Help, system running too hot!

[Staz]

I have a Opty 148 OC'ed to 2.6GHz with a SI-120 heatsink and a Panaflo 120mm fan on it, and my CPU temps are peaking in the mid 60's when stressed. I use Artic Silver 5 as my compound and know how to apply it correclty.

Any recommendations as to what I can do to reduce my temps?

Some of my thoughts are...
1) Get a more powerful 120mm fan.
2) Try a different compound, maybe something better?
3) Get a different Heatsink outright, but which one?

 

[Ayah]

Case airflow?
What speed of panaflo?
AS5 takes about 200 hours (of run time, on and off) to "settle" in.
I do recommend the Scythe Ninja. (If you want to change heatsinks)

 

[Staz]

Sorry, forgot that info...

Case is a Antec P-160 with two Panaflo 120mm low speed case fans. The fan on the CPU is high speed Panaflo, but not the super high. Case temps are 28-30 off-peak, and 33-35 peak. CPU has been running on this system for 6+ months, but have not been playing 3D games on it until recently, which is when I noticed the high temps. I originally had it OC'ed to 2.8, but my RAM was unstable, so backed it off to 2.6, and it has been running fine since, just hot. Video card is a ATI X850XT AGP running at stock speeds.

 

[Ayah]

Your two low Panaflos, where are they?

 

[Staz]

Front and back.

 

[Clinth]

where are you getting the temp reading? keep in mind that alot of the temp are off..and I mean off. I overclock and use a peltier to cool my cpu, this difference between the MB reporting and a thermocouple touching the die has been as much as 20 off. so keep that in mind and judge off how the cpu runs.

the case you have has great air flow so if you are sure on your temp I would say you not contacting the cpu correctly: aka tilting a little or try a different heatsink. your thermal paste is tops.

Clinth

 

[Staz]

If I were to switch to new HSF, what are some of the better choices that would cost $50 or under for both the HS and fan, or one that I can reuse my existing 120mm fan? Is a copper core or even a all copper unit prefered? Are they worth the extra money?

 

[0roo0roo]

its not too hot.