Is it relatively safe to run an XP-90 without a fan?

[Aisengard]

I have a Athlon 64 3200+ with an XP-90 heatsink on it. Would it be safe for me to run this without a fan on the heatsink at the moment? I won't be doing any overclocking until the fan thing comes to make my fan wires non-bare (I have a panaflo 92mm with bare wires). I just want to install windows and make my system stable, which is what I would do anyway before any overclocking happens. I have an Antec P160 case with two 120mm fans.

 

[RussianSensation]

Technically you can set a shutdown temperature at say 70*C on your motherboard. That way if the cpu overheats, the system will shut itself down. Until you get a suitable fan, you can take off one of those 120mm fans, turn the computer upside down, and simply place it on top of the heatsink. That should do the job.

 

[Stokes]

The XP-90 is an excellent cooling solution and mostly even without a fan it is better cooling then the stock heatsink and fan that was provided with the chip.

If you are just running stock speeds, the XP-90 will have no problem handling idle and load without a fan on it. If you were overclocking then I would start to really monitor the temperature and make sure it doesn't get too high. I personally think 70 C is too high, I would like to see everything below 60 C. But 70C is a good shutdown temperature if you have that feature. Otherwise, you should have no problem. I wouldn't sit there not doing anything on the computer worrying it will overheat with just the heatsink

 

[Aisengard]

Will do, thanks Stokes!

 

[bjc112]

Now I don't know about Stokes, but I personally don't think the XP-90 can keep a 3200+ under 60C without a fan.

I could be wrong though.

<- Has XP-90 himself.

 

[IntegraGSR]

it really depends on the airflow in your case.. the xp-90 is capable of keeping the cpu within reasonable temps, its just a matter of whether its getting enough cool air/hot air is being exhausted fast enough.. given the thread starter's case/fan setup. i agree with Stokes

 

[SrGuapo]

Yeah if there is no airflow or you have a hot room, the chip will still overheat. I would leave the side open and maybe put a large floor fan next to it blowing in if you can.

Just set a 65-70 C shutdown temp in the bios and try it out.

 

[JBT]

uhh with no fan the temps will just keep slowly rising and rising until it shuts down on your or locks up. It won't kill the CPU though.

If I were you I would atleast lower the multiplier and vcore until your fan gets there. Either way if you set it to shut down at like 65C, 70C it should be fine.

 

[Baked]

Only if you have a hood/duct right over the CPU heatsink and have all the case fans sucking air out of the case.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: JBT
uhh with no fan the temps will just keep slowly rising and rising until it shuts down on your or locks up. It won't kill the CPU though.

If I were you I would atleast lower the multiplier and vcore until your fan gets there. Either way if you set it to shut down at like 65C, 70C it should be fine.

Right, the one thing you could try is removing the side panel and setting up a large room fan to blow into the case, that should work.

 

[Venomous]

lower the voltage to 1.35 and you will be fine. Ive been running a passively cooled clawhammer 3200 with an XP-90C without a fan for almost 3 months.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Venomous
lower the voltage to 1.35 and you will be fine. Ive been running a passively cooled clawhammer 3200 with an XP-90C without a fan for almost 3 months.

Better yet lower the multi to 5x and drop the voltage to 1.0.