[Aysyr]

Hey guys, I'm not that technically savvy with computer hardware and this is my first time with liquid cooling.

I've had a desktop from IBuyPower for almost a year now (parts warranty ends literally in a few days). Anyways, it started turning off a few minutes after turning it on all of a sudden about a week or two ago and all the fans and what not were working. Called their support number and the guy told me to check the temp. in BIOS and yup, my CPU was overheating. He told me it was probably the cooling system installed, and when I went to feel the tubes running from the fan to the CPU they were pretty hot.

So my question is, is there anything I can do to get it working again before sending it off to get it replaced, or has it just reached an early end? Thanks for any help

[rainman33]

What exact model is the computer? It would help us to look up and see exactly what kind of cooling system you have (specs) in order to help you properly. In other words, whether the pump is seperate or inside a reservoir where it cannot be replaced. I do think maybe the pump went bad because even if it was the fans, it would still take a while to shut down if it ever would shut down because it is constantly circulating water.It could be a simple fix but ya gotta let us know which exact model.

[Aysyr]

Hey rainman, I just checked both the item checklist of its components as well as the cooler itself and couldn't find a name. I went online and checked it out and it seems it's IBuyPower's generic brand, BUT I read it was OEM'd by AVC and similar to the AVC Hercules system.

[GTXJackBauer]

Originally Posted by frederick213

Hey guys, I'm not that technically savvy with computer hardware and this is my first time with liquid cooling.

I've had a desktop from IBuyPower for almost a year now (parts warranty ends literally in a few days). Anyways, it started turning off a few minutes after turning it on all of a sudden about a week or two ago and all the fans and what not were working. Called their support number and the guy told me to check the temp. in BIOS and yup, my CPU was overheating. He told me it was probably the cooling system installed, and when I went to feel the tubes running from the fan to the CPU they were pretty hot.

So my question is, is there anything I can do to get it working again before sending it off to get it replaced, or has it just reached an early end? Thanks for any help

I would not mess with it and let the company repair it because if anything gets tampered with, they can turn around blame you and say you caused the problem and theres goes the warranty with a few days left of it. I would ask them what the issue was once repaired. To me it sounds like the pump went bad and the liquid wasn't being moved therefore causing that much heat in the line and allowing the CPU to overheat. You're lucky this happened now and not later cause its possible of a leak happening knowing your warranty was up. Than all hell could have broken loose.

[rainman33]

I agree with GTXJackBauer, if you can still send it back under warranty, then go for it but it sounded to me like it was too late by the time it got there. See what they say but in the meantime I looked up something similar through ibuypower and they seem to use the same cooler on most systems. It is not that complicated to change yourself "if" the warranty is up. I would do it anyway but I watercool everything I have even my laptop and xbox so I have a pretty good understanding of how to do it. You can to, it is not all that hard with your particular set up. Here are a couple coolers similar to yours below:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181015

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181019

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835209049

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14...tml?tl=g30c321

Any one of these is a good replacement for yours. Also have tutorials that thoroughly explain installation.If you decide not to send it back, or can't send it back bc the warranty is up and want to tackle this on your own I will do my best to walk you through it and give/get you tutorials and breakdowns to show installation.I absolutely LOVE to water cool! I would water cool my cell phone if I could! Yeah i'm a little ! By no means am I an expert like some on this site, but I know I can help with this.Let me know sir and we will begin the journey! Also, bit of advise, read all the stickies under watercooling FIRST including http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=674257. Enjoy

[Aysyr]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'll go and call them back tomorrow and see to the warranty stuff. The guy I talked to today said since it wasn't shipped til Feb. 28 of last year that the warranty is good til the same date this year, so hopefully the representative I talk to tomorrow doesn't contradict what he said. Also, with any luck I hope they let me send it just the cooler since I now know that's the problem so I don't have to spend loads shipping my whole desktop lol.

And thanks for all the suggestions rainman! I'll definitely look into those should I have issues with the warranty. It does seem pretty straightforward from what I've read before but I'll ask you for any tips and what not since you're so enthusiastic about it haha. Hardest part is probably distributing the paste evenly right?

Btw your avatar in combination with your last smiley reminds me of Spongebob's goofy goober movie! lmao good stuff

[rainman33]

HA HA thanks man! Yeah the paste would honestly be the hardest but you'll get it my friend! Hey, good luck and keep us informed about how you make out! rock on man!

[Aysyr]

Well the guy I talked to was really nice about everything and gave me the RMA number I needed to ship back to part, which I can send by itself rather than the whole desktop. Anyways, shipping it out tomorrow and they're gonna send me a replacement cooling system so yea, gotta order myself some thermal paste it looks like lol.

[rainman33]

Good deal man, at least you don't have to buy a new cooling system, and you don't have to send back the whole damn case!!lol A good paste is phobia he grease, the best is indigo extreme but it is pricey but probably the most easy to apply since it comes ready to place down and tighten up your water block and also gives the best thermal conductivity according to skinnee labs which is VERY reputable. Here you go, this is a complete list of most thermal pastes and there comparisons to each other. Take your pick from here sir and check out a few application blogs or tutorials. Not that hard.

http://skinneelabs.com/2011-tim-results/2/

Keep in mind, the center of the cpu is where most of the heat is expelled. Not saying that the rest shouldn't be covered, cause it should, but the center gives off the most heat. From what I understand no cpu is perfectly flat neither is your block that's why they suggest a pea size dead center, set the block, and do a burn in with intel burn or similar programs. I personally either do 1 of 2, I spread evenly like paper thin, or I do a straight line down the center about 2mm from top to 2 mm from bottom. one last thing, if you use a metallic based paste MAKE SURE it does not seep out of the sides by putting too much or else it can short out nearby components. Keep rockin man! Let me know.

