Pro/Forums - View Single Post - 45C idle. 27C coolant. Good thermal interface. What gives?

Jerky · 07-29-2005, 10:11 AM

UPDATE:
Issue has been updated. See a few posts down...

old post follows...
--------------------

I have a Corsair CWC100 kit I am trying to configure but I'm getting really poor performance. As far as I can see, the whole system is configured properly and everything functions.

Specs:
- EPoX EP-9NPA+SLI
- Athlon64 FX-53 (12x200 / stock)
- Artic Silver 5
- All watercooling hardware provided in Corsair CWC100 kit (http://www.corsair.com/corsair/COOL_water.html)

The CPU idles at 45-50C while the coolant remains 27C. This means poor thermal interface with the block & CPU right? So to try to fix this, I've tried:

mounting without standoffs / AMD mounting hardware (more direct pressure on IHS)
AS5 using a small bead. (what I usually do)
AS5 spread over the CPU
AS3 spread over the CPU
White paste spread over the CPU (not recommended! This ripped the CPU out of the socket and bent pins when I tried to remove the block!)
different mounting hardware & techniques (i.e. Used "mounting-post" method. Used standoffs as recommended by Corsair. Used different mounting hardware (plastic backplate and metal backplate with longer threads & standoff).
Lapped the base of the block. There is slight concavity, but not enough to cause a 15-20C difference the temps I'm getting and what the expected temps should be.
Shimmed the retention mechanism to exert a little more pressure on block.

The pump is reporting the expected 3600RPM. Fan rad is fine (120mm Panaflo). No kinks or sharp bends in tubing.

I'm really out of ideas. Everything looks good and everything works... except for the fact there doesn't seem to be any conduction between the CPU and block!

To compare, swapping the block for a Zalman CNPS7700-Cu heatsink/fan gets me 35C idle and 42C load. :shrug:

Any help or suggestions appreciated!

- Jon.

07-29-2005, 10:11 AM	#1
Jerky Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 12	45C idle. 27C coolant. Good thermal interface. What gives? UPDATE: Issue has been updated. See a few posts down... old post follows... -------------------- I have a Corsair CWC100 kit I am trying to configure but I'm getting really poor performance. As far as I can see, the whole system is configured properly and everything functions. Specs: - EPoX EP-9NPA+SLI - Athlon64 FX-53 (12x200 / stock) - Artic Silver 5 - All watercooling hardware provided in Corsair CWC100 kit (http://www.corsair.com/corsair/COOL_water.html) The CPU idles at 45-50C while the coolant remains 27C. This means poor thermal interface with the block & CPU right? So to try to fix this, I've tried: mounting without standoffs / AMD mounting hardware (more direct pressure on IHS) AS5 using a small bead. (what I usually do) AS5 spread over the CPU AS3 spread over the CPU White paste spread over the CPU (not recommended! This ripped the CPU out of the socket and bent pins when I tried to remove the block!) different mounting hardware & techniques (i.e. Used "mounting-post" method. Used standoffs as recommended by Corsair. Used different mounting hardware (plastic backplate and metal backplate with longer threads & standoff). Lapped the base of the block. There is slight concavity, but not enough to cause a 15-20C difference the temps I'm getting and what the expected temps should be. Shimmed the retention mechanism to exert a little more pressure on block. The pump is reporting the expected 3600RPM. Fan rad is fine (120mm Panaflo). No kinks or sharp bends in tubing. I'm really out of ideas. Everything looks good and everything works... except for the fact there doesn't seem to be any conduction between the CPU and block! To compare, swapping the block for a Zalman CNPS7700-Cu heatsink/fan gets me 35C idle and 42C load. :shrug: Any help or suggestions appreciated! - Jon. Last edited by Jerky; 08-02-2005 at 10:17 AM.