Intel Stock Cooler is a Joke

[Bryf50]

Im putting together a computer for a friend and ordered a Q9550. I wasn't planning on overclocking so I figured the stock cooler would be fine. When I got the processor the cooler is the same tiny one that came with my e2180 and somehow they expect it to cool at 2.83ghz Quad-Core.

So i figured i would try it out and it is unusable. It idles at over 50C with speedstep lowering the voltage and clocks. Running OCCT it goes beyond 70C in seconds and stops the test. Btw, Im using this case with the two 120mm fans.

Did anyone else ever try to use the stock cooler? When I first looked at the cooler I thought they sent me the wrong one. The one that came with my q6600 was double the size.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Are you sure you have it seated correctly? No way your temps should be that bad, even with the stock cooler.

 

[Bryf50]

I even installed the cooler with the motherboard out to ensure that all the pins were fine. Just looking at the heatsink it doesn't even look capable of cooling a quad-core.

 

[roid450]

The temps that Bry is getting are almsot exactly the temps i got on Q6600 at 3.0ghz with stock cooler. Switched to tuniq and I idle at around ~32C and load in Crysis at 48-52 on Low rpm.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: roid450
The temps that Bry is getting are almsot exactly the temps i got on Q6600 at 3.0ghz with stock cooler. Switched to tuniq and I idle at around ~32C and load in Crysis at 48-52 on Low rpm.

Except you are overclocking a Q6600 that uses 65nm architecture.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Well first off, what program are you using to monitor temps? You should be using Coretemp or Realtemp if you're not already. Also make sure that you have the correct TJMax set. TJMax is 100c for all Q9XX chips. IIRC Coretemp comes preset at 90C and Realtemp comes preset at 95C (or vice a versa) so you'll have to change them to get an accurate temp reading.

However, even if you're getting 75C you're still well away from TJMax temps so I'm really doubting temps are the cause of your instability under load. Especially since the temps you've given us are most likely wrong on the high side. I'd start looking elsewhere for the cause of your problem. If you have a decent multimeter check your voltages at idle and under load to see if they're drooping severely. Also, get a copy of memtest and let it run overnight.

Btw, wtf is OOCT? Use prime95

 

[Bryf50]

Alright so I was useing coretemp my TJMax was at 100 when I downloaded it. There wasn't really any instability just the temps were higher then i thought they should be.

I think I figured out a problem. The motherboard isn't running the fans any faster as it gets hotter. I plugged just my cpu fan right into the powersupply and my load temps dropped 10 degrees. I dont get it. Im using this motherboard btw.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Bryf50
There wasn't really any instability just the temps were higher then i thought they should be.

If it wasn't unstable, then don't worry about it. Enthusiasts seem to obsess over temperatures, but the rest of the world who use 99% of the non-enthusiast computers are running those hot temperatures just fine. Intel's board is running the fan enough to keep the CPU from cooking, while keeping it quiet - just as designed.

 

[Bryf50]

I guess your right. Whats the max temp these processors can handle? Is the load temp close to 80 degrees really not that big of a deal?

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Bryf50
I guess your right. Whats the max temp these processors can handle?

Tjunction info

Basically, the "Tjunction Max" is the temperature where thermal protection is engaged. Translation: The CPU will survive lower temperatures. Note that this does not mean stable operation as overclocking will require reduced temperatures.

The other thing is that "45nm Core 2 processor [] sensors suffer from extremely high amounts of 'slope error,' that is, they become less accurate as the real temperatures moves further from Tjunction Max."

So, if the temperature sensor is reporting a temperature that is at or near Tjunction Max, then it is fairly accurate. If it is displaying a number that is far from Tjunction Max, then it is giving you a false reading.

So, what is Tjunction Max? It is different for different processor lines. For the Q9550, Tjunction Max is 100ºC.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Disable "CPU Smart Fan" in BIOS, that usually makes the fan run at 100%. That's what I do.