Case temps are higher than CPU temps, why?

[imported_MooGoo]

I just put together my new computer. It's as follows:

Athlon 64 3500+ Winchester
XP-120 & some generic 120mm fan currently running at full tilt (12v)
BFG 6800GT OC
DFI Lanparty SLI-DR
Lian Li PC V1100

Those are the specs that matter at least. When I check my temps with ITE Smart Gaurdian it reports as follows:

29C idle - 36C load CPU
44C idle - 51C load PWM IC
43C idle - 50C load Chipset

The CPU temps seem fine, the other two I'm not sure about. I'm not even sure what PWM IC is. But I'm wondering why the chipset and the PWM run significantly hotter than the freakin CPU. When I touch the XP-120 its barley warm, but the CPU temps are good, the chipset on the other hand definatly feels warmer. Why would this run hotter? Is somthing wrong?

 

[Zucarita9000]

What kind of case cooling are you using? Case temps drop dramatically when you find the right balance of airflow.

 

[imported_MooGoo]

Currently I'm using the fans that came with the Lian Li 1100. That is one 120mm fan intake for the hard disk section, and a 120mm outtake for the motherboard section. I realize because of the design of this case, that there is no good air intake for the motherboard, and I would probably be well served to pick up a slot blower or somthing like it, though I am somewhat concerned about noise. Even so, shouldnt the case temps contribute to the CPU temps, I've seen a lot of temperature reports around here but none where the chipset and ambiant tempurature is higher than the CPU temp. Or could it be that the XP-120 cools the CPU much better than the case cools the rest of the computer?

 

[imported_MooGoo]

Holy crap, I reversed the 120mm fan on the XP-120 so it blows down, and now the CPU idles at 24C!?!?

I ran CPU burn and there is definatly a reaction, it jumps up to about 35C, thing that bothers me, is once I stop the burn, it almost immediatly drops back to 24C again, is that how it is supposed to work?

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: MooGoo
Holy crap, I reversed the 120mm fan on the XP-120 so it blows down, and now the CPU idles at 24C!?!?

I ran CPU burn and there is definatly a reaction, it jumps up to about 35C, thing that bothers me, is once I stop the burn, it almost immediatly drops back to 24C again, is that how it is supposed to work?

yep, magical huh? It's supposed to point down at the heatsink

 

[imported_MooGoo]

Yes, it is, but it still seems way to cool, I believe the room temp is only 5 degrees lower.

 

[sodcha0s]

Your temp reading must be off. There is no way your CPU temp can be lower than your case temp using air cooling.

 

[imported_MooGoo]

What would be a good way to find out my actuall CPU temps then?

 

[imported_MooGoo]

bump

 

[Zucarita9000]

Run CPU Burn, Prime95 or SuperPi for about 20 minutes. Then, inmediately restart the computer and check the temps. in the BIOS. If they're still the same, see if you can update your BIOS.

 

[krcat1]

I had the same problem. I discovered that I had the front intake fan reversed, so some of the hot air off the CPU was going out the front of the case.

However, I had a thermal vent directly over the CPU, so cooling was hitting the processor.

 

[imported_MooGoo]

By the way, from what I've been reading here, it seems I applied the thermal compound completely wrong. I followed the very simple instructions that came with the XP-120; applied a thin layer that compleatly coverd the CPU heatspreader, then did the same thing with the heatsink base, even tho a good portion of the base would never touch the CPU. And in my efforts to mount the damn thing it popped up once messin up all the thermal goo, so I re smoothed it and tried again. Well it was the first time that I actully did that.

So on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most wrong, how wrong did I do it, and is it worth say getting that Artic Silver stuff and trying again?

 

[blinky2004]

Case temps from motherboards are notoriously unreliable. It depends where the sensor is on the board and how it has been calibrated.

 

[imported_MooGoo]

I've gatherd...

With the case covered, and the computer running for a decent amount of time, the CPU temps seem to level out around 35C, which is normal, and under load it edges up towards 40 maybe higher. That seems normal, though I'd still like a way to figure out for sure what the temp is, or at least a better way to measure it using a thermometer or somthing. Cause if the temp readings are say 10C higher than what the motherboard is reporting, I'd be less happy.

So my two questions now are simply:

1. What would be a good way to measure what the temps on the CPU actully are?

2. Given the way I applied the thermal compound (read 2 posts above), is it worth it to redo it the right way, perhaps with Artic Silver?

 

[yliu]

Read this article http://www.silentpcreview.com/article191-page1.html
It can help you determine your CPU temp a little better.