I've built a PC for my girlfriend that has been running smoothly for about four years. However, just a couple of days ago, the CPU (3700x) began overheating without any obvious cause. When I checked the BIOS, I noticed the CPU temperature skyrocketing from around 35 degrees to 80 degrees within minutes. The CPU fan seems to be working normally, and the AIO cooler should be functioning, so it doesn't appear that anything has come unplugged. I'm wondering if anyone has ideas on what might be causing this? My only guess is that I might need to remount the AIO cooler, but it seems strange for it to suddenly have an issue like this. My girlfriend doesn't recall bumping or moving the computer, but it did get moved recently to tidy up some USB cables.
5 Answers
This is a classic sign of a dead pump or maybe just an air bubble stuck in the system. Try shaking the PC a bit to see if it helps. If not, the pump is likely toast. You can find a $35 air cooler that performs just as well as a 240mm AIO.
Have you checked if you can feel the coolant flowing through the AIO tubes? If the pump isn't working or is clogged, that could definitely cause overheating.
That's a good point. If the BIOS shows the AIO is functional, it might just be malfunctioning. Definitely feel the tubes!
Any component can just stop working unexpectedly, especially with AIO coolers since they have more potential failure points than standard air coolers. I recommend trying a different cooler to test it out; you can grab a decent one like the Peerless Assassin from Amazon for around $35.
If that's the case, a cheaper air cooler could be a good idea. It might be more reliable than the AIO!
Yeah, the Peerless Assassin is a solid choice for a budget cooler!
When was the last time you replaced the thermal paste or cleaned out the dust? It’s worth checking if there’s any dust buildup, especially if it hasn't been cleaned in a while.
The dust filters have been cleaned recently, and while I don't think she's cleaned the inside lately, it looks pretty clean overall. Plus, it seems odd for dust to cause this issue suddenly.
It sounds to me like you might have a malfunctioning pump. I'd just go ahead and get a new cooler. Both the Phantom Spirit and Peerless Assassin are excellent choices.
Totally agree! It sounds like the pump might be dead. It's worth checking for sure.