Big Typhoon = Big letdown?

[LxMxFxD3]

I installed the big typhoon yesterday on my x2 3800+ currently overclocked to 2.5ghz (250x10). I installed it with some Artic Silver 3.

Stock HSF: 61c @ 2.5ghz (too hot obviously) @ 100% load (folding @ home + United Devices)
With tyhphoon: 52c @ 2.5ghz @ 100% load

Now, i'm not sure if a drop of 9c is what I shoulda expected or not. Maybe I installed it wrong? A lot of the newegg reviews of the HSF say they see in the low 40s for x2 @ 2.5ghz.

Other fans: 1 90mm exhaust fan. 1 120mm intake fan blowing on lower mobo from side of case and 1 90mm fan blowing over my 3 HD raid array. Mobo temp reads 33c. Oh and 2 fans on the power supply.

The last thing is - the HS is cool to the touch and the heatpipes aren't hot in the slightest. is this normal?

 

[Markbnj]

I vote airflow. Take the side panel off and if it drops like a rock, install more fan-age.

Edit, reread it. If the HS isn't hot and it has been running awhile, then you might have put too much AS on. You want just a little rice-sized bead in the middle of the cpu, don't spread it around, just plop the HS on top and fasten it down.

 

[LxMxFxD3]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
I vote airflow. Take the side panel off and if it drops like a rock, install more fan-age.

Edit, reread it. If the HS isn't hot and it has been running awhile, then you might have put too much AS on. You want just a little rice-sized bead in the middle of the cpu, don't spread it around, just plop the HS on top and fasten it down.

Thanks for the quick reply - its not air flow. My exaust fans are putting out cool air (hot out of the PSU though of course).. the cpu drops by 2c when the case side is off.

I may have put too much AS on there - that is a possibility.

Just a rice sized pea for the entire huge core? What temps are you seeing with your 4400+ @ 2.5ghz?

 

[khurios2000]

i use none of case side panels, side panels accumulate the heat IMO (on air cooling system)

 

[Markbnj]

[Just a rice sized pea for the entire huge core? What temps are you seeing with your 4400+ @ 2.5ghz?]

Yeah, believe it or not. The instructions are on Arctic's website. I did it wrong the first time too. I spread what I thought was a thin layer across the whole CPU, and didn't get the results I expected. What they actually tell you to do is find the spot on the CPU heat spreader where the HSF contacts it, and put the dab there. I couldn't see well enough to do that without pulling the cpu, so I just went for the middle. They also tell you to prep it first by rubbing a little AS on that spot and then wiping it off. Supposedly fills the microvoids in the surface.

My rig currently idles at 38-40c, and loads up to 53c playing BF2, or 60c Prime95. I have airflow issues with this Wavemaster, though. If I remove the side panel the idle temp drops to 32c or so. I may just drill a bunch of holes in it .

 

[LxMxFxD3]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
[Just a rice sized pea for the entire huge core? What temps are you seeing with your 4400+ @ 2.5ghz?]

Yeah, believe it or not. The instructions are on Arctic's website. I did it wrong the first time too. I spread what I thought was a thin layer across the whole CPU, and didn't get the results I expected. What they actually tell you to do is find the spot on the CPU heat spreader where the HSF contacts it, and put the dab there. I couldn't see well enough to do that without pulling the cpu, so I just went for the middle. They also tell you to prep it first by rubbing a little AS on that spot and then wiping it off. Supposedly fills the microvoids in the surface.

My rig currently idles at 38-40c, and loads up to 53c playing BF2, or 60c Prime95. I have airflow issues with this Wavemaster, though. If I remove the side panel the idle temp drops to 32c or so. I may just drill a bunch of holes in it .

Well, I'll at least give it a try. I'd say I put maybe 3 to 4 times that much AS on the core so maybe I'm not getting the best connection. Its only time wasted if it fails

 

[LxMxFxD3]

Well i re-did the AS 3 using only a rice-sized amount and it didn't change anything. Big let down.

