[SOLVED] i7 975 overheating, need help!

[oldalienwarepos]

i7 975 extreme, its in an old 2011 Alienware Area 51, water cooled. Just started recently, as soon as I turn on my PC it idles at around 80C, and if I dare open a program, it jumps to 100-105C! I feel the water pump working, the top fan is going nuts. Do I need to re apply the thermal paste since its so old? New AIO cooler? Not really sure what to do. I will be building a new pc soon, but for now I want to make sure this one is running fine. Thanks in advance, -Nick

 

[butterfig]

I'd replace the thermal compound first. If it's still a high temperature I'd replace the cooler. It's 8 year old TIM so I suppose it would be really dry. If that isn't the case I'd buy a new CPU cooler.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Thermal compound isn't the problem. Even a poorly mounted water block that DOES have some kind of TIM between the CPU heat spreader and block isn't going to run at 80°C at idle unless it was VERY loose.

Old paste might account for MAYBE a 5-10 degree difference, if it's VERY old, but not like what they have.

If this is an old cooler, then it's very likely you either have lost some amount of coolant and have a serious air bubble inside OR more likely, the pump shaft has worn itself free of the impeller and so the pump motor is turning but is not actually pumping anything. I would highly advise that you not run the system like this. At all. 80°C should be a max temperature, not an idle. Anything above that is trouble.

Replace the pump would be my advice, if this is an old cooler. If it is a fairly new cooler, try lifting the front of the case up by about ten inches, then lower it. Then lift the back up, then each side. Sort of elevate one end and then roll it around to see if there is an air bubble that can work itself free. This happens OFTEN with AIO coolers.

 

[oldalienwarepos]

So, when it is running I can feel the pump working, one coldish side and one warm tube. It is an old stock alienware AIO, so Im guessing a new pump would be the best route, or an air cooler. Thank you for the help.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Normally I would say to let it run a bit and then see if both hoses are warm about midway from the pump to the radiator, but with those temps I can't recommend letting it run like that any longer than it would take to roll the case around a bit just to see if there is an air bubble. Unfortunately, even if there is, if it's a significant one, it's probaby due to the system losing minor amounts of fluid incrementally over time, and can't be replaced. So that would mean a new cooler anyhow. It may be worth checking the paste and the mount job, but I'm doubtful that it could be the cause.

 

[oldalienwarepos]

I'm going to check thermal paste and mount job tommorow. I do have an intel stock air cooler laying around, would it be okay if I put that on to see if it was the cooler being faulty? Thanks again for the help.

 

[Darkbreeze]

So long as it works, and was intended for the CPU and socket you have, then sure. It certainly can't hurt. Almost anything should be better than what's on there now, at least temporarily.