CPU Heat/Fan issue

[Xenor]

I have just built a new PC with the following specs:

Intel 3rd Generation Core i5-3570K CPU (4 x 3.40GHz, Ivy Bridge, Socket 1155, 6Mb L3 Cache, Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0)
Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H Socket 1155 VGA DVI HDMI 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro rev 2
Crucial 128GB M4 SSD - 2.5" SATA-III - Read 500MB/s Write 175MB/s
Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600Mhz CL9 1.5V
BitFenix Survivor, Black, Mid Tower Case with USB 3.0 with Handle w/o PSU

Also re-using my OCZ 600 watt PSU, my 750gb HDD and my GPU (which currently isn't installed).

I had some problems with shorting yesterday, the PC would switch off as soon as it switched on. I had to take everything apart and re-assemble it. Part of this process involved removing the heat sink from the CPU and re-applying the fourth clamp thing as it hadn't been placed in correctly.

After re-assembling the machine I am relieved to see it boots into BIOS.

The CPU temperature seemed high, in the high 40s. I thought this could be normal until it climbed up to 60. I noticed the CPU fan wasn't spinning so I put on the fan warnings in the BIOS. The temperature was reaching up towards 68c at this point. This was over the course of about 10 minutes. I saved the fan settings and rebooted but immediately the computer started making a constant high pitched sound. Is this a fan warning to tell me that the CPU fan isn't working? Obviously I could see that it wasn't but I'm wondering what the sound was.

I immediately switched the computer off.

So where have I gone wrong here? The CPU fan is plugged into the CPU fan slot on the motherboard. Why won't it spin even when the temperature gets so high? The fan is set to auto in the BIOS. The fan spins for about a second when the computer was turned on. I haven't turned it on again since.

How high can a CPU temperature go before it breaks? I reckon I didn't let it get too hot there before switching it off.

[Phage]

The thermal limit on those chips is very high. >100C I think. I'd be turning off at 80C

[Xenor]

Hmm well I investigated more. That high pitched sound is indeed the warning signal. The manual says that the sound comes on when the fan isn't connected or if it has failed.

I was also getting the warning signal on system fan 1, but I discovered that was due to putting the 3 pin plug into a 4 pin connector wrong. (hadn't realised there was 4 pins and placed it in the right 3.)

System fan 2 doesn't exist so warning signal is expected.

System fan 3 works fine. Couldn't place this into fan 2 due to the cable length but I figure that's not an issue.

The CPU fan is a 4 pin plug for a 4 pin hole, so I don't possibly see how else I could connect this thing. I'd hate to force it in the other way around.

What I don't get is the CPU fan works for a few seconds before stopping. Almost like something is stopping it. But if the BIOS says it isn't connected/failed then I must have done something wrong. When I switch the PC off and then back on, it doesn't run for a few seconds before stopping. It appears the PC has to be off for a certain amount of time before it reaches this point.

Only other option I guess is to try the stock cooler? Doing that would probably involve taking the whole system apart again to get the motherboard out so I only fancy doing that as a last resort.

I mean it's possible by Arctic cooler is broke, it was a free gift with my motherboard. But the fact the fan is capable of spinning suggests not.

Edit: Problem solved

Turns out I was doing nothing wrong, but it was a problem with the way the product was shipped.

I discovered a post on another forum where someone else had the same issue. Turns out the fan wasn't clipped on to the motor and required pushing in...
The system detected it straight away and it spins fine after fixing that. Temperature is around 41c after a few minutes which is good.

[Zak33]

Glad you sussed that because it would have been hard to diagnose

[deejayburnout]

Now i am a AMD guy but isn't 41deg for idle temp a bit high, especially with a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro rev 2

[cameronlite]

Now i am a AMD guy but isn't 41deg for idle temp a bit high, especially with a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro rev 2

Yes, it probably needs re-seating. Too much paste perhaps?

[ladcrooks]

Some people think that there should be an even amount of paste all over the chip! The idea of the paste is to fill in the indentations that we cant see clearly with the human eye. I think metal to metal would be the best thermal path! thats why some people lap their CPU - ie like a professional polish.

taken from another site - lapping

I lapped mine and it made quite a difference, however I believe my CPU was originally over-convexed. I realise now I should have simply exchanged the CPU (my temps were into the 80s so you know something was wrong) but I decided to lap it. I did a good job of it and temps dropped down to below 60C at the same clock. The thing is, it will void all warranties you might have for one. Secondly it can potentially damage the CPU if you do it wrong or maybe send a static spart through the pads on the bottom or you might just get finger oil on them and it won't have proper contact when you reinstall it.

Just another thought - my CPU alarm comes on for a little while - the colder it is the longer it takes to kick in.( CPU FAN) its the difference between using voltage and auto and pwm - cpu fan smart mode - a downside with my motherboard using a NOCTUA SE1366 NH-U12P heat sink! But it don't last long, the alarm that is!

[deejayburnout]

Only a brave man laps his CPU.

[csgohan4]

what's lapping? do you lap the TIM ?

[rhossydd]

I'm running an i73770k with an Arctic cooler and temperatures around 40 are the minimum I see.

csgohan4-- "lapping" is when you use a fine abrasive to smooth off the top of the CPU chip and heat sink to provide an exceptionally flat smooth surface. In theory it ought to improve heat transmission between CPU and heat sink.
As deejayburnout says it's not for the faint hearted as it risks damaging the CPU. Unless you're really over clocking a LOT it shouldn't really be necessary.