Celeron G530 Running Really Hot in my HTPC

[GamingDaemon]

Hi Folks,

I just finished assembling my brand new HTPC with a Celeron G530 (stock Intel heatsink) and an nVidia 430. When I first installed Win7 on it, it was running quite, around 30 to 35 C. But that was all of ten minutes.

Then I carried it up to the home theatre room, and installed it in the rack. Now the rack is not closed, and the closet the rack is in is left open. The HTPC has some room in the rack for air circulation immediately around it, but not a lot. The rack itself has a lot of breathing room; it is a huge closet.

Anyway, after rebooting for many Windows updates, I noticed that the temperatures was hovering around 85 to 90 C!! It was in the midst of recalibrating the bluetooth for my keyboard and mouse. Eventually, it just kind of got stuck, and I had to restart the PC by hand. ICK.

Anyway, it is back up and running again and doing more updates, hovering around 70 to 75 C. The video card should be doing all the graphical work when I play my movies, so why is the CPU hovering around 80% busy all the time and running so hot?

The ambient room temp is like 70 farenheit. Should I get an aftermarket heatsink?

EDIT: I noticed that there a program ".NET Runtime Optimization Service" that was chewing up a huge amount of CPU. It finally went away after i downloaded the .NET Client Profile Redist. But everytime I download updates for Windows Update, it skyrockets to 100% CPU and 85 to 90 C.


Thanks in advance 🙁

 

[jpeyton]

If there aren't any circulation issues (check the temps on the mobo, GPU to see if they are running hot as well), it might be an issue with the CPU/heatsink interface. They might not be making proper contact. Or it could be a sensor issue; make sure you have the latest BIOS installed on your motherboard.

Even though a stock Intel heatsink isn't anything special, 90C is incredibly hot for a stock 65W dual-core Sandy Bridge Celeron.

For comparison, my stock 95W i7-2600 idles at 24C and hits 52C at 100% load running at 3.5GHz turbo. My case has two fans; one low-speed 120mm inside the PSU and one low-speed 120mm on the CPU heatsink.

 

[GamingDaemon]

If there aren't any circulation issues (check the temps on the mobo, GPU to see if they are running hot as well), it might be an issue with the CPU/heatsink interface. They might not be making proper contact. Or it could be a sensor issue; make sure you have the latest BIOS installed on your motherboard.

Even though a stock Intel heatsink isn't anything special, 90C is incredibly hot for a stock 65W dual-core Sandy Bridge Celeron.

For comparison, my stock 95W i7-2600 idles at 24C and hits 52C at 100% load running at 3.5GHz turbo. My case has two fans; one low-speed 120mm inside the PSU and one low-speed 120mm on the CPU heatsink.

I upgraded my BIOS to F5, but the temps are still around 70C at idle, which is just crazy. The home theatre room is a bit warm, let's say 75 degrees F, but still.

My i7-860 idles at 30C and my home server at 30C, both are in my office, which has an ambient temp of 70 degrees F.

So do I need to take everything apart and put in an aftermarket cpu heatsink? And if so, any recommendations?

 

[Zap]

Should I get an aftermarket heatsink?

No. You need to make sure the stock heatsink is properly installed. I always install the CPU and heatsink onto the motherboard while it is outside of the case, to make sure that all 4 push pins are properly seated. It is common for one of the push pins to not seat itself all the way. See this thread.

Also, what case are you using? The CPU cooler doesn't care what the exterior ambient temperatures are. What matters is the temperatures inside the case, which is the responsibility of the case cooling.

 

[GamingDaemon]

No. You need to make sure the stock heatsink is properly installed. I always install the CPU and heatsink onto the motherboard while it is outside of the case, to make sure that all 4 push pins are properly seated. It is common for one of the push pins to not seat itself all the way. See this thread.

Also, what case are you using? The CPU cooler doesn't care what the exterior ambient temperatures are. What matters is the temperatures inside the case, which is the responsibility of the case cooling.

Yep, I installed this from scratch last night, so the motherboad was not in the case when I put on the stock cooler. It was done right after I installedthe CPU. All 4 pushpins went thru to the other side of the mobo, I checked.

