Can Heat Pipes Stop Working?

[Wxman77]

I was wondering if it's possible for heatpipes to suddenly stop working? I was wondering because just a few days ago my processor temp was about 32C when idling and up around 54C while gaming (as reported by Corecenter), but a few days ago my temps inexplicably jumped up about 10C.... the only explanation I can think of is that either the heatpipes on my XP-90 heatsink are no longer working, or that my heatsink/thermal paste is no longer making optimal contact with my CPU. My first thought was actually that my CPU fan was dying, but I checked it out and it's still humming along nicely.

 

[HardWarrior]

From what I know of heatpipe technology it seems unlikely that it would just stop working as well as it had been, especially if the tubes hadn't been damaged or bent. It's possible that your HS may have shifted. At any rate, if I were you I'd take the HSF down for a cleaning and repaste job.

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Originally posted by: HardWarrior
From what I know of heatpipe technology it seems unlikely that it would just stop working as well as it had been, especially if the tubes hadn't been damaged or bent. It's possible that your HS may have shifted. At any rate, if I were you I'd take the HSF down for a cleaning and repaste job.

 

[CraigRT]

yeah the heat pipes really can't stop working... they are just there... just hollow tubes, there really is no way they could even stop working.

agree with what has been quoted above

 

[Algere]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
yeah the heat pipes really can't stop working... they are just there... just hollow tubes

With liquid

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Originally posted by: Algere

Originally posted by: CraigRT
yeah the heat pipes really can't stop working... they are just there... just hollow tubes

With liquid

Heatpipes have liquid in them. I guess you learn something new every day.

 

[Wxman77]

I guess I really didn't think it was the heat pipes anyway. Just wanted to be sure really before I redid the thermal paste on the same heatsink.

 

[akira34]

Is the fan blowing or sucking??

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Nobody asked anything about his room temperature values, or whether his intake filter-screens are clogged.

With the XP120 I have on my rig, I know it's time to clean the filters when the CPU temperature is about 2F higher than optimal and my chipset temperature is idling above my AGP temp instead of below it.

It happens about every two weeks or so. I turn off the system, put a vacuum cleaner nozzle on the front grill and CPU fan-screen, and everything returns to "optimal".

 

[Wxman77]

I believe the fan is blowing air down onto the heatsink. My room temperature is about 70F, or 21C. I did have quite alot of dust build up in my case, but I cleaned it and my CPU is still running hot.

 

[akira34]

How long ago did you install the cooler? Are you 100% certain the fan is spinning as fast as it should? Do you have Cool 'n' Quiet enabled on your mobo (in the bios)??

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: akira34
How long ago did you install the cooler? Are you 100% certain the fan is spinning as fast as it should? Do you have Cool 'n' Quiet enabled on your mobo (in the bios)??

Cool and quiet would only affect fans that are plugged into the mobo, correct? Just curious...

-spike

 

[Wxman77]

The current cooler has only been on a litlle over a month. The fan I'm using doesn't support RPM detection so I can't be 100% certian about the fan. Cool in Quiet is enabled in the bios but was not in the operating system. My fan isn't pluged into the Mobo anyhow.

 

[akira34]

I think I see where the problems are...

1. The fan doesn't have the RPM detection support
2. The fan on the processor isn't connected to the mobo

Cool and Quiet has little (to nothing) to do with the OS. Once you set it to be enabled in the bios, that's what controls the processor fan. I believe that the fan needs to be connected to the mobo header FOR the CPU fan in order for it to work.

Either connect the fan on the heatsink to the mobo, or get one that can (if your fan isn't wired to connect). I'm a firm believer that processor fans (HSF) should be connected to the mobo so that everything functions properly. Try that out and post up what happens...

BTW, the cool and quiet aspect of the Athlon64 and mobo's that support it, is made to controll the fan on the processor heatsink. Not allowing the mobo to control that makes enabling it pointless.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: akira34
I think I see where the problems are...

1. The fan doesn't have the RPM detection support
2. The fan on the processor isn't connected to the mobo

Cool and Quiet has little (to nothing) to do with the OS. Once you set it to be enabled in the bios, that's what controls the processor fan. I believe that the fan needs to be connected to the mobo header FOR the CPU fan in order for it to work.

Either connect the fan on the heatsink to the mobo, or get one that can (if your fan isn't wired to connect). I'm a firm believer that processor fans (HSF) should be connected to the mobo so that everything functions properly. Try that out and post up what happens...

BTW, the cool and quiet aspect of the Athlon64 and mobo's that support it, is made to controll the fan on the processor heatsink. Not allowing the mobo to control that makes enabling it pointless.

Thanks for that, I was curious. As for hooking the CPU fan into the mobo, I try to avoid this. I find it much easier to hook it just to a power cable or to a fan controller. That way none of the monitoring programs can go freakish on you and shut the fan down (yes, I had a monitoring utility try and increase my fan speeds until the fan eventually burnt out, had to shut down real fast.)

-spike

 

[Algere]

Originally posted by: Spike

Originally posted by: akira34
I think I see where the problems are...

1. The fan doesn't have the RPM detection support
2. The fan on the processor isn't connected to the mobo

Cool and Quiet has little (to nothing) to do with the OS. Once you set it to be enabled in the bios, that's what controls the processor fan. I believe that the fan needs to be connected to the mobo header FOR the CPU fan in order for it to work.

Either connect the fan on the heatsink to the mobo, or get one that can (if your fan isn't wired to connect). I'm a firm believer that processor fans (HSF) should be connected to the mobo so that everything functions properly. Try that out and post up what happens...

BTW, the cool and quiet aspect of the Athlon64 and mobo's that support it, is made to controll the fan on the processor heatsink. Not allowing the mobo to control that makes enabling it pointless.

Thanks for that, I was curious. As for hooking the CPU fan into the mobo, I try to avoid this. I find it much easier to hook it just to a power cable or to a fan controller. That way none of the monitoring programs can go freakish on you and shut the fan down (yes, I had a monitoring utility try and increase my fan speeds until the fan eventually burnt out, had to shut down real fast.)

-spike

Change/disable monitoring utility