EXTREMELY high CPU temps with MVG - possible mobo problem?

[agent009]

Hey guys,

This week I picked up a 3770K to replace my 3770 in my system which was already running a H100i. On the 3770, it seemed to work fine with a 40C idle temp and 55C temp under load (with a 73C temp while running Prime95). I'm NOT overclocking, just trying to run everything at stock settings.

Upon replacing the processor with the 3770K and booting up, I started getting idle temps of 43C while slowly creeping up to 65C+. When I ran Prime95, it quickly shot up to 100C.

Thinking I didn't reseat the H100i properly, I removed it, made sure the backplate was in the correct position, reapplied thermal paste (Arctic Silver 5, pea-sized blob in the middle), and then rebooted. Same results. I then tried reapplying the thermal compound a third and fourth time with the exact same results.

I then went to the nearest retailer and purchased another 3770K. Same results.
I then tried switching to the stock Intel cooler. Same results.

A few observations:
1) The bottom hose connected to the H100i pump was extremely warm while the top one was cool
2) Both the SP120s mounted to the radiator (in pull) were operating at full speed
3) Every single time I went to reapply the paste, I found the copper block to be extremely warm (felt after I cleaned off the old paste)
4) Ambient air in the room is 78F and I was getting these results with the side panels OFF
5) When mounted, the block was not wobbly (didn't move at all) and the retention screws were only finger tight.
6) CorsairLink says the pump is operating at 2200.
7) I also checked the temps with HWMonitor, RealTemp, and ASUS Suite and they were all showing the same behavior. I didn't run the monitors at the same time--only independently.

Any ideas? Could the mobo be defective? Here's a screenshot of HWMonitor while running Prime95:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1150538_10100603989062999_604603258_o.jpg


Thanks


Hardware...
Case: Corsair 650D (side panels both removed)
Proc: i7-3770K (only drawing about 1.15V according to BIOS)
Paste: Arctic Silver 5
Mobo: Asus ROG Maximus V Gene (latest firmware, default settings)
Cooler: H100i (firmware 1.05 with SP120 Quiet Edition fans)
PSU: AX1200i

[agent009]

MagR wrote:

...Have you got the coolers wired up properly? On the stock air cooler the fan needs to go to the cpu fan header which according to my manual is the right hand one as you look face on of the two headers directly above the cpu socket. Wiring up the H100i looks very complicated, particularly as you have an AXi psu and are linking the software. Is it possible to try an alternative set up that doesn't link up with the psu software and might be simpler? Check these, perhaps try reseating the cpu (again!) then its time try a different motherboard as that seems all that is left...

I have the H100i plugged directly into a USB header on the motherboard. The software pulls the pump's temperature via that USB header. The PSU is _not_ connected to the CorsairLink interface at all.

Zka17 wrote:
...Please, explain what exactly you mean by the "pull" configuration? What is the order of your radiator and fans regarding the airflow?...

The cool air would hit the radiator first THEN the fans, ie "pulling" air through the radiator. I thought that was the standard definition, but maybe I've been wrong?

Zka17 wrote:
With these closed loop coolers the worse you can do is to setup a pull configuration. The radiator is a very high fin density one, so the air can not pass effectively in a pull configuration... you need the fans to push the air...

I've tried it in both push and pull separately. In fact, the official Corsair installation guide even mentions to install the radiator/fan combo in PULL with air being pulled in from the top of the case. Check out 3:55-4:10 in their video (I am also using the exact same case, a Corsair 650D):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWWFjsJONYc

Zka17 wrote:

Now, about the Quiet Edition fans... which quiet edition you have exactly? The high flow or the high static pressure? Because, for your H100i you need the high static pressure one... - for them to be able to push the air though the high fin density radiator...

The SP120 fans I'm using are their Static Pressure fan. It's actually the better version of the cheap ones that come stock with the H100i (the SP120L). Here is their info page: http://www.corsair.com/us/cpu-cooling-kits/air-series-fans/air-series-sp120-quiet-edition-high-stati...

WhitePaw wrote:


1.Are the fans you are using 4 pin PWM fans?
2. Are they connected to the motherboards Cpu.Header

No, they are 3-pronged regular fans. Currently they are connected to the Corsair 650D's fan controller. The controller is set to it's highest setting. I also tried them connected directly to the motherboard and set them to high in the BIOS.

Arne Saknussemm wrote:
I just think your H100 is defective...the pump may be running but something is wrong. The inlet should not be cooler than the outlet...if you can feel a temp difference it is because there is very low or no flow. I would send it back and get it replaced.

I think it might be defective as well, so I requested an RMA--just waiting for Corsair to approve it.

However, even if the H100i is defective, it doesn't explain why I can't get normal temperatures when the stock Intel cooler is installed in either idling or under Prime95 load. I'm not trying to overclock it or anything. Anyone have a guess on that? If it's not user error on installing the TIM/cooler, then what else could it be? From the pictures I've posted of the TIM when removing the stock cooler, some of you have determined I'm making good contact and the coolers were installed correctly.

