Turning on PC without water cooler attached to CPU safe to do?

[CPUzX]

Hello, would it be safe to install the H80iGT and hook it up to the motherboard so I can find out how loud the system is without putting the cooler on the CPU?

I don't currently have the CPU in my possession, so will turning on this cooler without it on a CPU be OK -- Does the water cooler only circulate from the radiator to the copper plate and recycle itself back to the radiator again? Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

The system won't run without the CPU.

 

[Kiril1512]

The system won't run without the CPU.

Dont even try it

 

[CPUzX]

no. The system will run, but it won't boot. It turns on with everything connected to power. What I'm asking is if its safe to turn on my system with the water cooler connected to the motherboard (without it being on a CPU).

 

[CPUzX]

Turning on a PC without a CPU is damaging? I never really thought that was a concern. My motherboard -MSI Z170A Gaming Pro has three debug LED's for VRAM, CPU & RAM, so the CPU light will flash if it doesn't detect a CPU. What I'm asking is if its alright to turn on the water cooler without it being seated onto the top of a CPU.

 

[RunLuke]

Eh, you can turn it on without the CPU in there. It won't boot probably, nothing will happen. Fans might not even start.

The water cooler doesn't care if there's a cpu, the only thing it might care about is orientation, I don't know if the pump could be damaged in some way, but I'd probably hold it vertical (the block).

anywhores, the standard corsair watercooler fans are crap, so get yourself a notuca fan right away.

 

[nooneinparticular]

I don't see how the cooler could be damaged from not being attached to a CPU. The H80i GT looks like a sealed unit, so I don't think it matters whether it's attached or not. The pump and fans will run and the coolant will circulate.

Though I didn't bother to read whether the pump/fans are somehow controlled by temperature. If so, that might affect the noise levels. Also possible vibration from the pump might cause vibration on the CPU and bracket and cause more noise. I'm not convinced that running the cooler without attaching to a CPU generating heat will give an accurate idea of the noise levels.

I think it's doable, however.

 

[CPUzX]

Thank you for your answers!

If turning on the water cooler is safe without a CPU, then I'll do it just to make sure it works. The whole reason I'm asking is if say, if it leaked if I turned it on without it being connected to a CPU. Thanks for the answers

 

[RunLuke]

I don't see how the cooler could be damaged from not being attached to a CPU. The H80i GT looks like a sealed unit, so I don't think it matters whether it's attached or not. The pump and fans will run and the coolant will circulate.

Though I didn't bother to read whether the pump/fans are somehow controlled by temperature. If so, that might affect the noise levels. Also possible vibration from the pump might cause vibration on the CPU and bracket and cause more noise. I'm not convinced that running the cooler without attaching to a CPU generating heat will give an accurate idea of the noise levels.

I think it's doable, however.

The pump runs off 12V with fixed RPM. The block CAN control the fans if it's connected to PWM, but you are able to just connect them to CPU_1 and CPU_2. Best thing about connecting the to the block is that you are able to take control of the max RPM via the Corsair software, which is necessary if the fans are the standard ones, however, looks like OP thought that far ahead 😉
I'd not recommend the software though, it's abysmal.

I've got a h100i with two noctua fans at 700RPM-ish fixed.