Anonymized repair experience
Case examples are based on real repair work and are intentionally stripped of customer-identifying information. Some examples predate the VA Computer Repair brand.
The diagnostic clues
- Very high CPU temperature in BIOS
- CPU fan speed may be present while AIO pump speed is missing
- Temperature rises rapidly after power-on
- Radiator fans spinning does not prove the pump is running
An anonymized repair example
- An ASUS-based system showed the CPU around 88°C in BIOS, CPU_FAN around 2,190 RPM and AIO_PUMP as N/A. The pump/fan connection had been installed incorrectly and was corrected.
- This is a good example of why seeing spinning fans is not enough. The pump itself needs power and a valid connection.
What to verify
- Pump power connector and SATA/Molex power if the cooler uses it
- Correct motherboard AIO_PUMP or CPU_FAN header based on the cooler design
- BIOS RPM reading
- Whether tubes and radiator begin warming in a way consistent with coolant flow
- CPU temperature after correction before running any stress test
Do not keep stress testing an overheating CPU
- If BIOS temperature is already extreme, heavy testing can make the situation worse. Restore cooler operation first, then validate temperatures under a controlled load.
Bottom line
High BIOS temperature plus a missing pump reading is a cooling-system problem until proven otherwise. Confirm pump power and connection before doing anything intensive.