The case is the Silverstone Grandia GD04B, which is supposed to be a cool case. The two fans immediatel to the right of the CPU/heatsink, when looking at it from the front, seem to be pushing air in opposite directions. The one closest to me pushes air out, while the other pushes air in.

Not 100% sure about that, but it seems to be that way. I will use a tissue to make sure.

EDIT: I also added a little artic silver paster when I added the CPU heatsink, not sure if that should matter. Also, I moved the HTPC back down to my office and it is hovering around 50C at idle. I am wondering if putting in the rack in the home theatre is limiting the airflow. I could try it on top of the rack which would give it better air flow because it would not be in a shelf (it fits very perfectly, but tightly in the rack.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

EDIT: I also added a little artic silver paster when I added the CPU heatsink, not sure if that should matter.

Did you add the AS paste in addition to the paste that was already on the stock heatsink? If so, that's not a good idea.

Pull the system out of the rack, set it out in the open, and load the CPU. If it runs cooler, it's your rack. If not, it's the heatsink.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Did you add the AS paste in addition to the paste that was already on the stock heatsink? If so, that's not a good idea.

Pull the system out of the rack, set it out in the open, and load the CPU. If it runs cooler, it's your rack. If not, it's the heatsink.

Yes, I did the bad thing. I have always used a aftermarket CPU heatsink and the measly little stuff on the bottom of the stock cooler looked pitiful, so I added some Artic MX-2. Should I remove it?

And when I brought it downstairs to my office, in the open, the temps went down, but not by much. I was talking to my wife, and she noticed that one of the side case fans right next to the CPU wasn't even on. I removed the case cover, and I noticed that the CPU Heatsink fan wasn't on either!!!!

OMG, how could I have let it do all of those downloads and playing movies on it, without the CPU fan even running?!!?!?!?!

Anyway, the fan on the CPU was getting caught i na wire, so I fixed that, and now I am seeing temps of 35 to 40C at idle. Much better. But the side case fan still is not working. I have a spare, but I will need to remove everything, and I mean everything, to get at it. Since I am doing that, should I go and buy a CPU heatsink at Fry's and install it?

My reasoning is that I stil lsaw higher temps when it was in the rack, which has a very snug fit on the sides.

 

[Arkaign]

Hahaha, don't feel bad, I've done some dumb stuff during 20-odd years of working on PCs, like removing memory from a computer while it was turned on, etc.

Yes, you want to thoroughly clean the bottom of the heatsink and the top of the CPU and reapply a small amount of your thermal transfer material (MX-2) to the top of the CPU. A drop about .5cm (or slightly less!) in diameter is plenty, as it will spread well. It's hard to explain, but it also helps to slightly press on the top of the heatsink and do a twisting motion with small movements while pressing completely flat, but that ensures that you're getting great contact before locking the pins into place.

I hate the stock Intel coolers, bleh. But they will be more than adequate for such a CPU.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yes, I did the bad thing. I have always used a aftermarket CPU heatsink and the measly little stuff on the bottom of the stock cooler looked pitiful, so I added some Artic MX-2. Should I remove it?

Too much TIM is just as bad as too little or not at all.

Remove the heatsink, and re-apply a small amount of paste.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Went to Fry's and bought a Zalman cnps7000c-alcu cpu heatsink. It's pretty much the only one they had that would fit (hopefully).

Also, bought two CoolerMaster 120 case fans for $10 (they were on sale) to replace the on bad one. I figure I might as well replace both now.

I will let you know how the rebuild goes...

EDIT: One question though. Why deos the both cores on the proc go to 50% to 80% when playing a movie, when I have a nVidia 430 card doing all the video work? Shouldn't the G530 be idling at say 10% to 20%?

 

[Bman123]

All you had to do was clean the paste off, re apply new paste and be done. My G530 runs really cool with the stock cooler and stock paste. No need for a aftermarket cooler, its not like you are overclocking it

 

[GamingDaemon]

All you had to do was clean the paste off, re apply new paste and be done. My G530 runs really cool with the stock cooler and stock paste. No need for a aftermarket cooler, its not like you are overclocking it

True, but I had to take everything out. And, I needed to go to Fry's to replace the one suppleid case fan that was not working (the one right by the CPU). So, since I was there...
It's hard to resist...

