Author Topic: New build heat problem (Read 449 times)

Simaril · « **on:** April 29, 2007, 04:12:36 PM »

Just finished putting a system together for my son, and have encountered a difficult heat problem.

Key elements of system are Asus P5W DH deluxe MoBo, Conroe 6400 processor, 2 GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 RAM, HIS Radeon X1950PRO 512MB, RAIDMAX RX-9 SE ATX case, Thermaltake 550W PS.

At first build, distressed to find that the vid card fan vented to the case instead of outside -- and that the case was poorly set up, with the hard drive cage oriented so there was a solid surface facing intake fan at case front.

Core problem is this: the processor temp is matching the ambient case temperature, and both are running as high as the mid to upper 40's C. With some component arrangements, we've even seen the processor temp run higher than the MoBo temp.

We've tried a bit of everything -- we've moved the memory and vid card as far as possible from processor, we've replaced the rear fan to improve the CFM, we've optimized cabling rather nicely. When we run the machine now, we're doing it with the case side open and with an external fan blowing in...and we get barely adequate 37C temps for both the MoBo and the CPU (as measured by ASUS' temp probes.)

I was very careful with the CPU/CPU cooling setup, but did not change the standard Intel heat transfer medium to, say, Artic silver. I'm most suspicious that the problem is due to faulty heat transfer at the CPU/heatsink interface, but before I mess around any more I thought I'd ask for some suggestions here.

So any other thoughts?

SKurj · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2007, 04:36:51 PM »

Is it actually causing you rpoblems? trying to maintain 37 deg C is a losing battle... CPU's these days run much hotter than the old days.

I monitor my GPU temps with ATT (1950pro) and in some games it will run as high as 60 deg C

Never have monitored my current cpu temps (E6600), but anywhere between 40 and 50 you are fine, the cpu in all the systems I have ever built ran hotter than ambient.

Krusty · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2007, 05:05:29 PM »

Heh, my Ge7600GT idles at 58! Can't imagine 37!

For the CPU I'm idling at 38 right now, so that's easily attained.

Well... All I can suggest is get creative, maybe... I've done some interesting things to my case, because it's not the best. I took off the Pentium duct and put an 80mm between the case door and the duct (supercharger, anybody??). I have a little vent lower by my PCI slots (too low to help the vid card) and I've used the holes in there to mount an 80mm fan (have to tilt it to get the odd-pattern holes to line up -- only got 2 corners screwed in).

If you've got the skills and tools, cut a hold in the case door! Or drill a bunch of holes right where the vid card is.

My card also vents into the case -- but I think most do! Only the 2-slot cards vent out the back of the case.

Just figure out the hot spots and focus on those. My HD got really hot until I rigged a 80mm near it (blowing over the bottom of it, not at the face). No more HD heat!

When in doubt, just take the door off. Your kid's smart enough not to poke around in there, right?

DAVENRINO · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2007, 05:16:49 PM »

I agree with Skurj. On a cool day (well cool for Hawaii) my cores run at 37 idle and 40's under load. I use Motherboard monitor to display both core temps only. I am not too fond of Asus Probe. I wasn't really looking for an xfire vid card but it was the only 1900 series Newegg had in stock with an exterior discharge. I also spent a lot of time looking at cases till I found my Antec 900 Gamer with (5) 120's and (1) 2400mm. It has good airflow and low noise.

Artic Silver may help a bit but your temps sound ok to me.

Fulmar · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2007, 05:44:11 PM »

I have a E6400 and a Asus P5N-E SLI (love Asus) and if I'm gaming I read around mid 40's for my CPU. MB is usually lower 40's. GPU around the mid 50's.

What program are you using to monitor temperature? PC Probe from Asus? Idle C2D's should sit around high 30 to lower 40's. This is dependent on the ambient temp of the case and the room you're in. I remember with my older p4 on hot days you can see a good 10C increase in both temps.

if your CPU is above 50C idle or mid 50's on a load, I would be concerned, otherwise I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

I'm using Intel Stock Heatsink and Fan along with their stock thermal pad thats on the heatsink, no artic silver etc.

I also have my CPU overclocked with only a 2-3C idle temp rise.

Irwink! · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2007, 06:02:51 PM »

You might get better heat transfer with Arctic Silver instead of the stock pads. But right now your temps are not much higher than mine.

Simaril · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2007, 07:45:16 PM »

Hmmm......

The data sheet for the 6400 says that the ambient temp should be no higher than 38 for the heat sink to function properly. In my box, the 6600 I have runs at 31 without load, and up to 40 under load; MB temp runs about 10 degrees higher.

