Hyper 212+ - Cool to touch?

[Jawnathin]

Hi there,

Just finished a Sandy Bridge build and I've been having some temp issues using a Hyper 212+ in a dual fan push/pull setup.

When running a stress test like IBT or Prime95, the CPU temps get quite warm, averaging around 80C, and topping out at around 86C @ 4.5Ghz/1.3vcore. I've gotten to Mid 90s when testing with faster clockspeeds and higher vcore earlier. Idle is around 40C.

I tried reapplying the paste and remounting the heatsink, but not much improvement.

I touch the heatsink fins and even some of the copper heat pipes, but they're all relatively cool to the touch. Is this normal? I'm wondering if there is a contact issue which is why the heatsink is cool but the CPU is running a little warm.

Is it possible I didn't tighten it up enough? Its hard to gauge how tight is too tight and I didn't want to break anything.

Thanks in advance.

 

[fffblackmage]

It could mean you're using too much TIM.

You should also be able to tighten the bolts all the way until it stops at some point.

 

[Jawnathin]

It could mean you're using too much TIM.

You should also be able to tighten the bolts all the way until it stops at some point.

Thanks blackmage. I definitely had too much the first time around and was a bit more conservative on the reinstall. Both the heatsink and heatspreader look similar to this picture. Do you think thats still too much?

In regards to the bolts, would tightening all the way become an issue? I've heard of people flexing the motherboard PCB and mounting brackets when mounting the HSF, so I thought that there was a point to stop before tightening all the way.

BTW, since you have the same HSF, do the fins get warm when the CPU is at full load?

Thanks again.

 

[fffblackmage]

That amount of TIM should be ok.

You shouldn't have to worry about the mobo flexing, it's what the backplate is for - the heatsink and backplate sandwiches the mobo and CPU in between. Even when the bolts are fully tightened, all the pressure comes from the springs under compression.

The fins on my 212+ does get warm under load, but I run my 212+ fanless. I have enough case fans that CPU temps don't exceed 60C unless I run Prime64 or OCCT, but then again, I have no clue what CPU temps will be like once I start seeing 100F ambients during the summer.

 

[Jawnathin]

Thank you. I'll go ahead and tighten it down some more.

Meanwhile, I got Speedstepping enabled and at idle the CPU is around 30C @ 1600mhz/0.850~ vcore. That seems more normal, but under Prime95/IBT, it gets quite hot.

Thanks again.