[SOLVED] How to quickly fix broken liquid cooling system?

[thisisalloneword]

I have inherited a "Black Mamba" system from CYBERPOWERPC. It has been sitting idle for a few years. When I boot it up, it gives errors about the CPU temps above threshold.

My guess it the liquid cooling system is not working. Here are some pictures:

https://ibb.co/yykzq1v
https://ibb.co/5BRdVWw
https://ibb.co/BcmdMFN
https://ibb.co/Df0sTvw
https://ibb.co/55k35qC

Can I just remove the liquid cooling system and install some cheap PC fan?

 

[DSzymborski]

I have inherited a "Black Mamba" system from CYBERPOWERPC. It has been sitting idle for a few years. When I boot it up, it gives errors about the CPU temps above threshold.

My guess it the liquid cooling system is not working. Here are some pictures:

https://ibb.co/yykzq1v
https://ibb.co/5BRdVWw
https://ibb.co/BcmdMFN
https://ibb.co/Df0sTvw
https://ibb.co/55k35qC

Can I just remove the liquid cooling system and install some cheap PC fan?

Well, you'll need a heatsink, not just a fan. Air cooling is typically suitable, but make sure it's a heatsink that dissipates enough heat to be suitable with whatever CPU you're using. You may need to remove the motherboard to install the backplate (I cannot tell from the pictures if you have rear motherboard access in this case).

 

[SkyNetRising]

My guess it the liquid cooling system is not working. Here are some pictures:

It looks like liquid is drained from the system.
Also cpu fan not connected or dead. If pump is connected to CPU_FAN header, then pump is dead.

i7-3960X is quite power hungry (130W TDP). You need a good cpu cooler to cool it down. Some cheap/half ass cpu cooler will not be able to handle it.

 

[rubix_1011]

Interesting that the first thought for an older liquid cooled system was not to check the liquid cooling system is in working order but rather 'turn it on and see what happens'.

 

[thisisalloneword]

Thanks. How would I go about testing the pump? I am ok with getting rid of pump, as I don't plan to do anything too CPU intensive with this machine.. And if it overheats, I don't really care.. Main thing is I just want to revive it...

 

[Corwin65]

Thanks. How would I go about testing the pump? I am ok with getting rid of pump, as I don't plan to do anything too CPU intensive with this machine.. And if it overheats, I don't really care.. Main thing is I just want to revive it...

If you want to revive it then you don't want it to overheat.

 

[SkyNetRising]

And if it overheats, I don't really care.. Main thing is I just want to revive it...

Overheating = possible damage and death.
So revival might become problematic/impossible after that.

 

[thisisalloneword]

Overheating = possible damage and death.
So revival might become problematic/impossible after that.

The machine is already dead right now.. How would I go about testing the pump? If it's simpler to just remove it and slap on a heat sink and fan, then I would prefer that.

 

[faalin]

First thing check fluid levels
Second make sure the pump is plugged in to ether the motherboard or a molex
Third unplug all power cables coming from the PSU (motherboard, GPU, sata drives), then jump the PSU <- link to power the pump then put your finger on top of the pump, you should fell it vibrate. incase something else fails in the loop your computer will not have power and short out the motherboard
Four if pump is not working replace it or install a good air cooler.

 

[rubix_1011]

There is a possibility that the pump is no longer functional, especially if it has been run without coolant....this will permanently damage most liquid cooling pumps.

As others have mentioned, removing the liquid cooling might be the best option and install a quality air cooler.

 

[SkyNetRising]

The machine is already dead right now.

In photos it looked very much alive.