 

[JEDIYoda]

let me explain to you that although there are many top quality heatsinks....
there are also many variables that come with each indicidual computer...
Air flow.......how many items do you have that are creating heat.....etc....
do you have enough intake fans.......you should ideally have only one exhhaust fan....that has been my opinion for some time as well as my configuration....

There is ther zalman 9500 as well as the XP 120 and XP90 and the Scythe Ninja etc.....
There will always be some sytems where such and such a heatsink just for wheatever reason they are not effective.....

I would first of all look to your cable management.......
then I would make sure all my fans were intake except for the rear fan being exhaust....
Then I would check for airflow using any number of methods albeit crude effective....
such as the toilet tissue cut in strips taped to a pencil to see if you do actually have airflow in your case...etc....

Good Luck!!

 

[LxMxFxD3]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
let me explain to you that although there are many top quality heatsinks....
there are also many variables that come with each indicidual computer...
Air flow.......how many items do you have that are creating heat.....etc....
do you have enough intake fans.......you should ideally have only one exhhaust fan....that has been my opinion for some time as well as my configuration....

There is ther zalman 9500 as well as the XP 120 and XP90 and the Scythe Ninja etc.....
There will always be some sytems where such and such a heatsink just for wheatever reason they are not effective.....

I would first of all look to your cable management.......
then I would make sure all my fans were intake except for the rear fan being exhaust....
Then I would check for airflow using any number of methods albeit crude effective....
such as the toilet tissue cut in strips taped to a pencil to see if you do actually have airflow in your case...etc....

Good Luck!!

If you read the previous posts you would see that it has nothing to do with air flow. My cpu stays the same temp with the case on or off.

 

[JEDIYoda]

okay well then just possibly thats the best your going to get from the big typhoon....

 

[LxMxFxD3]

Yes, in other words. Big Tyhpoon = Big letdown

 

[Bull Dog]

well those other peeps may have had thier case in say a cool/cold basement.

 

[LxMxFxD3]

Originally posted by: Bull Dog
well those other peeps may have had thier case in say a cool/cold basement.

Possibly. I am in texas and my room temp is about 80F

 

[McArra]

Maybe that AS 3 is too old?

 

[LxMxFxD3]

Originally posted by: McArra
Maybe that AS 3 is too old?

Doubtful. Its not a piece of fruit that is no longer ripe Especially since thermal paste NEVER dries or becomes sticky etc. Its still good, albeit a bit old "technology"

One thing I have just discovered, after putting a thermomitor on top of my case under my desk is, its about 95F down there. No doubt this is contributing to my temperature issues. I think I figured out what the problem is now

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: LxMxFxD3

Originally posted by: McArra
Maybe that AS 3 is too old?

Doubtful. Its not a piece of fruit that is no longer ripe Especially since thermal paste NEVER dries or becomes sticky etc. Its still good, albeit a bit old "technology"

One thing I have just discovered, after putting a thermomitor on top of my case under my desk is, its about 95F down there. No doubt this is contributing to my temperature issues. I think I figured out what the problem is now

AS products can split slightly due to the silver being heavier than the suspension fluid thus reducing the effectiveness of it. You may need to stir it to remix it... or just say buy yourself a tube of the good stuff, AS5.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I would venture to bet it has nothing to do with AS5.....
also for an AS5 product to split it has to be very old...more than just several months old.

 

[Markbnj]

[Possibly. I am in texas and my room temp is about 80F ]

That is a huge factor. My room temp is probably close to 20 F lower than yours.

 

[imported_ST]

please post indicated amb temperatures and idle temperatures.

it's more important on an hsf that its thermal c/w (e.g. rise above idle) is low rather the overall net affect, which has outside factors including amb temperatures (high in your case), poor airflow (does not apply to you).

