Cooling an Overclocked X2 4400+ at 2.6GHz and above

[ramuman]

Guys, I searched for this and saw threads mainly on X2 3800+ cooling. I saw one on 4400+ cooling that got derailled.

So here's my question. I have a X2 4400+ that I am currently cooling with a Zalman 7000b AlCu. I have it 240x11 ~2.6GHz at 1.45V. Its idling at about 44C (chipset is 40C). However I ran two CPU burn in proggies (Prime/Toast) and within about 15 minutes, temps shot up to 70C at which point I canceled the test.

I bought the 4400+ Retail so I have that HSF, would that be better than the 7000AlCu? The reason I don't just put it on is I don't want to remove that pink compound if I don't have to.

Any suggestions on better air cooling? Quiet would be a big plus. My case is a Lian Li PC7 with 2 80mm front Panaflos (high speeds which are mobo temp controlled) and 1 80mm rear Panaflo (high speed and temp controlled) plus the NeoPower PSU fan. Currently temp control is off so all fans run at full speed.

I realize 2 1MB cache cores at 2.6GHz produce a lot of heat - anyway to effectively manage it?

Are there other recomended coolers like the Zalman 9500 etc.? I don't want to drop 40 bucks on a HSF just to find out it doesn't help control my load temps.

Before anyone asks why I'm overclocking a 4400+, its just for fun, of course I don't really need to OC it.

 

[drwngflies]

Dude, you need to be able to add first, before attempting OC'n.
250x11 ain't 2.6, it's 2.75 GHz
And 44'C idle is gonna burn it up quick, or at least shorten the lifespan considerably.
Mine, at 228x11 idles at 36'C with a Zalman CNPS7000B, 1.4v, with an ambient temp of 35'C.
Sounds like you're overvolting, or applied the thermal paste incorrectly.
Drop the CPUv and change those 80's out for 120's.

 

[ramuman]

Originally posted by: drwngflies
Dude, you need to be able to add first, before attempting OC'n.
250x11 ain't 2.6, it's 2.75 GHz
And 44'C idle is gonna burn it up quick, or at least shorten the lifespan considerably.
Mine, at 228x11 idles at 36'C with a Zalman CNPS7000B, 1.4v, with an ambient temp of 35'C.
Sounds like you're overvolting, or applied the thermal paste incorrectly.
Drop the CPUv and change those 80's out for 120's.

If you're gonna be a smartass about correcting me, at least say multiply (technically its a form of addition I suppose) , but I meant 240 not 250. Your temps seem a lot better than mine though.

Also, how in the world am I simply going to swap out the 80mm fans for 120s? If my case could take 120s or 92s, I would have those in there instead of the 80mms.

I also felt pretty confident my AS application was fine, but I could well be wrong.

AFAIK, I'm not overvolting because I am checking the voltage in BIOS and with CPU-Z, Sandra etc.

For people with these in the 2.4+ GHz range, what sort of temps are you getting with both cores loaded? I feel as if it has a bit more room if I can keep temps in check.

 

[drwngflies]

Using BIOS I set my Vcore @ 1.425v, but both Sandra and CPUz show different voltage.
Trust 'em if you want, I don't. Software that is designed to work with different CPU/Mobo combo's, can produce erroneous results.
Sure, they can be right sometimes, but not with every combo possible.
Any way, CPUz shows my Vcore fluctuating between 1.44 and 1.5 volts, either my Mobo is failing, or it is wrong.
Stable with two P95's at once, for 8 hrs, with no fluctuation in CPU temp, I feel CPUz is wrong.
Sandra also show different values for my Vcore and fans speeds. ex: Sandra says my CPU fan is 1200rpm when it's 2460 in BIOS, ( I don't enable C&Q), and it says my case fan is 6000+ rpm . . .
I was assuming, forgive me, that 120's could be replacements, my cheapo XBlade case could, and that's what I did, to drop amb temps, I thought that nice Lian Li could also.
If you wanna go further, I guess you could look at the new Zalman 9500, it's lighter than this 7000, (about 100g), and cools almost as good as water.
But it's huge... make sure you have space for it, check protrusions from Mobo, PCI devices, etc carefully, there has been a couple of instances where certain objects on Mobo were too close. I think one issue, was couldn't access the RAM with it in place, on certain Mobo's.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=37&threadid=1723066&enterthread=y

 

[lopri]

Would your case be able to house a fan like this? It helps alot.

http://img498.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc001121yz.jpg

 

[Markbnj]

I have a 4400+ running at 2.5, 250 x 10, at 1.475v, and have the all-copper version of the same Zalman HSF.

