CPU temp off the charts with Zalman

[Radiate]

hello people, (this is my first post)..

I bought a Zalman 6000 CNPS ALCu version.


got an Aopen HX08 case. MSI KT Turbo (Via kt133a)

Removed old fan, cleaned the core (didn't get perfectly clean)...applied new thermal compound, installed heatsink. Installed Fan. Reduced fan speed to silent mode. closed case. Installed Mobo monitor and voila the CPU temp is 75-85 degrees Celsius depending on the intensity of the task.

Opened the case and increased the fan speed to max, the temp went down to 53 degrees.

The heatsink feels quite cold. As I wrote earlier didn't get the surface perfectly clean, could it be related to high temp and cold HS?

Removed old compound and applied Artic Silver 2, kinda thick and not too smooth layer of it.

Question is: are those sensors and measurements reliable? What do i use to remove old thermal compound?

 

[dunkster]

Denatured alcohol works very well for cleaning off thermal compound.

I think the Arctic Silver web site has an excellent tutorial on applying compound (think thin - not thick).

If you get cooler temps with your case open, you have a problem with case ventilation.

Hope this helps!

 

[jemcam]

Sorry, I don't have a link, I read a review on that hsf, and it basically said that using those cable to reduce your fan speed (and noise) made temperatures skyrocket.

sorry dude, it sounds like it's working normal to me.

 

[Danlz]

Welcome.

Question 1: Not all m/b monitor software is accurate. Three different monitors installed on a system can give 3 different readings. Go by the temperature reported in the BIOS, or the monitor supplied by your m/b manufacturer. Even a m/b's thermocouple calibration curve can be off by 10C or more.

Question 2: Try the easy stuff first, i.e., rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. As a last resort, carburetor cleaner will clean it. Just be sure the cpu/hsf surface is clean. A speck of dust or hair is enough to interfere with the heat transfer process.

 

[DukeChestnut]

IMO i don't think the zalman is that great a cooler. the architecture of the heat dissipation just doesn't add up in my book. i think its cuz the air only blows down directly on about a 1/3 of the HS while the rest gets diverted air (angle). not to impune your choice of HSF but i doubt you'll get any temps better than in the high 40's.

 

[Radiate]

Hmm, okay thanks guys err..well..have been doing some experimenting..got some denaturated alchohol (ISOPROPANOL)..and the previous compound on the cpu went off, but there were some barely visible stains of old goop on the heatsink..but anyways i think i applied the Artic Silver quite nicely this time...but the temp's arent changing.

So since the temp rises 15-20 degrees when the case is sealed, i was wondering if i should buy a new case. Anyone got experience with the Chieftec Dragon series?

And umm, any OTHER air-cooling-solutions which can do better job but with same noise-amount (20 dB(A) ) ?

 

[juanlopez]

I got the Zalman and experienced some high temperatures too. Changing from a packed case to a more spacious Antec didn't help much, but the addition of 4 case fans (two in and two out) did help. Still this increased noise. I am still trying to get a balance between noise and temperatures. So far I have bought a QuietPC PS, Zalman HS/fan, Antec Case, 4 case fans and cut the noise significantly.

 

[o1die]

If you don't mind a little extra noise, check out the maxtop case at newegg (I paid $47, but the price may have come down). It comes with 3 case fans (I added 2 more for a total of 5) and a 350 watt power supply standard (both amd and intel approved). The 5 volt rail on mine is 5.08 under load.