[Aysyr]

Awesome, I'll be sure to pick one from there haha. A few questions:

What do you use to spread the paste? Anything that works?
How far to the edges should I spread it so it doesn't seep when it gets pressed?
And any tips on screwing in the unit into the motherboard without messing up the paste? When I tried taking it off and putting it back on when I was taking a look at it, it was hard because all the screws have springs and its hard to hold it in place while pushing in the screws without pressing too hard against the motherboard.

Thanks for all the help man

[GTXJackBauer]

Originally Posted by rainman33

Good deal man, at least you don't have to buy a new cooling system, and you don't have to send back the whole damn case!!lol A good paste is phobia he grease, the best is indigo extreme but it is pricey but probably the most easy to apply since it comes ready to place down and tighten up your water block and also gives the best thermal conductivity according to skinnee labs which is VERY reputable. Here you go, this is a complete list of most thermal pastes and there comparisons to each other. Take your pick from here sir and check out a few application blogs or tutorials. Not that hard.

http://skinneelabs.com/2011-tim-results/2/

Keep in mind, the center of the cpu is where most of the heat is expelled. Not saying that the rest shouldn't be covered, cause it should, but the center gives off the most heat. From what I understand no cpu is perfectly flat neither is your block that's why they suggest a pea size dead center, set the block, and do a burn in with intel burn or similar programs. I personally either do 1 of 2, I spread evenly like paper thin, or I do a straight line down the center about 2mm from top to 2 mm from bottom. one last thing, if you use a metallic based paste MAKE SURE it does not seep out of the sides by putting too much or else it can short out nearby components. Keep rockin man! Let me know.

Thanks for the link Rainman! I myself use MX-4 but might look into indigo even though you're only able to use it twice. I wonder if you just place that piece (indigo xtreme) that looks like the plastic housing on the cpu and the edges have the paste where it will spread on its own than place the cooler over? weird, kinda boggled lol If someone has used it and can explain it all that would be great and I might purchase it myself for my LC setup soon.

[rainman33]

Originally Posted by GTXJackBauer

Thanks for the link Rainman! I myself use MX-4 but might look into indigo even though you're only able to use it twice. I wonder if you just place that piece (indigo xtreme) that looks like the plastic housing on the cpu and the edges have the paste where it will spread on its own than place the cooler over? weird, kinda boggled lol If someone has used it and can explain it all that would be great and I might purchase it myself for my LC setup soon.

It gets set down on the cpu and then the the heat from the cpu and pressure spread it itself with almost 0 cure time.Pretty much ready to go without having high temps until it cures.Awesome stuff. But yes, maybe someone who knows everything about it will chime in and give us all a little more info!

[rainman33]

Originally Posted by frederick213

Awesome, I'll be sure to pick one from there haha. A few questions:

What do you use to spread the paste? Anything that works?
How far to the edges should I spread it so it doesn't seep when it gets pressed?
And any tips on screwing in the unit into the motherboard without messing up the paste? When I tried taking it off and putting it back on when I was taking a look at it, it was hard because all the screws have springs and its hard to hold it in place while pushing in the screws without pressing too hard against the motherboard.

Thanks for all the help man

Phobia he comes with a spreader or you can use a credit card to get a paper thin spread or simply do the line down the middle or pea size drop dead center. Some pastes are thicker than others therefor a little harder to spread but don't worry, heat will disperse most of it just don't go more than a pea size and it won't go over the edges.Some people I have heard use a rubber glove and spread it with circular motions from the center out until about 2mm from the edges and heat disperses the rest upon cure time.
As far as pressure on the mobo, if you can't easily take out the mobo and install the block while the mobo is on a rubber mod mat or don't have an opening on the mobo tray in the case to access the mounting plate from the back, the best way IN MY OPINION is to try to line up the screws to their mounting holes the best you can then press somewhat firmly on the center of the block with on hand and push in or tighten the screws with the other hand trying not to flex the mobo too much since flex does damage.You pretty much understand, in the fact that it can be tough to reapply, thats why the best way is to take out the mobo and do it on a rubber mat or where you can have one hand behing the mobo while applying with the other limiting stress or flexing to the mobo. As far as any other ideas, I am out! LOL!
Keep in mind these things while reapplying:
1.paste should not reach but up to 2mm from all edges bc of pressure when reapplying the block and when it wiggles around while trying to fasten it.
2. pea size dead center does the trick.
3. also 1 straight line down the center 2mm from top to 2mm from bottom.
4. try to hold block in the center while fastening with the other hand if the mobo can't easily be removed with understanding of how to put it back.
5. paper thin or less when spread manually is just fine again i am repeating myself but 2mm from all edges when using metallic based tim such as artic silver 5.
Feel free to ask any more questions and definitely let me know how you are making out! Later bro!