My Wavemaster doesn't have very good airflow, and the chip was idling at 42+ deg. c. Loaded temps for games were in the mid to high 50's, and Prime95 quickly took me to the 65c spec heat limit for the chip (speaking of which I wouldn't let it get to 70c very often ).

Following some advice in another thread, I modded the case to add a 120mm side panel fan blowing right onto the Zalman. Idle temps are now 32-33c, game loads 40-42c. I haven't Primed it again but I would expect low 50's.

 

[ramuman]

It sounds as if I should just get a case with more airflow , but I don't want to throw that much more money at this. The PC7 (which is the case I have) has probably the least airflow of all the mid and full tower Lian Lis. I would hate to modify the side panel and throw more air in when I don't have much in the way of exhaust.

I'm surprised because I had a Venice and Newcastle in here that loaded got to maybe mid 40s under prime and clock for clock, the .09 dual cores are supposed to be less power hungry than the .13 single cores (per the Anandtech Review).

Regarding what drwngflies said, if a 9500 would help me with the airflow I have, then I'd be all over it. Do you have thoughts regarding this? I have no experience with that HSF.

Also, any idea on if the stock HSF with the heatpipes is going to be better than the 7000?

I was very unprepared to see the Zalman killed by this chip. I will probably do another AS application too.

Oh well, I can't do much without it hopping easily over 50C - even games like FEAR and BF2 do that.

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Here is a pic of the inside of my case, you'll see the 2 80s up front and 1 in the back. I barely have anything in there to block airflow. (B&W pic for the dialup crowd)

http://www.missouri.edu/~rr471/PC/IMG_0012.jpg

 

[drwngflies]

What I suggest, is dissasemble the components: Mobo, PCI cards, from case... Manually open up the rear where the 80mm exhaust is, and enlarge it enough for a 120mm, this should remove more heat from your system. The (2) 80's up front should be more "relaxed" on back pressure, and with the 120 "pulling" air out, the (2) 80's should let more in.
Possibly, add an internal 80mm fan, attached to the rear (with 1/2" spacers) of your Optical drive compartment, (or lower), forcing air across the CPU and Mobo.
Increase the flow of air across the Mobo:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/drwngflies/IMG_0012.jpg
The easiest way, is to use a drill, and a hole saw, a 120mm is about 4 3/4 ". Home Depot has hole saws this large, but at $25+, for a 4 1/2" model, $37 for a 4 3/4" unit.
Another way, is to use a drill and a dremel tool with appropriate cutting wheels. You should have further use from a Dremel, if purchased, unlike the hole saw. Another similar tool is the RotoZip, it is very handy.
Good Luck

 

[ramuman]

I don't think there is physically any room left for a 120mm fan - maybe a 92. The case has a back limiting the largest fan. I do have access to a Dremel and have considered it. Maybe a 92mm fan might be a good idea I might try adding the 80mm inside the case, easiest solution. Actually, I wish I could force the NeoPower's 120 to kick on high. It just sits there spinning very slowly. I guess no way to do this without voiding the warranty on it.

 

[drwngflies]

You have room for another 80 below it, or (2) 92's then, that's an option, cheaper than another case.

 

[ramuman]

Originally posted by: drwngflies
You have room for another 80 below it, or (2) 92's then, that's an option, cheaper than another case.

Well I might be able to do 1 92 or add another 80mm below it. 2 92s would be great, but I just checked with 92mm fan grills and there's no way, I can't even do 1 80 and 1 92.

 

[drwngflies]

Two 80's should move more than (1) 92mm. Go for it.

 

[racinjimy]

if you kiss your IHS goodbye it could help

do this at your own peril

IHS removed on my opteron 175

 

[imported_ST]

instead of looking at fans, which is a bandaid, i'd really suggest ur look at a whole new HSF. The Zalman while quiet, doesn't have the best c/w at around .31. I'd highly recommend u go to more advanced heatpipe solutions like the Thermalright XP90c/SI120/ Thermaltake big Typhoon, Scythe Ninjas,etc. Those have much better c/w, thus can more efficiently transfer the heat away from ur cpu (which i must say is astronomically high). Pick yourself up some AS5 while ur at it.