So, now that I have the Zalman heatsink, would you use it, or the stock cooler?

And which case fan would you replace the broken one with? A Noctua NF-P12 or a CoolerMaster S13? I have two of the CoolerMaster fans but only one of the Noctua's.

 

[Zap]

one of the side case fans right next to the CPU wasn't even on. I removed the case cover, and I noticed that the CPU Heatsink fan wasn't on either!!!!

Along with the extra thermal paste, that's probably the culprit. Running CPU passively, yo! :whiste:

 

[GamingDaemon]

Along with the extra thermal paste, that's probably the culprit. Running CPU passively, yo! :whiste:

Stupid, I know. I have never done that in 10 years of building PC's!! Well, it looks like the Zalman doesn't fit on my motherboard. 🙁

So, it is back to the stock cooler after all.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Glad the issue is resolved. That Zalman is total overkill/completely unnecessary on a G530. Go get your money back. Excuse to visit Fry's. 🙂

 

[Bman123]

Glad the issue is resolved. That Zalman is total overkill/completely unnecessary on a G530. Go get your money back. Excuse to visit Fry's. 🙂

Right, no need for anything more then the stock cooler

 

[GamingDaemon]

Glad the issue is resolved. That Zalman is total overkill/completely unnecessary on a G530. Go get your money back. Excuse to visit Fry's. 🙂

Right, no need for anything more then the stock cooler

True, true 🙂

So, why does my HTPC use so much of the CPU when I am playing movies and I have a discrete video card (nVidia 430)? 😕

Shouldn't it be almost idling?

Also, I am seeing 30's as my temps now that I have rebuilt the machine. Though, I put the case fans so they are pushing air out of the case by the CPU, where as Silverstone had the case fans pushing air in... Does that matter?

 

[Zap]

So, why does my HTPC use so much of the CPU when I am playing movies and I have a discrete video card (nVidia 430)? 😕

Your GPU is used only if the player/codec uses it. For instance with web based video, Flash (Hulu) uses the GPU but Silverlight (Netflix) does not. Software players that play movies off your hard drive usually does not use GPU acceleration, and if they do you have to spend some time setting it up and it may only support certain codecs. A quick search netted this article on media players supporting GPU acceleration.

Also, EVERYTHING still uses the CPU, even if it can use GPU acceleration. It just uses the CPU less.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Your GPU is used only if the player/codec uses it. For instance with web based video, Flash (Hulu) uses the GPU but Silverlight (Netflix) does not. Software players that play movies off your hard drive usually does not use GPU acceleration, and if they do you have to spend some time setting it up and it may only support certain codecs. A quick search netted this article on media players supporting GPU acceleration.

Also, EVERYTHING still uses the CPU, even if it can use GPU acceleration. It just uses the CPU less.

Gotcha. Well, I am using XBMC as my media server, which is playing HD Blu Ray movies I have ripped to my Home Server's harddrive, and streamed over Cat6 from my Home Server. I see the CPU pretty much hovering around 60% during XBMC movie playbackof these movies, with temps of one core at 47 to 51C and the other core around 40 to 45C.

But when absolutely nothing is going on, the CPU is idling at < 10%, I see temps of 38 to 42C.

Should I be concerned? Is that too hot? Or am I driving myself nuts?

And is there a way to tell XBMC to use video hardware acceleration?

EDIT: I did a quick search, and there is a way to enable hardware acceleration for XBMC! Why it is not on by default, is beyond me (could they not detect I have a video card)? Anyway, now, my CPU is just about idling at 10% during movie playback, and temps are around 42 to 45C. Still warm, but not 69.1.

 

[jae]

Anyway, now, my CPU is just about idling at 10% during movie playback, and temps are around 42 to 45C. Still warm, but not 69.1.

Have you tried reconfiguring your fans to push the air through the system? The heatsink fan blows hot air off the cpu so u want the case fans near it to blow that air out and case fans on the opposite side to blow your cool/room temp air in.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[GamingDaemon]

Have you tried reconfiguring your fans to push the air through the system? The heatsink fan blows hot air off the cpu so u want the case fans near it to blow that air out and case fans on the opposite side to blow your cool/room temp air in.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

So that sort of is how I have it. Originally, Silverstone's case fans had all three 120 fans pushing air into the case. When I replace the 2 beside the CPU (with the stock cooler, the it pushes the air straight up), I faced them so the push the air out of the case (to the right). That left the one 120 fan on the left pulling air in. So, air should be going from left to right across the CPU.