Thanks for all the help from everyone so far.

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Can you just confirm the temperatures with the stock cooler and the voltage it was asking for...1.3 you said right? That seems high...you should get 4.5 GHz out of that voltage right? If you reduce voltage and mount the stock cooler are the temps exactly the same? I mean the stock cooler is cr*p so it wont give great results at 25 degrees ambient running prime but idle should be 30s and load maybe 60s...

Might be you have a hot chip and combined with bad H100 but VID of 1.3 for 3.9 turbo does seem off

Have you tried downloading a fresh BIOS file and flashing it via BIOS flashback?...maybe even the previous BIOS

There does seem something else going on here the contact from the CPU cooler did look good to me too...

Have you checked socket really carefully?

[agent009]

Arne Saknussemm wrote:
Can you just confirm the temperatures with the stock cooler and the voltage it was asking for...1.3 you said right? That seems high...you should get 4.5 GHz out of that voltage right? If you reduce voltage and mount the stock cooler are the temps exactly the same? I mean the stock cooler is cr*p so it wont give great results at 25 degrees ambient running prime but idle should be 30s and load maybe 60s...

Might be you have a hot chip and combined with bad H100 but VID of 1.3 for 3.9 turbo does seem off

Have you tried downloading a fresh BIOS file and flashing it via BIOS flashback?...maybe even the previous BIOS

There does seem something else going on here the contact from the CPU cooler did look good to me too...

Have you checked socket really carefully?

In an attempt to attempt everything to get this rectified, I decided to make a video showing me installing the CPU, defaulting the BIOS settings, and then running Prime95 with temp readings. :cool:

Before I get to the video, here is a picture I took of the stock cooler and imprint on CPU I took right before cleaning off all the TIM and starting the video. As you can see, I'm getting good contact and spread:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1094554_10100606085741239_1947358750_o.jpg



Take note in the following video that the TIM looks larger than it actually is. I used the same amount in the video that I used when I seated the cooler for the picture above. I apologize for the poor video quality, I took it with my Galaxy S3. I tried to upload it in HD, but apparently it didn't end up that way when processed, so you might want to just check it out straight on youtube:

EDIT: Apparently Youtube needs some time in order for it to be available in HD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB4ZT9WMKZc&feature=youtu.be



Thanks again

[Retired]

Very good video, thanks for showing..

I am really interested in, what could be the cause..

[Retired]

P.O.V from an @Asus tech?...

[Zka17]

Regarding the push or pull setups, I'm re-posting one of my earlier posts:

"When you're using the terms "push" or "pull", they refers to the orientation of the fans compared to the radiator... - it's about the fan is pushhing the air through a radiator os sucking it through...

Many people are using the "push" or "pull" terms regarding to the direction of the airflow in the case... that's creates confusion... - I was suggesting earlier in an other thread to use the terms "intake" and "exhaust" instead...

So, getting back to my original suggestion, the Corsair H100/H100i are working better when you have a "push" fan setup on their radiators. Setting them as "intake" or "exhaust" may be dependent on your environment... - for me the "intake" is better too..."

At this time however, doesn't really matter as those changes may not explain your high temps...

Regarding the video, a 3770k needs much less TIM then I can see there... yes, you said that it looks larger, but I think it's really larger... - try with half or even a quarter of that amount... for IB the reference size is grain of rice (for SB-E is pea-size)

[agent009]

I agree with your terminology and reasoning. 🙂

Zka17 wrote:

...Regarding the video, a 3770k needs much less TIM then I can see there... yes, you said that it looks larger, but I think it's really larger... - try with half or even a quarter of that amount... for IB the reference size is grain of rice (for SB-E is pea-size)

I just tried it again with a grain-sized amount. No improvement.

EDIT: It's probably pertinent to remember that I've re-TIMed and re-installed both the H100i and Intel coolers around 30 times now with all sorts of permutations of TIM application (ie: grain-sized, pea-sized, cross, line down the middle, two lines, and even smiley face). No change in the temperatures unfortunately.

It's also interesting how reference says to use a grain-sized amount, yet the stock cooler packaged by Intel already has much more pre-applied TIM.

EDIT 2: Also, I'm getting these sorts of temps with a non-overclock and at stock settings. Even when CPU-Z says my CPU is downclocked/idling at 1600mhz, the temperature is still around 55C-60C.

Any chance an ASUS tech could post a comment? Thanks again to everyone who has helped me out so far.

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Good vid!

Crazy temps....you said you got this off 2 different processors?

If so I would try flashing a new BIOS maybe an older BIOS and later a fresh download of latest....and if no change then something is FUBAR with the BIOS chip or board...or outside chance that your CPU supplier has a bad batch of chips that have vid tables that request enough voltage to give Frankenstein's monster life!

[Retired]

Frankie like sparks..

[HiVizMan]

Please do try to flash via the EZFlash2 utility in the tools section in the bios. you will need a fat formatted USB stick.


I wonder if you have a corrupted firmware or bios.

One cpu I can sort of believe has an extreme temp issue but two...