

I'm the author of this post in which people pointed out that my CPU temps are not good (100+°C in CPU stress test) so I've been focusing on this issue since.
So it's a second hand gaming PC with a 2 year old h100i GTX cooling an i7-5820k not OC

Spoiler: CPU-Z details during light web browsing

However, I found out that the two fans for the AIO cooler are not stock fans, instead it's using two Noctua NF-S12B redux 1200rpm which I think are not well adapted due to low static pressure and lower airflow than the original SP120L fans. Also it should be noted that these two AIO fans are currently the only fans in my setup, which I realize is not sufficient.
In addition, my case is a Carbide Air 240 with a very compact form factor and is probably not compatible with most good air coolers (specifically the ones with an elevated radiator).

Spoiler: Inside view of my Carbide Air 240 with the h100i and its NF12B fans in push configuration

As you can see on the inside view pic, the radiator is mounted in the front (I don't think anything else's possible) and both fans are pushing air through the 240mm radiator outside the case.

Now the problem is that the lowest CPU temperatures I'm able to get is an overall of ~65°C IDLE, and core temps varying between 55°C and 60+°C. In game (On Apex Legends, FHD high settings V-sync on a 60Hz monitor) I run at 80-85°C. To achieve this I remove the lateral panel (so just as on the photo) and I have a regular fan in my living room. The cooler's pump and fans are set to full speed all the time (EXTREME pump setting in iCUE and fixed 100% for the fans in iCUE as well). Ambient temperature is currently at 27.8°C. When I'm in my UEFI I assume the CPU is on full mode because the UEFI's monitoring tool says the CPU it at 90+°C.

Online I found this chart showing the temperatures of the same CPU with apparently a small OC with an h100i cooler, from this site (look at the first from top in the chart)

Spoiler: i7-5820k temperatures with an h100i coller

So something's definitely wrong. For now I've ordered two Noctua NF-F12 industrial 2000rpm with high static pressure and high airflow, as to replace both NF-S12B and I intend to reuse one if not both of the S12B's to mount at the top on my case (right above the "X99" inscription) depending on what fits. They should arrive soon.

So I have a couple of questions:

1. Do you think my future arrangement will work (i.e is it possible that these poorly adapted fans and general lack of airflow are the issue) ?
2. Would it be best to intake air from front (getting warm radiator air inside the case) and exhaust from top (because warm air rises) or the other way around (intake from top and exhaust from front) ?
3. Is it possible/likely my AIO needs to be replaced ? I can hear the pump and I think I can feel the flow but I heard about coolant evaporation and clogging ...
4. If a replacement is needed, do you know any good air cooler that would fit my case ? AIO liquid coolers seem unreliable and they're so expensive ... I'm legit considering replacing the whole case just to be able to fit a NH-D15 or similar. If I had to get a new AIO I'd probably go with the h100i RGB Pro XT though, but I'm open to any suggestion.
5. More generally, with the lateral pane mounted, the cooling tubes are pushed in (they're too long for the case) and bent downwards. For now I'm keeping the pane off anyway to get natural airflow but is the bending an issue ?

Thank you for you help.

PS: I'm hoping posting links to a fan manufacturer's website is OK. If not I'm very sorry.

 

[Deleted member 2720853]

I'm legit considering replacing the whole case just to be able to fit a NH-D15 or similar.

Can't blame you. I despise AIOs as well. Imagine having to pay another $100+ to replace the entire AIO, than make an investment of max $25 on an air cooler fan when and IF it breaks... It'd be nice if you could fit a NH-D15 or Scythe Fuma 2 in there, but as the case has a max cooler height of 120mm, that's obviously not gonna happen.

If a replacement is needed, do you know any good air cooler that would fit my case ?

Look into the Scythe Big Shuriken 3 if it's available where you live. If not, other options include the Noctua NH-L9i and the be quiet! Shadow Rock LP.

MX-4 paste would help as well.

Would it be best to intake air from front (getting warm radiator air inside the case) and exhaust from top (because warm air rises) or the other way around (intake from top and exhaust from front) ?

Radiator as intake. A back-to-front airflow setup isn't really a good idea.

 

[MrSquid_]

Can't blame you. I despise AIOs as well. Imagine having to pay another $100+ to replace the entire AIO, than make an investment of max $25 on an air cooler fan when and IF it breaks... It'd be nice if you could fit a NH-D15 or Scythe Fuma 2 in there, but as the case has a max cooler height of 120mm, that's obviously not gonna happen.

Look into the Scythe Big Shuriken 3 if it's available where you live. If not, other options include the Noctua NH-L9i and the be quiet! Shadow Rock LP.

MX-4 paste would help as well.

Radiator as intake. A back-to-front airflow setup isn't really a good idea.

Hi @justquant and thank you for your reply.

I took a look at your low profile cooler suggestions but I'm not sure they'll fit due to my sticks of dominator platinum with high dissipators... Plus I was hoping to do a bit of overclocking on the 5820k. I feel like I'm stuck with an AIO solution with this current case, which is a shame because I really digged its looks.
The way I see it though is that an h100i RGB Pro XT costs 150€ where I live and for that price I'm quite confident I could get a decent case and air cooler which wouldn't fail after two years.

That is, of course, assuming that my AIO is indeed failing. I repasted it btw but it had virtually no impact on my temps. If my future two NF-F12 industrial fans and the top fan don't fix the situation I'll have to assume my AIO has outlived its efficiency.

While we're here, do you have any suggestions for a decent case not too expensive ?

 

[Deleted member 2720853]

While we're here, do you have any suggestions for a decent case not too expensive ?

Fractal Design Meshify C.

 

[MrSquid_]

Alright, I ended up getting a new AIO, because all my components seem to have been chosen with an AIO in mind:

• Compact case
• Small MB with ram slots quite close to CPU.
• High profile RAM

And other details too. It was just too complicated to get an air cooler. So I got an h100i RGB Pro XT.

As suggested here (and also elsewhere), I mounted the new AIO, located in the front of the case, as air intake, using the two fans in pull configuration. I might try push someday to compare but whatever. I'm using pull because my case is very small and I want to avoid bending the cooling tubes too much. In pull configuration, the radiator is the furthest away. Also I find it a bit more aesthetic.
I also added one of the previous S12B as top exhaust because I could, but honestly I doubt I'll ever notice an impact. The new AIO keeps it cool already.

I'm using iCUE with the pump in "balanced" mode and the fans in "silent".
As I'm typing this (that's all I'm doing so pretty much idle), room temp is of 28°C and CPU cores temps are in the 29-35°C .
In-game (Apex) I don't believe I've reached 50°C.
OCCT large dataset CPU stress test brings it at 55°C max. Obviously I'm not using any type of OC.

These AIOs are not cheap but at least they do their job well I guess. I wish it a long life.

Unintended bonus of the new AIO: The cooling tubes are smaller, more flexible, mounted on the side of the pump instead of on top of the pump and they can rotate. This means the lateral pane doesn't apply pressure on the tubes anymore, it's a nice fit. So question 5 from OP is resolved.