i7 3770 OC 4.1GHz equipped with water cooling, experiencing elevated temperatures
i7 3770 OC 4.1GHz equipped with water cooling, experiencing elevated temperatures
Again, apologies for not clarifying. I have 4 120mm 1800rpm intake fans, two front and two bottom.
I already tightened the water block quiet abit. Should i try even more?
There's also a tiny bit leftover paste from the previous cooler around the sides of the cpu under the safety clamp. Is this possible the issue?
The pumps typically include pre-applied paste, which is quite good—often superior to many aftermarket options. It's unclear why additional paste was added. Did you not adequately clean the CPU before placing the pump block? With pastes, using just a little is usually better than applying too much.
There was no pre-applied paste—it came with a syringe. I thoroughly cleaned the entire CPU surface using isopropyl. However, there was still some residue around the sides near the safety clamp (the metal frame around the socket, as you can see in Google Maximus and you'll understand what I mean), which I couldn't reach. At the time, I didn't think it would be a problem, so I left it there. I plan to remove it again, take off the safety clamp, clean it properly, and get back to you. Maybe this is trapping some heat.
Following that, nothing altered. Throughout the process, I was using the first choice in prime95 for small FFTs, which led to temperatures between 69-71°C. With other settings (large FFTs and blend), I seldom exceeded 60°C. Also, I observed that my BIOS fan control wasn't functioning properly—fans only reached 100% at 70°C instead of the 50°C I intended. Anyone has an idea?
I'm seeing identical outcomes, no overclocking (mobo limited), i7 3770 (non K) at 3.7 all core, running on air Coolermaster Hyper Tx3i with solid airflow. It's not the top cooler, but this CPU is reaching 10°C higher than my previous i5 under the same conditions. Probably these models are known for high temperatures—many hit 70s to mid-70s during sustained use. I'd hope liquid cooling would help more.
Edit: Not every factory thermal paste performs equally or lasts long; you might want to try a different one like Arctic MX-4.
Is there any Windows application that can manage fan speeds? It might bypass BIOS configurations. The PWM connections appear acceptable.
Tolis_GR :
I’m experiencing identical outcomes, no overclocking (mobo limited), i7 3770 (non-K) at 3.7 all-core, air cooling Coolermaster Hyper Tx3i, strong airflow. It’s not the top-tier cooler, but this CPU is reaching 10°C higher than my previous i5 with the same setup. I suspect these models tend to reach very high temperatures as I’ve observed many hitting 70s to mid-70s during sustained use. I’d anticipate improved performance with liquid cooling.
Edit: Not every factory thermal paste is equally effective or stable. Perhaps you might want to experiment with a different paste, such as Arctic MX-4?
Comparing a modest 92mm air cooler to a 240mm CLC is challenging—they tend to run hotter than an i5, but the latter can stay under 60°C during heavy workloads with this CPU. The quality of thermal paste won’t drastically change temperatures when the included cooler is properly installed and functioning well.)
There isn’t a straightforward solution for connecting power to an aio. Corsair’s guidelines recommend placing the aio fans on the sys_fan header (cpu_opt) and the pump on the cpu_fan. This setup enhances security, ensuring that if the pump fails, the cpu_fan header detects 0 rpm and shuts down the system immediately. When a fan malfunctions and it remains on the cpu_fan header, temperatures rise gradually, but the system stays on until the CPU reaches its maximum temperature. Personally, I prefer having the pump connected to the cpu_opt header, along with fans on the cpu_fan, allowing me to manage fan speeds based on CPU temperature. In my experience, that configuration works well, while Corsair might not agree.
Currently, there are five methods available for controlling fan speeds:
1. BIOS settings
2. SpeedFan software
3. Motherboard utilities like MSI Control Center or Asus suite fanXpert
4. Aio-specific software such as CAM or Corsair Link
5. Physical controllers (case-based, automatic, or manual)
Regarding the BIOS not maintaining the 50° setting, did you save the BIOS before rebooting? (Typically F10)
OEM manufacturers often use popular brands like Noctua, Gelid, Phanteks, Corsair, CoolerMaster, and Nzxt. These are generally excellent, sometimes even superior to many aftermarket options such as AS5 (which I dislike), MX-4, or MX-2. My personal favorites include Noctua NT-H1, Gelid GC Extreme, Prolimatech pk-3, and Grizzly Kryonaut. When applied correctly, these pastes can last longer than the lifespan of your PC and rarely need replacement. They also perform best among non-metallic options. IC Diamond is also highly regarded, though I haven’t used it.