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Good cpu hsf for 1155 without a backplate

D

Danimal1209

Senior member
Hey guys, I am looking for a new hsf for my i3. When I installed the stock cooler it was idling around 35, but now, 2 weeks later it is idling at ~44 and hitting nearly 70c on load.

I am looking for a good cooler that doesn't use a backplate so I do not have to remove the motherboard. Any suggestions? Newegg doesn't really show which ones require a backplate and which ones don't.
 
An i3 shouldn't be running that hot even with the stock cooler... kinda sounds like the problem might be something else to me. Case not getting enough ventilation? Dust? Bad mounting? Maybe one of those pushpins wasn't fully secured?
 
Applying artic silver 5 to my old i3 2100,load temps never hit over 55cel for the few short months i used it with a cm hyper 101 which had a push pin design like the stock cooler.

The stock cooler should not be giving you those temps the stock cooler happens to keep my 2500k at around 60cel max load with stock thermal paste so i would check to make sure all the pins are fastened securely and check for dust or proper airflow.

Edit: coretemp is giving me 32-34cel idle temps as we speak
 
I have this case:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227

and I've added a few fans. So I have the front 120mm pulling air in, a top 120mm pulling air in, a 120mm on the side blowing right on my gpu, and the exhaust fan in the back...well....exhausting.

I didn't put on new paste, I just used the pre-applied stuff. The guy at microcenter told me not to bother with removing the old paste and applying new paste. I bought some paste anyway but I didn't apply it.
 
That case doesn't have a cutout so you would need to remove the motherboard to install most heatsinks. The one I linked has push pins so you don't need to.

I would recommend switching your top case fan to exhaust. Also, if you bought aftermarket thermal paste it will almost certainly be better than the included paste on the stock heatsink. I would probably just grab that heatsink I linked along with another 92 mm fan for push/pull, install it with the paste you bought, flip the top case fan over for exhaust, and call it a day.
 
Actually I saw an article that tested the thermal paste that Intel puts on the stock cooler, and it works better than all of the after market stuff that they tested. However, over time it may break down. It is also possible that the cooler gets loose from a not so good push pin. I purchased an Antec 300 and it has the cutout oun the back of the motherboard and I like being able to see how the pushpins come through the motherboard. I have seen how if you are not careful installing the cooler, that the push pins splits apart and not all of it is pushed through causing it not to sit level.
 
The Zalman CNPS5X-SZ and some (all?) of the SilenX HSFs use an attachment method that doesn't require motherboard removal for installation. They use a plastic mounting frame that has pushpin like nubs at the ends that snap into the HS holes in your mobo. Then you push plastic pins into the frame's corners which spread the nubs out (just like pressing down on pushpins does for HSFs so equipped) and locks the frame to the mobo. It works just like pushpins do, but doesn't require massive force at installation as the HSF is attached to the frame AFTER the frame is installed. It's not as secure as having a backing plate and it probably doesn't generate as strong a bind between the processor / HSF as a backing plate would allow, but it works pretty darn well and is very easy to use.
 
The TX3 linked to in the second post dropped my load temps by 15-20C over the stock Intel HSF. Didn't do much of anything for idle temps, though (maybe 2C).
 
Stock heatinsk is fine. Although 44c sounds a bit warm, it's not going to hurt anything. Try reseating it.
 
TidusZ said:
That case doesn't have a cutout so you would need to remove the motherboard to install most heatsinks. The one I linked has push pins so you don't need to.
Click to expand...

actually, if you look at the photos at the newegg page, it does. it should be as simple as removing both side panels and installing the heatsink.

unless you have an older version that doesn't, then never mind.

also, you might try to reverse the top fan so it blows out and see what that does to your temps.
 
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I've used that case for numerous budget builds for people.

I always install 3 120mm fans in it, never an issue with air.

I'd reseat the HSF with new paste first.

I've used the Corsair A50/A70 in this case with good luck (backplate tho..)

And that case has a Cutout inside.... you don't need to remove the motherboard. I know from experience!
 
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44 idle and 70 under load for an i3? Something isn't right there. There is no way that stock heatsink is mounted properly.
 
^ Surprised it took this long to be mentioned.

With temps like that, we can be pretty sure that the stock cooler is not mounted 100% tight... With the stock push-pins, especially without a cutout to double check that they're all the way through, it's easy to get 3/4 right or 2/4 right and the others not 100% through.

I would remove the stock HSF, remove paste, apply new, and re-install being 2x more careful to make sure that all the push pins are through all the way... Or just double check them without removing 🙂

Again, with temps nearing 70C something isn't right, and the easiest thing to not get right is those damn push pins 🙂
 
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