i7 CPU, high temperatures?

[BlueMagician]

Got a new i7-920 build, running standard clock, on the Intel stock HSF..

I'm seeing idle (pottering around the desktop) temeratures of 50-60 across the cores, and by the time I tab out of a game under load, I see it drop from the high 70's. I'm not getting any realtime alarms from Asusprobe or anything (yet) but I'm still worried as this seems a little off to me.

I've used a thin spread of AS5, and the HSF seems as secure as that dodgy locking pin arrangement will allow. Should I be worried? Should I be looking at an aftermarket HSF even though I'm not o/c-ing?


Thanks in advance.. :/
S.

[sjbuck]

That sounds pretty high, particularly for a 45nm chip. I've definitely invest in an aftermarket fan (take your pick), you temps should drop dramatically along with the din from the fan being reduced

[kalniel]

Doesn't the intel HSF come with paste pre-applied?

[magneticman]

w/o an overclock, i get idle temps of around 28-30 with an aftermarket cooler. So i'd recommend you get one tbh because despite being 45nm, nehamlem runs really hot under load.

[BlueMagician]

@ Kalniel - I wiped the base of the Intel HSF with an alc-wipe before attaching it, and didn't wipe anything off in the process. I could see copper veins along the base - no paste looking stuff.

What you have got me paranoid about now is that there might have been a protective film or something on it that I didn't bloody remove. I'm sure I'd have smelt melting plastic before now if that were that case, but I might power down the system and remove/reseat just to be 100% sure... :/

Can anyone offer a view on this?

S.

[kalniel]

I would be very surprised if a retail HSF came without pre-applied paste - with core 2 this was in very visible pockets on the HSF though, so I'm sure you would have noticed it.

But it's certainly worth taking up the HSF, double checking it's clear (ditto the IHS on the chip)/clean it. Then dotting a rice grain of AS5 on the chip before re-seating the HSF. Much quicker/cheaper than going for third party coolers which shouldn't be neccessary at all at stock.

[sjbuck]

Look here at 3mins 25 secs........thermal paste comes pre-applied. This is on a 965, but I'd be amazed if the same wasn't true for the 920.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gLFClCmPE

Don't forget to click HD on the YouTube video to see it in full 720p

[BlueMagician]

Thanks to all for the reassurance and advice. As regards the pre-installed paste on the stock cooler - it must have had some that I mistook for veins in the mounting face while I gave it a quick swipe with an alco-pad.

Having removed the cooler again, I saw the factory gunk had mashed with the AS5 I had added myself, and if nothing else, the total was probably too thick doing more harm than good. I recleaned both surfaces, and reapplied a pintack of AS-5. I'm still not overly impressed by the uncertainly of the Intel push-pin system, but it's strong enough to take a fair tug without budging.

Anywho, the system has been on again now for an hour, and as I write this, the temp is hovering at 42 degrees. A good 10 less than it was. The mobo/case temperature is approaching 50, but I dont think anything other than a new case and/or living in Russia will help that.

I'll give it a tonking over the Chrimble period, and if I'm not happy, will add to the thread for further advice on aftermarket gear.


Cheers,
S.

[MaddAussie]

It may take a few days for the AS5 to 'bed' in

[matty-hodgson]

It may take a few days for the AS5 to 'bed' in

even so - you'll only notice 1 or 2 degrees drop from now until about 200 hours of running time.

i'm pretty sure your case temperatures won't help the matter at all though
those 2 GTX280s must be pumping out huge amounts of heat into the case!

even if you do decide to go for an aftermarket cooler, you can pick up decent ones that'll make a significant difference for only £10 - £20

and then you'll even have the option to maybe overclock it slightly

[BlueMagician]

Just a quick update - having run the system for a few days, I gave in and have now bought a new Antec1200 case from Scan, and 6 x NBM-Panaflo 120mm 64cf/m fans from www.dorothybradbury.co.uk. This sucker is ugly as sin, but beautifully quiet considering the job it's doing.

CPU idle temperatures hover around 30c, and after an hour at 100% load running Prime2004 across the cores it's at 59c with the motherboard/case temp at 33c.

Much better. Just gonna hit it hard with some GFX torture now to make sure the flow is good around the XFX's.


Thanks all,
S.