Begin launch, end closure, foam clean, repeat
Begin launch, end closure, foam clean, repeat
Hi everyone, I own a Dell XPS 8960 that arrived less than two months new. It hasn't been modified except for adding a memory stick. The machine was water-cooled and shut down unexpectedly when I got home this morning. After trying to boot it up, I received a diagnostic error about the CPU fan detection failure. Before I could fix anything, it powered off again. I opened the case, restarted it, and both fans worked normally. After reattaching them, I ran a diagnostic but it still shut down before completion. I checked the BIOS settings to see if that helped, but sometimes it would power down before I could adjust anything. Eventually, I was able to get it running for about five minutes, then it would cut off again. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting everything except the power supply, which is still plugged in. It shows a green power indicator now. I haven't yet unplugged/reconnected the power supply, but I'm open to trying. Since it's under warranty, I'm hoping Dell will handle it, just in case I need further assistance. Thanks!
I received the diagnostic results, which show the CPU fan isn’t spinning while the others are. Now I need to figure out the best course of action.
All connections to the CPU fan port show zero RPM, activating the warning. The AIO included appears to be inaccurate or defective. With the CPU running at 99°C, it’s likely a malfunction. Contact Dell for assistance.
Consider alternative solutions and avoid relying on Dell products for years to come. If stuck, request a CPU fan replacement from Dell. For DIY fixes: if it's water-cooled, swap in a 120mm fan easily. Try disconnecting the CPU fan, powering it up briefly, then turning it off and reconnecting. The pump may need attention if it shows RPM unrelated to speed. Check temperatures over extended use. Fans can be connected elsewhere to test functionality. Listen to the pump for proper operation. Keep components away from handling during testing.
I didn't notice the temperature at the bottom of his photo. It looks like a completely failed pump to me.
It seems the chance of failure for a pump is much higher than for fans. I didn’t pay attention as closely as I should have. You’ve already attempted to reconnect the fans. You might try gently adjusting the wires while running to check if the issue lies with a loose PWM cable... though this seems unlikely given that your system was functioning well for nearly two months. Can you describe how everything is wired? Is the pump linked to a different fan header? Some devices have a single fan header, while others connect fans separately near the CPU. This adds complexity and cost. Standard configurations place pumps on one header and fans on another, making diagnosis easier. If all fans share one header, it’s harder to pinpoint which component failed using speed sensors. But since your fans are spinning and temperatures are at their maximum, it’s probably the pump itself.