URGENT! CPU Temp too high???????

[ripperuk]

gonzo m8, but as aidanjt says its very hot...btw aidanjt, how do you manage to keep your pc so cool then?

[aidanjt]

@ripperuk:
An Antec 900 case, I have the top 'tunnel' module pointing directly at the Scythe Infinity with the bottom module moved up a notch so it's blowing cool air over the GPU air intake, so I've essentially chambered the airflow without a physical barrier, and I spent 2 hours tidying the cables. Of course the Scythe makes it impossible to mount a side fan, although with the clean airflow it isn't needed. I'll be taking photos of my handywork later, I'll post them if you're interested.

[ripperuk]

that'd be great mate, please go ahead and post...but it still doesn't explain why your CPU temps are so low.

[Clunk]

that'd be great mate, please go ahead and post...but it still doesn't explain why your CPU temps are so low.

What temps are you getting if you manually set the cpu voltage to 1.3v and set fsb to 266?

Under load, does your heatsink get hot to touch?

[ripperuk]

What temps are you getting if you manually set the cpu voltage to 1.3v and set fsb to 266?

Under load, does your heatsink get hot to touch?

Okay I set the cpu vcore to 1.3000v, and fsb to 266. The temp is about the same and the HSF never gets hot. I can touch the base of the zalman with no problems at all, even though the CPU is at 68C.

Note one thing though, in the screenshot below, that the vcore in coretemp shows as 1.325v and speedfan shows it as 1.22v???? why?


Lastly, why is the HSF so cool for? its definately touching the CPU, as anymore force in screwing the FAN, will most likely break the mobo.

[Clunk]

A few things spring to mind here;

Either the cpu isnt making good contact (you disproved that with the thermal paste test).

Or,

You have a faulty temp sensor, in which case, theres not a lot you can do, especially as they wont swap your board.

Or,

The IHS on the CPU isnt making good contact inside.

Or,


Try it with half the amount of paste, just a dot in the centre.

Or,


Turn the central heating down.

[ripperuk]

LOL, okay mate, i'll turn the central heating down. But tomorrow i'm gonna give it one last try before giving up and leaving it on standard speed. This is what i plan to do:-

1. Clean the Thermal Paste off the CPU and HSF, using the AKASA TIM CLEANER

2. Put only a small blob of thermal paste in the centre of the heatspreader

3. Not sure about this step, but shall i place the HSF on top of the blob and turn/twist it to help the paste spread or just place it on top?

Will let you know the outcome eithier way.

[Clunk]

You dont need to twist it a lot, just a mm or two while pressing gently.

How sure are you that all 4 of the heatsink clips are fully compressed?

Ive found that on all but 1 of the stock intel coolers, and a Thermalright cooler that I had, all had one clip that was hard to get in properly, and if that was the final clip to go in, no way would it go in properly.

It may be obvious to you already, but heres how I do it.

Lie the PC down flat so you can apply plenty of pressure.

Grab the cooler and turn each of the clips fully anticlockwise.

Lower the cooler onto the pre pasted cpu.

Make sure the clips are lined up.

Push one of the clips in, go for the most awkward first, dont be shy, push it until you hear a sharp snap, then turn the top of the clip clockwise as far as itll go.

Do the same on the opposite corner, if needed, get a medium sized flat bladed screwdriver and use that to press and then turn.

Same again on the next one.

The last one is always very tight, if it isnt, one of the other clips isnt in properly. Press down very firmly, and again, use the screwdriver tu turn the clip clockwise to lock it.

Grab the heatsink, gently pull it to make sure its all clipped in properly.

Jobs a good un

[acrobat]

@ acrobat - I don't think thats too much mate as it was half the amount of a rice grain.

Yeah it didn't look like much in the blob. I was just surprised to see it spread all over the entire CPU. I think it would be best if its that thin, but only in the very centre. And I reckon just putting the heatsink straight onto the blob (and twisting a couple of millimetres) would be worth a try.

that'd be great mate, please go ahead and post...but it still doesn't explain why your CPU temps are so low.

His case might help. Thats a really great case. I reckon you will get good temps though when you do the paste again. If not, its still fixable.

How sure are you that all 4 of the heatsink clips are fully compressed?

Ive found that on all but 1 of the stock intel coolers, and a Thermalright cooler that I had, all had one clip that was hard to get in properly, and if that was the final clip to go in, no way would it go in properly.

