- May 12, 2017
- 5
- 1
- 10,510
I've built my first custom water cooling loop using EK components, and I can't figure out why my CPU temperatures are so high. It's currently idling at 33 C, but it's been around 45 C idle at times. While running a Prime95 stress test, temperature climbs to ~75 C within a few seconds and eventually settles around 98-100 C when the CPU starts throttling. When I stop the stress test, the CPU comes back down to 50 C in just a few seconds. The stock cooler performed better! No overclocking has been done. The GPU is in the loop after the CPU, and it idles around 32 C and peaks around 50 C while running FurMark. No issues there. Here's what's in the loop:
- EK-SBAY DDC 3.2 PWM pump/reservoir combo
- EK-Coolstream PE 240 dual radiator
- EK-FB ASUS Z270E Strix RGB Monoblock
- EK-FC1080 GTX Strix
- 16 mm hard lines
- EK HDC fittings
- Clear EK Cryofuel concentrate and distilled water
All components are arranged in a series loop: radiator first, CPU second, GPU third, and back to the pump/reservoir. Here's some photos to better describe the loop:
System overview
Monoblock detail
Pump/reservoir/radiator detail. The pump suction is toward the back and the discharge is toward the front, where the 180 degree bend is.
I believe there's an issue only at the CPU, since the graphics card is being properly cooled. I've disassembled and reassembled the loop three times (kind of a pain with hard lines) to check the thermal paste on the CPU. At first I thought I put too little, so I added some. I then thought maybe there was too much and I went back down to less paste. No significant changes were seen with each disassembly/reassembly and reapplication of TIM.
There are a few small bubbles visible in the CPU area of the monoblock, but I haven't been able to free them. I don't think they're big enough to cause any issues but they're worth mentioning.
What could the problem be? I thought for sure I was using too much thermal grease, but now I'm down to a small amount (the size of a lentil) and the symptoms remain. I haven't contacted EK yet but I might if anyone thinks it could be a defective monoblock. Before I do that, any other ideas?
Thanks in advance for your input.
- EK-SBAY DDC 3.2 PWM pump/reservoir combo
- EK-Coolstream PE 240 dual radiator
- EK-FB ASUS Z270E Strix RGB Monoblock
- EK-FC1080 GTX Strix
- 16 mm hard lines
- EK HDC fittings
- Clear EK Cryofuel concentrate and distilled water
All components are arranged in a series loop: radiator first, CPU second, GPU third, and back to the pump/reservoir. Here's some photos to better describe the loop:
System overview
Monoblock detail
Pump/reservoir/radiator detail. The pump suction is toward the back and the discharge is toward the front, where the 180 degree bend is.
I believe there's an issue only at the CPU, since the graphics card is being properly cooled. I've disassembled and reassembled the loop three times (kind of a pain with hard lines) to check the thermal paste on the CPU. At first I thought I put too little, so I added some. I then thought maybe there was too much and I went back down to less paste. No significant changes were seen with each disassembly/reassembly and reapplication of TIM.
There are a few small bubbles visible in the CPU area of the monoblock, but I haven't been able to free them. I don't think they're big enough to cause any issues but they're worth mentioning.
What could the problem be? I thought for sure I was using too much thermal grease, but now I'm down to a small amount (the size of a lentil) and the symptoms remain. I haven't contacted EK yet but I might if anyone thinks it could be a defective monoblock. Before I do that, any other ideas?
Thanks in advance for your input.
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