CPU cooling issues

1498 Views 27 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Squall-Leonhart, Sep 6, 2009

gamefreak94

Discussion Starter · Sep 3, 2009

I got the CPU heat-sink and fan (stock) cleaned a couple of weeks ago, been a year since I had it done and a 0.5cm cake of dust was removed in the process. I was keen to see if this had resulted in any significant drop in CPU temps, but the reality turned out to be quite the opposite.

Before cleaning (with ASUS PC-Probe II):

Idle: 45C
Full load: 55C

After cleaning (with RealTemp 3.00):

Idle: 52C
Full load: 70C

After cleaning (with OCCT):

Idle: 50C
Load: 64C

Tested using Prime95 (using the max CPU power consumption and heat option).

I have yet to test the temps using ASUS PC-Probe cuz it doesn't install on Windows 7 (gives an error saying ACPI drivers aren't installed), but I doubt both RealTemp and OCCT both are be deceiving me. 64C is, AFAIK, pushing it for a CPU and 70C is reaching a dangerous level, even for a 65nm chip.

So what I wanna know is:

1) Is it possible something got disturbed when the heat-sink and fan were cleaned? The fan speed is normal, and everything's seated into place okay.

2) Do regular PC games put 100% load on the CPU? I don't run emus, or do any other CPU-intensive tasks (aside from gaming), so I think I can just live with it.

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1 - 20 of 28 Posts

Master_DX

· #2 · Sep 3, 2009

When u cleaned it, did u clean the old thermal compoud and apply some new one to it?

Check the cooler and see if the 4 push-pins are well hooked since that's one of the main problems with stock coolers. Temperatures tend to go insanely high for not having proper contact.

PC-Probe sucks at reading Temperature, I used and my temps were completely different than with RealTemp, I believe RealTemp reads the Core Temps and PC-Probe Reads the CPU temp.

Video Editing is the only thing that can stress the CPU to the max, I don't know any other program that stress the CPU much other than that.

Squall-Leonhart

· #3 · Sep 3, 2009

Thermal Grease is applied incorrectly, or they used really ****ty stuff.

Princess Garnet

· #4 · Sep 4, 2009

You're comparing different programs, for one. For me, in Windows XP, the version of ASUS PC Probe I used reported somewhat accurate temperatures, but the program itself drove CPU usage so high that the temperatures went up. I know this wouldn't explain your issue, but that program isn't so reputable as being reliably accurate across the board. Try reseating things, and make sure all four pins are tight.

Squall-Leonhart

· #5 · Sep 4, 2009

and use everest for temps (or realtemp)

gamefreak94

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 4, 2009

All 4 pins are nicely in place. Tried to rock the cooler from side to side but it wouldn't budge one bit.

Oh, and I had it cleaned at the store when replacing the PSU just with a clean piece of cloth. They only brushed out the dust from inside and put it back in. So I guess the only thing left to do would be to replace the thermal grease. Only problem is I have no clue how to do that. Shouldn't be that hard though, there's lots of YouTube videos for it.

In the meanwhile though, is it safe to run my PC in this state? I don't do video editing/encoding at all.

Kaizen

· #7 · Sep 4, 2009

gamefreak94 said:
All 4 pins are nicely in place. Tried to rock the cooler from side to side but it wouldn't budge one bit.

Oh, and I had it cleaned at the store when replacing the PSU just with a clean piece of cloth. They only brushed out the dust from inside and put it back in. So I guess the only thing left to do would be to replace the thermal grease. Only problem is I have no clue how to do that. Shouldn't be that hard though, there's lots of YouTube videos for it.

In the meanwhile though, is it safe to run my PC in this state? I don't do video editing/encoding at all.

take the side panel off, profit

Squall-Leonhart

· #8 · Sep 4, 2009

AS5 or bust!

redlofredlof

· #9 · Sep 4, 2009

Well at least I did a better cleaning job at my computer.

gamefreak94

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 4, 2009

It was probably always like this, cuz I never tested the temps with anything other then ASUS PC-Probe before, thinking it would be more accurate then RealTemp or OCCT because it was specially designed for ASUS motherboards and also cuz I didn't hear anything negative about it (until now).

Kaizen said:
take the side panel off, profit

My side panel's always off lol Damn mATX case.

Slight update on the issue, I discovered that my vcore setting of 1.3375V was higher then needed, so lowered it to 1.3250V and retried. The result is pretty weird though, the 1st core is maxing out at the same 64C (in OCCT) but the 2nd core hardly goes above 55C whereas before it used to be at about the same as the first.

redlofredlof

· #11 · Sep 4, 2009

reset the bios.

nanaya

· #12 · Sep 4, 2009

you really need to apply thermal grease there mate. as squall said, use the arctic silver 5, be wary not to drop it on your mobo though as it's a conductive.
you can try arctic mx 2 too, it's safer and i heard it perform as good as as5

gamefreak94

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 4, 2009

How much does this thermal grease cost?

I don't see it cataloged at the local online store, so I don't think they have it. Will have to scour the market for it then.

reset the bios.

What's that gonna do? oO

nanaya

· #14 · Sep 4, 2009

it varies but generally about $8 for quality one like AS5

gamefreak94

Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 4, 2009 (Edited)

That's a lot for some grease! oO

Regardless, I'm having trouble finding ANY kind of grease available for retail. Just contacted a few of the big stores and none of them have it. I think I'm looking in the wrong place for this kind of stuff.

I think I'll register here and ask, they'll probably know.

Master_DX

· #16 · Sep 4, 2009

U shouldn't need that much Vcore for 2.2GHz, I currently have my E8200 @ 3.2GHz using only 1.168v, I think I can manage 3.4GHz with the same Vcore too but I don't need it.

Thermal Compound shouldn't be that hard to find, just go to a store where they sell a lot of electronic stuff and they should have it, this is what you should be looking for:

Newegg.com - Thermal Compound / Grease,arctic silver 5

Spyhop

· #17 · Sep 4, 2009

Lord Zedeck said:
You're comparing different programs, for one.

Ding ding ding

gamefreak94

Discussion Starter · #18 · Sep 4, 2009

Okay I found a place which has that Arctic Silver 5; only problem is that 3 grams of it is costing $10.....which is a tad too much. I think I'll look around more for a slightly cheaper product (though not a really el cheapo one that might actually raise temps).

Princess Garnet

· #19 · Sep 4, 2009

Master_DX said:
U shouldn't need that much Vcore for 2.2GHz, I currently have my E8200 @ 3.2GHz using only 1.168v, I think I can manage 3.4GHz with the same Vcore too but I don't need it.

The 45nm CPUs need (and I stress the word "need") less voltage than the 65nm ones, and further, if it's an E0 stepping CPU, it often needs even less. My E8600 does 4.0GHz at slightly less voltage than my E8400 did 3.6GHz. My E8400 did 3.6GHz at less voltage than my old E2160 did 2.7GHz.

gamefreak94

Discussion Starter · #20 · Sep 4, 2009

How much does your E2160 need at 3GHz? Just curious.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

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