Post-cleaning performance remains elevated due to high CPU temperatures.
Post-cleaning performance remains elevated due to high CPU temperatures.
I've been using my 9900KF with a BeQuiet! Silent Loop 2 360mm for more than a year now. It performed flawlessly. The CPU consistently idled between 25° and 35°. I never exceeded 75° under any load. Two days ago, after cleaning the AIO and applying fresh thermal paste, the CPU now idles between 40° and 60°, rising to 80° and dropping again every few minutes. It never drops below 40°C. During stress tests it immediately reaches 100° and throttles. The system hasn't crashed or shut down (though that's not confirmed yet). My troubleshooting steps: - Checked the CPU mount—re-seated it three times, paste looks even. Probably not the issue. - Examined the pump—BIOS and AIDA64 show steady 3000rpm. Previously around 2800, but now it seems normal. I feel more flow when I gently press on the tubes, though the OUT tube feels hotter than the IN. Likely just normal operation. - Considered air bubbles or evaporation over time. The AIO has a refill port and came with a bottle; I topped it up. I also tried running the pump while moving the case and shaking it, tilting the PC at various angles. Currently, I'm doing what seems like the last resort: running the pump at maximum speed for a few hours to see if bubbles rise naturally. The pump made a bubbling sound after all the movement, but stopped afterward. I’m still puzzled—everything seems fine, yet CPU temps don’t drop. Specs: CPU i9 9900KF, cooler BeQuiet! Silent Loop 2 360mm (rad always on top), 16GB RAM, 2666Mhz, T-Force Vulcan Z MoBo, MSI MPG Z380, AC GPU MSI 3080 Gaming, PSU Cooler Master 850w 80+ Gold, case Corsair 5000x. Thanks for the help! (First time posting, sorry if it's not the right forum)
Welcome to the forums! The troubleshooting guide looks solid. I think the higher speed was increased slightly to handle the increased temperatures. It’s likely there might still be air in the system; running the pump at 90% for a few days should clear it out. There’s also a chance a bent pin in your socket could be the issue, though that seems unlikely. I assume you’re securing the cold block according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If it’s functioning well, maybe it’s just a coincidence and you can let it run normally.
My top guess is that it's more than just a slight issue—it performs strongly under any stress test or heavier game. The block came with brackets as shown on BQ, and I haven’t changed anything since purchase. I kept the CPU in its original socket because removing it would be surprising, but I’ll verify later if the problem isn’t due to trapped air or just pump performance. Thanks for your time and welcome! Edited November 15, 2023 by Eezy
This often indicates an issue with the pump, and watercooling loops usually maintain consistent coolant temperature across the entire loop. You might notice a slight discrepancy—perhaps just half a degree—right after the CPU or radiator, but it shouldn’t be noticeable physically. The cooler comes with a three-year warranty; check if you can initiate an RMA process.
I notice a clear variation in temperature and flow between the tubes. Since the pump appears to be functioning, I assumed it might not be the problem. I’ll reach out to BeQuiet to request a return or exchange, but I’m unlikely to get a positive response given my location in LATAM. Appreciate your help!