C2D E6400 Running hot after install

[gamephile]

Hmm. I just installed an Ultra 120 onto an e6400 running at stock and my TAT idle is about 32C with full load pushing it to about 52C. Ambient temp in the room is normal 71F. My plan is to remove the heatsink and lap it, clean everything with arcticlean and put it back together. My problem is I never know what "very thin line of as5" actually means. The term grain of rice doesn't help either. I can make a line thats like a 1/16" of an inch wide, but how do I make sure it's the right thickness? This is why I feel like the thin spread method is better, I feel more in control.

 

[PCTC2]

gamephile, your temps seem fine. Your ambient is 5C warmer than mine. On my OC, my TAT temps are idling around 43-46C in the same ambients as you with the Ultra 120. at stock, my E6400 runs at 29C idle in TAT at 18C ambients, so in your ambients, i would probably be running warmer than you.

 

[gamephile]

But if I OC then I'm in hot water so to speak. You have an amazing overclock and your temps are lower than mine. Something's not right on my end. Also are you running one of the sl9t9 c2duo's or is it a conroe based chip?

 

[PCTC2]

I have a SL9S9 Conroe based chip, but the Allendale chips technically should be running cooler, or just as cool. You might've applied a little too much AS5. The Ultra 120 is hard to seat improperly, but what kind of fan do you have on it? I used rubberbands and put 2 fans on it, in a push/pull config. It could also be the airflow in your case. Try the temps with the side off.

 

[Bozo Galora]

@PCTC2 - gamephile

Since TAT is the only ultility that will actually stress an Intel CPU fully 100%, I would really be curious as to what temps you guys with ultra 120's show in TAT with it set as 100% and you hit both start buttons. Could you do that for me? I am especially interested with the 2 fan unit results.

I might mention that I have moved over to MX-1 thermal goop instead of AS5. It is totally unconductive, and doesnt have to be renewed. After "burn in" it becomes a very fine powder. I belong to the less is better school, so I put a dab of the very hard to spread stuff on the bottom of HS and push down on something flat (like a surface plate) and rotate "grind" it around till I can feel the HS touching the plate. I then pull it off and mount to CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...5100401&ATT=35-100-401&CMP=OTC-Froogle

As a third point - Intel seems to have a bit of trouble keeping the heat spreaders flat during assembly. I dont know if the new L2 steppings are any better, but a contingent of overclockers invited to Intel for a tour told them their main complaint is that they need a flat heatspreader. The humungous pressures applied by HS mountings dont help either. You could take a quality 6" machinists scale and put its edge on heat spreader at different places and hold it up to light

 

[PCTC2]

with TAT, my temps max out around 64C after 10 minutes, but hover consistently around 60C/58C (1st/2nd core) with the 2 fans at 3.52GHz 1.52v.

 

[Bozo Galora]

thnx for answering
I guess the new TR IFX 14 with a 140MM fan would do even better
Bleh, so much money to spend and so little time to do it - lol

I wonder if a pic of your 120 ultra fan setup is possible?
http://www.tinypic.com/

 

[PCTC2]

yeah. i'll do it tomorrow. gotta find the cam. it's got a TT SmartFan on one side, and an Antec Tricool on the other. My whole case has 8 fans so i've got a lot of airflow to keep my PC cool.

 

[gamephile]

I have the Scythe S-Flex SFF21F, mounted to blow air through towards the back of the case. the same that was used in the Anandtech review. I'm glad you're posting your temps, I now know what to shoot for in my re-seating and overclocking. Do you guys have any suggestions for lapping the Ultra 120?

 

[Bozo Galora]

Just FWIW

This is the best explanation of CPU temps on the web right now
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=131008

 

[gamephile]

Thanks for the link, this is good reading.

 

[PCTC2]

Bozo Galora, here's my Antec 900 w/ the Thermalright Ultra120 w/ Dual Fans as requested.
http://img158.imageshack.us/my.php?image=antec900lo1.jpg

 

[Bozo Galora]

Looks like you have three slim rubber bands holding it all together with 2 HS fans plus the big rear case fan all moving air out towards the back

got it - thnx for taking time making pic

 

[TedKord]

With the stock cooler at stock speed on an Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe, My E6400 was idling at 45-50 per Core Temp.

I just switched to an MSI P6N-FI, and OC'ed to 2800mHz, I'm Idling at 35-38. Orthos take me up to 52 or so. Oh, that's with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro and AS5.

I don't know if it's the MB, the HS or both, but I'm smiling!

 

[Bozo Galora]

Originally posted by: gamephile
I have the Scythe S-Flex SFF21F, mounted to blow air through towards the back of the case. the same that was used in the Anandtech review. I'm glad you're posting your temps, I now know what to shoot for in my re-seating and overclocking. Do you guys have any suggestions for lapping the Ultra 120?

I wouldnt touch the HS, its nickle plated, rough, but FLAT

The Intel IHS is the prob as I mentioned above
Read this short thread
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho...?t=118344&highlight=Intel+heatspreader

Then this exhaustive thread on lapping heatspreader
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=132287&highlight=lapping

What will we learn from the above?

a.) The Intel Heatspreader is concave to a greater or lesser degree
b.) Even a totally flat heatspreader does not overcome the fact that UNDERNEATH (which you do not lap of course) there is usually poor contact and tons of goop
c.) The heatspreader may be warped by the flipdown lock plate
d.) The heatspreader may actually be below the el crappo sheetmetal lockplate, preventing contact in some places. I put machinists blue (dykem) on plate and mount HSF and then look for shiny spots after removal. Or you can just easily remove it and see if temps change.

Remember tho, this all applies only to those running cpu's at the ragged edge who need every margin. For most, an active NB cooler is all thats really needed.

 

[Bozo Galora]

Originally posted by: TedKord
With the stock cooler at stock speed on an Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe, My E6400 was idling at 45-50 per Core Temp.

I just switched to an MSI P5N-FI, and OC'ed to 2800mHz, I'm Idling at 35-38. Orthos take me up to 52 or so. Oh, that's with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro and AS5.

I don't know if it's the MB, the HS or both, but I'm smiling!

Its the HS. The intel stock cooler doesnt "scale" as AT says in their ultra 120 review. Its fine for Average Joe light work, but you get into trouble quickly with any real stress.

 

[Bozo Galora]

And on the TR website they are now showing the "backside" (of MOBO) auxillary heatsink that comes with IFX-14.
http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main_product_ifx14.htm

I cant really figure out where the hell it goes, since the PSU is in the way upwards, but the install instructs are not yet active..

 

[PCTC2]

yeah. no prob bozo. i've got 2 intake fans (Antec 900 HDD cage w/ Additional Fan attachment) blowing on the HS, and then the 2 HS Fans (yes, 3 rubberbands), and then 2 exhausts (the 120mm on back and then the Antec 200mm BigBoy (I put it on low, and then medium, and actually got a 2C difference for the CPU)