DAVENRINO · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2007, 11:16:39 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Simaril
Hmmm......

The data sheet for the 6400 says that the ambient temp should be no higher than 38 for the heat sink to function properly. In my box, the 6600 I have runs at 31 without load, and up to 40 under load; MB temp runs about 10 degrees higher.

"Ambient " temp = temp inside case. Obviously, the heat sink/fan is less effective as this temp goes up. The ambient temp in my house is near 30 deg in the daytime as I prefer my ocean breeze to ac. I have never measured my case temp but I am sure it is below 38. I am always suspicious when someone says their motherboard runs 10 deg hotter than their cpu with air cooling. If you look on other hardware forums, my temps are pretty typical for the 6600.

Kermit de frog · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2007, 02:49:59 AM »

I have my E6400 from 2.18 to 2.4GHz with watercooling and it runs 1 C below MB Temp at idle and goes to 4 C above MB temp during full load.

Your stock cooler is doing a good job and you seemed to be well informed about this subject already. Maybe you should get a temperature probe/reading so that you can monitor your room's temperature and compare that to your MB temperature. Also find out where on the MB is your MB temp probe. I used to have a room temp of X and my MB would be on average 5 - 10 C above Room Temp. Currently, my twin PCI fan card died and my average MB temps are now 9-12 C above Room temperatures. I plan on removing more heat from the Northbridge chipset and see if that helps my MB temps. The next step would be to install a 80mm fan on the top of the case between the PSU and top DVD Drive.

Good luck with your cooling project and try to keep us informed!

Fulmar · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2007, 10:57:59 AM »

You have watercooling and you're not overclocking it to 3.0ghz+, shame!

Sting138 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2007, 12:19:19 PM »

Watercooling is definately the way to go.

I have a thermaltake bigwater cpu and gpu cooler in my system and my temps rarely get over 35 c. There are also other water cooling systems available but I coulndt pass up the deal on mine (open box special at local Fry's).

republic · « **Reply #11 on:** April 30, 2007, 02:57:13 PM »

Honestly, your temps look fine, but if you want to reduce them you'd be amazed at how much a difference air flow makes.

Make sure you have good airflow. Tidy up the inside and remember it's very important to have a path for the air to follow, rather than just having lots of fans...if that makes sense.

Tigger29 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2007, 08:44:53 PM »

Stock CPU cooling.

E6300.. no overclocking.

1 (ONE) and only ONE case fan. Second locked up but temps stay low so I never bothered replacing it.

My video card (AGP GeForce 6200) had only a heatsink and was getting quite hot, so I installed a small fan off an old P3 processor onto it. Fixed that problem.

Current temps:

Video Card - 32c
Motherboard - 30c
Core0 - 24c
Core1 - 24c
HDD - 36c

Granted I haven't loaded it down yet, but checking things after several hours of intense AH play temps only vary by 4 or 5 degrees.

DAVENRINO · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2007, 12:31:30 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Tigger29
Stock CPU cooling.

E6300.. no overclocking.

1 (ONE) and only ONE case fan. Second locked up but temps stay low so I never bothered replacing it.

My video card (AGP GeForce 6200) had only a heatsink and was getting quite hot, so I installed a small fan off an old P3 processor onto it. Fixed that problem.

Current temps:

Video Card - 32c
Motherboard - 30c
Core0 - 24c
Core1 - 24c
HDD - 36c

Granted I haven't loaded it down yet, but checking things after several hours of intense AH play temps only vary by 4 or 5 degrees.

Do you have your rig sitting in a freezer?

Sorry, but I have a hard time believing your core temps are accurate. They are just too low, especially with stock cooling and one case fan. What temp monitor app you using? Also, different mobo's take readings from different places. CPU temp 6 deg below mobo temp is also tough to achieve on air.

Speed55 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 01, 2007, 08:15:13 AM »

I've read 60.5*c is the point at which you should worry for any c2d.

Right now my c2d 6400 idles between 28* and 31* and maxes out at 36* during aces high.

I've got the stock heat sink with arctic silver paste, (1) 120mm low in front pulling air in. (1) 120mm low on the side pulling air over the vid and sound card. (1) 120mm rear exhaust. (1) 80mm blowhole up top between the dvd rom and psu, but closer to the front.

Right now:

Mainboard - 27.0*
CPU1 - 29.5*
CPU1 Core - 21*
CPU2 Core - 22*

I'm using "Hardware Sensors monitor v4.3"