 

[LxMxFxD3]

Originally posted by: ST
please post indicated amb temperatures and idle temperatures.

it's more important on an hsf that its thermal c/w (e.g. rise above idle) is low rather the overall net affect, which has outside factors including amb temperatures (high in your case), poor airflow (does not apply to you).

Hey there ST. OK here are the temps per your request:

Ambient room temp (texas, no a/c on today): 83F / 28c
Temperature under desk (where computer resides: 98F / 37c
CPU Idle temperature: 44c
MB temperature: 39c
CPU load temperature: 52c (100%, both cores - folding @ home & UD)

Hope that helps!

 

[aryaba]

That looks like your problem. The ambient air temperature around your computer is 7C cooler than your CPU, I'd say the cooler is doing a great job.

 

[imported_ST]

Originally posted by: LxMxFxD3
[Hey there ST. OK here are the temps per your request:

Ambient room temp (texas, no a/c on today): 83F / 28c
Temperature under desk (where computer resides: 98F / 37c
CPU Idle temperature: 44c
MB temperature: 39c
CPU load temperature: 52c (100%, both cores - folding @ home & UD)

Hope that helps!

I honestly think your Typhoon is doing a great job, the fact that temp riseis just 8C delta between idle and full load is awesome. I would venture you're main problem is ambient temperatures outside is affecting your overall CPU temps. Try the same test with AC on in your place (record the amb air). I betcha things will dramatically go down.

 

[Avalon]

You're disappointed that the big typhoon gave you a 9C drop in load temps over a stock HSF that is also a heatpipe type of HSF with a copper core? You must realize that the stock HSF for X2s is not by any means a bad cooling unit.

Your motherboard could also be reading a little high.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Avalon
You're disappointed that the big typhoon gave you a 9C drop in load temps over a stock HSF that is also a heatpipe type of HSF with a copper core? You must realize that the stock HSF for X2s is not by any means a bad cooling unit.

Your motherboard could also be reading a little high.

I trhink hes disappointed becuase others of us who have CPU`s that run very hot such as myself with the standard intel stock heatsink had temps that idled at approx 47c load is 74c ...

mind you my ambient is approx 23c...

with the following 2 heatsinks I had temps ....
Zalman 9500
at idle-- 27c under load...approx 38
overclocked nearly the same temps

XP120
idle--27c under load for 12 hrs-- approx 42
overclocked nearly the same temps

Then even Over clocked to 4.0 my temps were not all that much higher.....


Sure what he is getting is better than with the stock heatsink...yet.....with an ambient temp of 28 he should be getting somewhere around 33-35.....

Yet he did say that his computer is under his desk and the temp there is 37c thus he should be getting approx 42c idle...

Ambient room temp (texas, no a/c on today): 83F / 28c
Temperature under desk (where computer resides: 98F / 37c
CPU Idle temperature: 44c
MB temperature: 39c
CPU load temperature: 52c (100%, both cores - folding @ home & UD)

Hope that helps!

If the above temps are what he is running with the Typhoon hes not doing to bad in the temp department!!

 

[LxMxFxD3]

I posted this review because I was seeing no where near the temp drops that people have reported elsewhwere - on newegg etc with their 3800+ o/c to 2500mhz. I was hoping to hit mid 40s with this cooler.

I believe my main issue is that it is indeed mounted correctly and everything is installed fine, but the location of my towercase is under my desk. I have a huge U workstation that is made out of wood and it sits next to the file cabinet and the exhaust fans hit a back wall. I also have a laser printer and about a billion other perifs giving off heat in this area. I stuck a thermometer on top of my case and it is about 95F under htere versus about 80F in my apt with the AC off.

So, I believe that the air is stagnent down there - regardless of whether or not I have the case on or off, it doesn't matter much - its basically stuck in a 3 way heat box!

If the ambient temp "under there" was 70F I bed i'd hit the low 40s others have reported - some how i'll have to figure out a new placement for this tower.