 

[Zap]

I see the CPU pretty much hovering around 60% during XBMC movie playbackof these movies, with temps of one core at 47 to 51C and the other core around 40 to 45C.

But when absolutely nothing is going on, the CPU is idling at < 10%, I see temps of 38 to 42C.

Should I be concerned? Is that too hot? Or am I driving myself nuts?

I bolded it. Seriously though, why would it be too hot? 38°C is almost body temperature. Does that mean YOU are too hot? Uh, wait, don't answer that. :whiste:

I know people OBSESS and OBSESS and OBSESS (and OBSESS some more) over temperatures. Oh, and have I mentioned that people OBSESS over temperatures?

It is one thing if you were having stability issues or were trying for record overclocks. However, you are running at stock speeds under normal conditions.

What does Intel say about your G530? Tcase = 69.1°C. I think that's the max temperature of the heatspreader, which would put max core temperature around 10-15% higher. In any case, you are so far below this temperature (and using the tiny stock heatsink too) that I have no idea why you are concerned whatsoever.

 

[MangoX]

Damn, I did something similar too. Built a PC for a buddy with a H50 and forgot to connect the header for the pump. Didn't even realized until I noticed the CPU at near 100C in the BIOS. Luckily the CPU is safe =)

 

[GamingDaemon]

I bolded it. Seriously though, why would it be too hot? 38°C is almost body temperature. Does that mean YOU are too hot? Uh, wait, don't answer that. :whiste:

I know people OBSESS and OBSESS and OBSESS (and OBSESS some more) over temperatures. Oh, and have I mentioned that people OBSESS over temperatures?

It is one thing if you were having stability issues or were trying for record overclocks. However, you are running at stock speeds under normal conditions.

What does Intel say about your G530? Tcase = 69.1°C. I think that's the max temperature of the heatspreader, which would put max core temperature around 10-15% higher. In any case, you are so far below this temperature (and using the tiny stock heatsink too) that I have no idea why you are concerned whatsoever.

LOL! Thanks for settign me straight. 🙂 I still can't believe I had it at 90C and it still worked. Hopefully there won't be any long-term damage.

Damn, I did something similar too. Built a PC for a buddy with a H50 and forgot to connect the header for the pump. Didn't even realized until I noticed the CPU at near 100C in the BIOS. Luckily the CPU is safe =)

One good thing that will come of this: I will never, ever again wrap up a PC build without checking that the CPU fan is working first 😀

 

[tweakboy]

Hi Folks,

I just finished assembling my brand new HTPC with a Celeron G530 (stock Intel heatsink) and an nVidia 430. When I first installed Win7 on it, it was running quite, around 30 to 35 C. But that was all of ten minutes.

Then I carried it up to the home theatre room, and installed it in the rack. Now the rack is not closed, and the closet the rack is in is left open. The HTPC has some room in the rack for air circulation immediately around it, but not a lot. The rack itself has a lot of breathing room; it is a huge closet.

Anyway, after rebooting for many Windows updates, I noticed that the temperatures was hovering around 85 to 90 C!! It was in the midst of recalibrating the bluetooth for my keyboard and mouse. Eventually, it just kind of got stuck, and I had to restart the PC by hand. ICK.

Anyway, it is back up and running again and doing more updates, hovering around 70 to 75 C. The video card should be doing all the graphical work when I play my movies, so why is the CPU hovering around 80% busy all the time and running so hot?

The ambient room temp is like 70 farenheit. Should I get an aftermarket heatsink?

EDIT: I noticed that there a program ".NET Runtime Optimization Service" that was chewing up a huge amount of CPU. It finally went away after i downloaded the .NET Client Profile Redist. But everytime I download updates for Windows Update, it skyrockets to 100% CPU and 85 to 90 C.


Thanks in advance 🙁

My advice to you is simple. Just simply take off the side case panel and it will allow your CPU and VC to breath a little. Make sure your room temps are cool, open a window,turn on AC, but once you crack open the side of the case you will see huge drop in temps... gl