This is definitely worth checking too. I found it to be a bloody nightmare Infact, all 4 corners can even LOOK like they are in. Even if you get right down close to them and look - there is no gap. And then you press them all really hard, and one of them clips in a bit further.. That bit further can make a massive difference to the temps.

Lie the PC down flat so you can apply plenty of pressure.

Grab the cooler and turn each of the clips fully anticlockwise.

Lower the cooler onto the pre pasted cpu.

Make sure the clips are lined up.

Push one of the clips in, go for the most awkward first, dont be shy, push it until you hear a sharp snap, then turn the top of the clip clockwise as far as itll go.

Do the same on the opposite corner, if needed, get a medium sized flat bladed screwdriver and use that to press and then turn.

Same again on the next one.

The last one is always very tight, if it isnt, one of the other clips isnt in properly. Press down very firmly, and again, use the screwdriver tu turn the clip clockwise to lock it.

Grab the heatsink, gently pull it to make sure its all clipped in properly.

Jobs a good un

Aye thats the way to do it. Its also worth taking the entire motherboard out of the case unless your Heatsink can screw into the motherboard/holder.

My heatsink just clips in, so its well worth having the whole motherboard out, because that way, you can look at the under side of the board to check that all the 4 clips are all the way through.

I was amazed at how much pressure you have to put into pushing those little buggers in I had to put almost all my weight and strength into it... Nearly broke my thumb I was paranoid about breaking the motherboard with all that pressure, and then it got so much.. I was paranoid about breaking my table :O

It was a lot of force to get all 4 corners in all the way.

But if you have that sorted already, then its probably just the thermal paste. I've done my paste about 7 times, and each time I had different temps. It can make a big difference. One time I was convinced I had done a sweet job, and I powered up and my temps where crap. I did it again in a rush before I went to bed, and was convinced it was going to be horrible, and I powered up and my temps where lower than they had ever been... Its an odd one.

[ripperuk]

Guys guys guys...your totally mixed up....I don't have a stock cooler....i have a Zalman CNPS9500, which has to be installed using a backplate. A clip is then screwed onto the the backplate and then the Zalman HSF is screwed down using a special clip and two screws. Therefore using this method, I'm guaranteed that the HSF is sitting down perfectly.

[acrobat]

Thats ok. I just wasn't sure if that Zalman clips in or screws in. But no matter. Reapplying the thermal paste is still the way to go.

[Clunk]

In that case then...

Do you know anyone that has a c2d sysytem that you can try your cpu in? I have a feeling that the IHS isnt making proper contact with the core inside. If thats the case, you could RMA the chip and get a new one

Also, just for a few hours, turn off your heating, open all the windows and then try it, tell us what room temp you have, and what idle/load temps you have.

[ripperuk]

well, well, well...

Ok here's what i did today:-

1. Took off the HSF and cleaned the heat spreader + hsf base, using AKASA TIM cleaner...here's what it looked like after cleaning:




2. Next I followed Arctic Silver's website tutorial for the core2duo and injected a long line of AS5 along the centre of the heat spreader:



3. Next I slowly placed the Zalman HSF on top of the CPU and turned it a few degrees clockwise/anticlockwise to help take out any air bubbles.




***Note that the Zalman is not a CLIP-ON, but its a SCREW-ON type of HSF, therefore the chances of it not touching the heat spreader are slim:



4. The HSF is now screwed down tightly, so it presses firmly against the heat spreader:



5. Is that cool enough for it yet? Note that the room temperature was fairly cool, with no central heating on and the window being open. Also the pc case has not been closed yet:


If this is still not good enough, then I'm well and truly screwed as I give up and will stick with my standard speed.

[Harkin]

Looks like its sorted I dont have a C2D so cant really say whether its still not right or whateva, but it does seem aheluva lot cooler

[arbitor]

its fine.

[acrobat]

Is that with it overclocked? If so you nailed it big time!

And I'll be patting myself on the back for being convinced about the stupid thermal paste. I seriously put it on mine about 7 times and each time had different temps Its only a matter of time until its really good. Looks like you got it really good that time. Thats an interesting way of putting the paste on by the way. I like it. I'm gunna try that with mine next time.

p.s. Id be happy with those temps even with a chip at stock speeds.

Now you just gotta check that it doesn't go up too much with the sides on. It probably won't go up too much, but if it does, you know its just internal heat. And thats easily sorted by tying cables together and stuff. And if all else fails, getting other case fans. But judging by those temps, you probably wont need to.

What does it go up to at full load by the way?