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How To Tell If CPU Cooler Is Working? (Liquid & Fan Cooler)

You have been using your PC almost on a daily basis. There are several high-end tasks that you would be handling on your computer. That can make your PC is set to get strained out and thus get heated up. That is where you would perhaps need to use a proper cooling mechanism on your PC. Let us assume you have a CPU liquid cooler installed with your PC, but how would you know that the CPU cooler is working? How to tell if CPU liquid cooler is working properly on your PC? Let us check out the steps and options to find out more about your CPU liquid cooler performance.


How To Know If Your CPU Is Heating Up Too Much?


The first sign that would let you know if your CPU cooler is working properly or not is to check how hot your system can get. There are a few software tools that can be helpful in letting you find if your CPU is getting too hot.

You can find the temperature through an application or even use a hardware monitor. Most of the devices come with thermal sensors, and they should let you know if your system is heating up too much. These sensors tend to shut down your device when it senses that your system is overheating.

How To Know If Your CPU Is Heating Up Too Much


How to Tell if CPU Liquid Cooler is Working Properly?


The best option to determine whether your Liquid CPU Cooler is working can be through checking if the speed of the fan is as per the specifications. Check the pump RPM and compare it with the standard readings. However, the speed can be checked only if the cable from the pump is connected to the fan header on your CPU or motherboard.

In the case of the normal fan coolers, checking if your CPU cooler is working can be quite easy and simple. In the case of the liquid cooler, checking if the liquid cooler is working fine may not be that easy. You can follow the steps here below.

Check CPU cooling

In case you find that there is no heat source around your device, and you notice a high temperature on your PC even when you are not into a high-end task, you may need to go with the following steps to help you in finding if your liquid cooler is working.

If you find that the CPU temperatures are considerably lower and the temperature does not rise even when you are working on a high end tsk that is likely to increase your CPU temperature, it is evident that the CPU liquid cooler is working fine.

Check the thermal pads

You can also check out if the thermal pad has developed any sort of deterioration and leaking. You can remove some thermal pads and test them. You can press the thermal pads on the CPU and check if the temperature drops.

Check the temperature of the CPU heat sink

Yet another option is to check the temperature of the liquid and CPU heat sink. Compare these readings with the thermal pad. If you find that there is no difference in the temperature drop, you can assume that the thermal pads are safe for use.

Check the coolant

The next option is to test the coolant and find if the substance has any issues. Apply the substance such as soap on the copper tubes and then dry them off. Put some ice cubes on the cleaned areas, or blow air on the pipes. Check how long do they take to get cooled off.

There are several factors that would determine the rate of heat transfer. Some of these factors would include surface area, fluid quality & speed of flow.


How To Check CPU Temp From the BIOS/UEFI?


Keeping track of the CPU temperature would assume a lot of importance and essence. Our BIOS setting should be the best choice to help you find the temperatures rather easily. Learning how to check CPU temperature from your BIOS should not be a tough task.

Here is how you would find the temperatures on your PC using BIOS:

  • You can press the DEL key or F2 repeatedly to enter into the BIOS settings.
  • Move to the PC Health Status or You can do this by means of the arrow keys.
  • You should get the CPU temperature on your main page.

Ensure that the CPU temperature is at the acceptable range. If it is not, you can take an appropriate action to reduce the CPU temperature to the permissible levels.


How To Check if CPU Cooler (Fan Based Cooler) is Properly Working?


What if you do not have a CPU liquid cooler and using a traditional cooler? How to check if the CPU cooler is working fine? You can follow the steps here below:

  • Find the location of the CPU cooler. You may need to check your PC or motherboard box or instruction manual to find the complete information on the location of the CPU cooler.
  • Remove the cover of the computer and access the CPU cooler. This will help you access the pump and other accessories.
  • Clean the CPU cooler if needed. You can clean up the debris, if any, on the fan or any other accessories.
  • Check the cables and other connections.
  • Test the CPU for a few hours. Once you have cleaned up the PC fan or any other accessories, run the PC and test the cooler performance for a few hours.

If nothing is resolved, you would need to get in touch with the computer manufacturer to understand the best options to resolve the problems with your liquid CPU cooler.


A Few FAQs


What are the chances that a liquid cooler leaking?

The CPU liquid cooler has been known for being relatively safer. The possibility that a liquid cooler will leak is fairly minimal. The chances that the liquid can leak can be in the range of 0.5 per cent.

How long will the thermal paste on the liquid coolers last?
The thermal paste on the liquid cooler can last for upto three years. The shelf life of thermal paste is ideally listed on the bottle that the thermal paste comes in.
How often should you replace the thermal paste on the cooler?
It may not be needed to replace the thermal paste not more than once every few years. Of course, you will have to replace the paste if you have removed the cooler for any reason, including cleaning.
How can I know If My CPU Cooler Is Working?
The RPM or the speed of the liquid cooling pump is what would help you determine the temperature of your CPU cooler. Also, check if you have the pump cable is connected properly to the fan. There are several steps that can help you address how to check if pump is working on AIO or other CPU liquid coolers.
How to tell if liquid cooler is broken?
You need to indulge in a routine cooling to ensure that the pump is not broken. The pump RPM can give you a proper idea into the proper connectivity and functionality of your CPU liquid cooler pump.

The Concluding Thoughts

Well, those were some of the options that can prove to be handy enough in how to tell if CPU liquid cooler is working as it should. The steps that we have explained in the above discussion should help you in handling your CPU liquid cooling system more efficiently.

In case you are using a liquid cooler on your CPU, it may be quite difficult to find if it is working fine. Checking the PC temperature should be the only option that would help you understand and find if your device has any issues with your cooling system.

About the author

Timmappa Kamat

Timmappa Kamat is interested in technology and allied subjects and loves sharing the knowledge through the tech-savvy websites as a freelancer. He has been involved in providing content for a host of technology-based sites on day to day topics in the tech arena. Fond of gadgets and gizmos, he loves working with different apps, tools and software and sharing the knowledge with the world at large.

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