Computers & Networking

[tandy]

hi i just got a new computer from eslewhere but i might need to remove the liquid cooling for the cpu and replace it with a regular 70 dollar heatsink..

it's a 3930k cpu

crossfire 7970 gpu's

asus p9x79 mobo

corsair carbide 400r mid tower case

win 7 home premium

silverstone 100w psu

the cpu cooler i would want would be

Thermaltake Frio OCK CPU Cooler

which i think you sell but i can always buy it elsewhere and bring it in

it would also need 2 regular fans put in where the water cooler fans use to be against the top of the case

what i want to know is.. how much would this run me approximately , not including the price of the parts? and much less importantly if possible to say how much time would it take. would leaving it over a weekend be long enough?

thanks in advance

[seekrtz]

Best Buy's Geek Squad would not tackle a project like this and I IMHO are not capable of doing it without majorly screwing something up and charging you for their own mistakes, but I suppose not everyone feels this way.

I recommend that you either do it yourself, consult a very trusted and knowledgeable friend, or call your local PC repair shop and clearly explain to them what you expect before taking it in.

That particular heatsink/fan is not sold at Best Buy and is currently sold out at N3wEgg.  Amaz0n and T1gerD1rect both carry it in stock though.

*It seems that you have already invested quite a substantial amount of money in a custom built computer based on the listed specs alone and I would strongly discourage removing the CPU from the water cooling system that is already in place.

**I would speculate that a PC repair shop would charge well under $100 in labor to do what you are asking, assuming the CPU can easily be removed from the installed water cooling system without effecting the rest of the setup.

[RealGeorgeW Valued Expert]

My store did installs like this on a somewhat regular basis.

Why do you need to replace the water cooling? WCing is far superior to any air cooling I've ever seen.

In any event, by the "book" of $50 per device install, it'd be 150, but that's going by the letter. If you brought it into my store, I'd be more than willing to do it for "1 and a half devices" at $75.

Call your local store to see if they're willing to do it, some will, some won't.

[tandy]

for some reason i can't quite figure out the water cooler just isn't cooling

even with no load the cores sit at 91c and the over all cpu temp on speedfan reads over 110c

the higher i set the fans the warmer it seems to get.

maybe i'm old school but water cooling still gets me a bit antsy anyway. lotta system to lose to a small leak if it ever happens.

thanks for the answers though.

i do appreciate any and all input

[seekrtz]

Do not use that computer anymore, 90+ degrees Celsius will eventually cause physical damage to the CPU and/or shorten its lifespan.

Either remove the water cooling system from the CPU and install a temporary stock heatsink/fan or take it to your nearest trusted PC repair shop and have them install the water cooler correctly and then have them show you how to maintain it in the future.  I would also give the manual a good overview as well as check youtube for any water cooling video guides, especially one that demonstrates the exact same model you are using.

*If that system is pre-overclocked and I assume it probably is, then you should reset the CMOS settings to factory/default. This will decrease the amount of heat greatly.  You can also force the CPU to only operate at 50% in power options once Windows loads to further decrease the tmperature if you feel that you must continue using this system.

**I am also curious if this water cooling system is only attached to the CPU or does it also cool your GPUs and motherboard?

***How old is this system?  (It sounds brand new, 7970s and 3930K, I'm jealous)  If you just got it and the cooling system was never actually installed/functioning correctly from the beginning, then you really need to notify the company who sold you this custom PC and make arrangements to ship it back for repairs at no additional cost to you.  Unless the water cooling unit arrived as a DIY.

[RealGeorgeW Valued Expert]

+100000 for the STOP using it. That's insanely warm, for any CPU.

[tandy]

not using it. it's brand new. already ordered a new heat sink. just can't figure out what is wrong with the cooler unless the fluid is just totally substandard cause otherwise it's all good as far as i can tell.. it's a closed system only cooling the cpu.

[AaronE]

Did you properly apply the thermal compound to the CPU?

These temps don't seem right and a closed system shouldn't be susceptible to things like an air bubble in the pump.

Also, +1 to talk to your local store about if they'd want to perform these installs for you and how much it would run.

I've done several such installs in my store but it's really up to the store if they'd want to undertake it.