What processor and what water components (kit, or each component)? I've been watercooled for several years now and can't imagine going back. I'm running a full custom loop with mostly Swiftech parts, including the MCP655 variable pump, Apogee XT block, and MCR320 radiator. Ambient room temp is about 20C, and my Core i7 970 (32nm 6-core) at stock speeds runs about 22c idle, 42c load. When I'm done overclocking, I expect to be running in the mid 70's under LinX load.
I think something is definitely wrong, and my first bet would be a bad mount/TIM application. It happens, especially with water blocks. They typically have bulky bolt-though mounting mechanisms that sometimes don't line up perfectly flush on the processor. Further, the lack of a fan and its associated vibration means that the TIM often doesn't spread as well--or as quickly--as it would with an air cooler. I would consider using a different TIM--I use Shin Etsu X23-7783D for my main system, and keep some Arctic Cooling MX-4 for bulk. Either is going to do better than AS5 or Ceramique. At the very least, you should pull off the block and look at the spread of the TIM to see if you should try adding more or using less with a second mount attempt. Depending on what CPU you have though, while 80C is hotter than I'd like, it isn't likely to make it explode. Most recent Intel chips (back to the 4C 45nm Bloomfield Ci7's) have a Tjmax of around 100C. Further, they will self-throttle when they get too hot. > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:hardware- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of James Maki > Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2011 12:41 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [H] Water Cooling and ambient temperature > > After several years of hot summers and no air conditioning, I decided to try > a liquid cooled system on my PC this year. So far, I have not been overly > impressed. The reported CPU temperature (speedfan, Asus AI Suite, CPU > Thermometer) averages about 15 degrees C over the ambient air temp. This > is > not much better than the Noctua air cooled system I was using. > > With an ambient temperature of 18 degrees C, the idle CPU temp is about > 32-35 degrees C (varies for the 4 cores). At 100% usage, the CPU temp rises > to about 73 degrees C. > > My worry is that when the room temperature reaches 35 degrees C, the CPU > will be running 80 degrees C at 100% usage. I don't plan on running it at > this extreme for extended periods, I just thought water cooling would at > least get the idle temps closer to ambient temps and keep the 100% usage > temps a little lower. > > I used Arctic Silver Ceramique on this build as this was what the > manufacturer of the CPU block recommended. I have used Arctic Silver 5 in > the past. The current instruction say to lay a line of the thermal compound > across the CPU. Would these temperatures indicate an incorrect application > of the thermal compound? Any other suggestions or am I just expecting too > much. > > Thanks for your insight. > > Jim Maki > [email protected]
