Hot VRM on Sabertooth X79

[basserdan]

Anybody running an sb-e (x79, 3930k, 3960k) with vrm under water? I have a Sabertooth x79 and a 3930k with an EK waterblock over my mosfets. It's clocked at 4.6 with offset v running ~ 1.40v with an LLC of (Asus) "medium" setting. Within about 5 - 7 mins. I get an "80c" vcore warning from AI Suite. This mosfet block is on a loop with my cpu (load temps ~ 67-71c) and 2 x RX240 (XSPC) and low speed fans. I think cooling is sufficient or, it should be.

Anyone with similar circumstances? Also, aren't these mosfets supposed to operate up to 130- 140c? Is 80c even a reason for concern?

What about the fets on the backside of the mobo? I assume they get just as hot as the fronts. They only have a thin piece of aluminum over them with no air movement at all.

[basserdan]

Ok, some tweaking and I could lower LLC to regular. Offset v now at 1.37v. Vcore temps lower but still high-ish. Any comments on my questions above?

*Funny, with only offset mode and offset v set to auto, voltage actually ran lower with LLC set to medium than when set to regular, huh.

[westomatic]

if its a vcore warning from aisuite then im guessing your 67-71 is from another program? theres a post somewhere about multiple temp reading programs throwing off ai suite

[BeepBeep2]

Core voltage warning? Or a temp warning?

[sin0822]

80C is normal. Good even.

[basserdan]

if its a vcore warning from aisuite then im guessing your 67-71 is from another program? theres a post somewhere about multiple temp reading programs throwing off ai suite

You are correct, AISuite doesn't seem to show individual core temps. I have aida64 (trial) and realtemp gt. I'll see what removing them does.

Core voltage warning? Or a temp warning?

It's a temp for the vrm that aisuite calls "vcore temp". A little gadget-like widget thing comes out during stress runs to warn me about high temps.

80C is normal. Good even.

Do you know what the acceptable range should be for these modules (even an educated guesstimate)?


Thanks everybody, for your help.

[Leeghoofd]

isn't 80°C quite high for watercooled mosfets ? I get around 88-91° on normal air case flow (CPU cooled by H100)

[s4pphire]

80 on water is high, no doubt, but given the 70C CPU temps it would make sense. High ambient temps might make it appear worse too.

Could be worth trying different fans?

[basserdan]

isn't 80°C quite high for watercooled mosfets ? I get around 88-91° on normal air case flow (CPU cooled by H100)

That's what I was thinking! Actually, I knew it was really pretty damn hot to be under water. SB-E employs a rather cramped bank of mosfets for the extra cores and are pretty hot running. X79 is supposed to use a higher tolerance mosfet to compensate, I think.

However, it would seem the benefits of water only apply to half of the mosfets. The fets on the backside of the mobo are cooled just like any other - a thin strip of aluminum with no airflow = hot.

[Erklat]

That's what I was thinking! Actually, I knew it was really pretty damn hot to be under water. SB-E employs a rather cramped bank of mosfets for the extra cores and are pretty hot running. X79 is supposed to use a higher tolerance mosfet to compensate, I think.

However, it would seem the benefits of water only apply to half of the mosfets. The fets on the backside of the mobo are cooled just like any other - a thin strip of aluminum with no airflow = hot.

I had similar issue with my board in sig, when I was on air it was 90+ when priming. But when I installed fullcover block temps fell to ~45° under similar conditions.
Try touching the backplate. When I had that issue that part of the motherboard was scorching hawt so I could actually burn myself touching it.
If it is tolerable I'd say probably software is having some quirks.