Sudden, worrisome H100i Failure

[Tetranitro]

Hi everyone. I'm currently running a system that employs an Intel 3930K CPU cooled by a Corsair H100i cooler. I'm powering the system with a Corsair 850 W PSU, and also using an Asus x79 Sabertooth motherboard.

 

This system has been stable and reliable for a little over a year now. The CPU cooler has performed admirably, and temperatures have been in line with expectations. Nothing of note had gone wrong until last night, so the CPU cooling block seems to be seated correctly, and the connections are all where they need to be.

 

I was recently out of town for about three days. During that time I left my system powered down. When I returned, the system booted immediately into a BIOS error reading "CPU FAN ERROR". The BIOS was not recognizing my CPU at all. A quick check revealed that the fans on the H100i radiator were blowing full speed (usually they aren't!) and that the LED on the H100i cooling block was lit up and bright red.

 

Temperature for the CPU was crossing over into the 90s. I immediately powered down the system. After a moment or two, I powered the system up, and the same thing happened. I started poking around in the BIOS, only to find that according to the menus there, no CPU fan was recognized at all. Almost as soon as I recognized this, a CPU fan appeared, registered 2000 RPM, and temperatures dropped swiftly down to 39 °C.

 

Since then, the cooler has been performing as expected with every boot. However, this spontaneous failure makes me extremely worried.

 

What might've caused this issue, and is it likely something that might transpire again? Is it possible that something formed in the cooling lines, and is blocking the pump, and thus might cause this issue again sometime in the future?

 

Are the H100i units prone to failure over time? Is my computer at risk of this cooler failing when I least expect it? I'm not sure what initiated this error at all, or why it spontaneously fixed itself in the midst of an overheat in the BIOS. I often leave my computer idling while I'm doing other things, and running while I am away at work. I'm afraid that an unexpected H100i failure could occur in my absence and this would fry my CPU beyond repair.

 

As a last note, I checked my UPS logs (I left my UPS running while I was away), and there were no abnormal events in the power system, My computer is plugged into my UPS, so I don't think a surge occurred while I was gone, because the UPS didn't register any fluctuations.

[ThaTylerDude]

I had that same problem with my H80i and it turned out that the H80i pumped died. Luckily I was able to take it back to TigerDirect and exchange it for a new one and I haven't had any problems since. But I had that LED red color too. Not for sure but most likely the pump is dead in my experience. Good luck with your situation, hope my info helped out.

[Speed]

When I returned, the system booted immediately into a BIOS error reading "CPU FAN ERROR". The BIOS was not recognizing my CPU at all.

 

This error indicates that the BIOS wasn't seeing a signal from the tack lead connected to the CPU_FAN header that was greater than zero. I'd say that the CPU itself was recognized.

 

Is it possible that something formed in the cooling lines, and is blocking the pump, and thus might cause this issue again sometime in the future?

 

This sounds similar to what happened to mine. Unsure of the actual situation inside the cooler system, whether it is low fluid level or thickening of the coolant, but mine began spontaneously exhibiting high temps while it was sitting idling, went to sleep and when awakened the fans spun up too high for normal idle operation. No load, cores were at 70°C. Output tube was hot, input tube cool. Tilting the box to purge a bubble, did not produce definitive positive results.

 

In order to keep the workstation functional while I sorted this out, I underclocked it. Idle temps dropped to 40°C, with load temps approaching 70°C and I could continue working with it until a replacement arrived.

 

Are the H100i units prone to failure over time?

 

Everything fails, sooner or later; especially ones having moving parts.

 

I'm afraid that an unexpected H100i failure could occur in my absence and this would fry my CPU beyond repair.

 

Current CPUs and motherboards have thermal protection that limits the load when TJMax is approached and exceeded. This throttles the CPU and eventually will shut it down when the upper threshold is reached, in order to prevent damage. If you have these disabled then, yes, your CPU could be damaged beyond repair. Don't do that.