Is Liquid Cooling Required to Prevent CPU from Throttling

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test_123

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Feb 22, 2012
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I was considering an Intel Core i7-7820X which has 8 cores and runs at 3.6GHz. I am a little uneasy about liquid cooling because leaks are always possible. Is liquid cooling required to prevent thermal throttling? Keep in mind, I don't want to over-clock; running at stock speed is fine. I would prefer to air cool. Can I safely do this?
 
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CompuTronix
GhislainG is absolutely correct; it's not a question of if your pump will fail, it's instead a question of when. Many users forget that moving parts eventually fail.

Electric motors have bearings, so anything driven by an electric motor such as cooling pumps, fans and hard drives will fail. Unlike custom loops which use high-end pumps, AIO pumps are of inferior quality. Computers which run 24/7 are prone to premature pump failure. Cooling pumps have an impeller to circulate water. Impellers can seize from blockages caused by sediment due to galvanic corrosion (dissimilar metals; aluminum / copper), which is a common problem in AIO units, whereas custom loops are all copper. AIO's will also fail due to hose...
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test_123,

The 7820X is an 8 Core / 16 Thread processor which has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 140 Watts, and is very difficult to cool. Throttle temperature is 99°C: Intel® Core™ i7-7820X X-series Processor - https://ark.intel.com/products/123767/Intel-Core-i7-7820X-X-series-Processor-11M-Cache-up-to-4_30-GHz

Even running at stock, high-end liquid cooling (280mm AIO or better) is required: Intel Core i7-7820X Skylake-X Review - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-core-i7-7820x-skylake-x,5127.html

More insights and information: The Skylake-X Mess Explored: Thermal Paste And Runaway Power -
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/-intel-skylake-x-overclocking-thermal-issues,5117.html

For more details see Section 9 - The TIM Problem: Intel Temperature Guide http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1800828/intel-temperature-guide.html

CT :sol:
 
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You should be more worried about pump failures that seem to occur more frequently than they should; when that happens, the CPU throttles when it reaches 100°C even at relatively light loads.Your CPU won't fail (it throttles or shuts down if need be), but it's inconvenient.
 
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Yikes! Exactly why I wanted to avoid liquid cooling. Too many headaches. At least, they have closed loop systems now that are suppose to be maintenance free.
 
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Ye i have an i7 6800K and i just stuck a Be Quiet Cooler on it and its stays at an always cool 40C even when gaming but of course in summer it will go up by 10C's due to the increase in the ambient temp.
 
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Why? You can cool an i7-7820X with a very good liquid cooler; the only issue is the pump that may possibly fail. Fortunately you'll know if it happens because the system will be much slower when it throttles. That won't make your CPU fail; pump failures are not worse than a cooler that comes loose when a PC is shipped. Unlike 20 years ago, CPUs are well protected against overheating.
 
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GhislainG is absolutely correct; it's not a question of if your pump will fail, it's instead a question of when. Many users forget that moving parts eventually fail.

Electric motors have bearings, so anything driven by an electric motor such as cooling pumps, fans and hard drives will fail. Unlike custom loops which use high-end pumps, AIO pumps are of inferior quality. Computers which run 24/7 are prone to premature pump failure. Cooling pumps have an impeller to circulate water. Impellers can seize from blockages caused by sediment due to galvanic corrosion (dissimilar metals; aluminum / copper), which is a common problem in AIO units, whereas custom loops are all copper. AIO's will also fail due to hose permeability which causes very gradual evaporation over time, whereas custom loops have a reservoir so coolant can occasionally be topped off.

The moral of the story is; power down your rig when it's not in use.

EDIT: You might get away with using the Noctua NH-D15 big-air cooler IF you purchase a delidded 7820X from Silicon Lottery - https://siliconlottery.com/collections/skylake-x/intel-i7-7820x

Silicon Lottery is a company that sells professionally delidded CPU's so inexperienced users don't have to risk doing it themselves. Delidding reduces Core temperatures up to 25°C. Delidded CPU's from SL cost a bit more, but SL warranties their work, does a great job and you'll know what you're getting.

I've been running delidded processors on my builds and personal rigs since 3rd Generation 3770K Ivy Bridge, when this temperature mess really heated up. That's when Intel switched from using Indium Solder between the Die and the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) to a Dow Corning Thermal Interface Material (TIM). I highly recommend delidding because, it's by far, the most effective method of reducing Core temperatures.

Read Section 9 - The TIM Problem: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1800828/intel-temperature-guide.html

CT :sol:
 
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