Is my H50 working properly?

[Synomenon]

I just installed BOINC and have it running a couple of projects. After running it the whole night, I checked temps. (BOINC is still running). All four cores + the four virtual cores were at 100 percent utilization all night.

The current temps. (w/ BOINC still running) are:

Core 1: 61C
Core 2: 59C
Core 3: 61C
Core 4: 59C


Do those look ok or are they too high?


Also, if the H50 is working properly, are the sides of the radiator and reservoir supposed to feel very warm when you touch them?

 

[aigomorla]

you been on the forum since 2004 and you forgot how to ask for help with temps?



1. Vcore
2. OC.
3. Ambients @ the radiator

We require at least this much to help ya out.

 

[Synomenon]

I'm running everything stock. No overclocking or undervolting. How do I check ambient temps. @ the radiator?

 

[llee]

The H50 isn't a miracle cpu cooler as it's painted out to be. The radiator and sides should feel warm if it's doing its job, dissipating heat. I think you have a poor contact between the heatsink and the cpu. Try reapplying thermal compound properly and see if that makes a difference. You didn't list your CPU (not in specs either) so I can't compare apples to oranges, but my Core i7-860 (at stock) hits the lower 50s while doing Folding@Home.

 

[Synomenon]

My radiator is wram to the touch that's why I asked about that. My CPU is in my sig..

 

[aigomorla]

I'm running everything stock. No overclocking or undervolting. How do I check ambient temps. @ the radiator?

u take a thermometer.

The kind you put in your mouth when your sick.

Put it up near the fan in the intake of your radiator for about 30 seconds

See what temp it reports.

Then put it on the exhaust of your rad, and see if it has a delta.


Usually the best upgrade for this kit is adding a second fan in a push/pull config.

 

[extra]

The H50 isn't a miracle cpu cooler as it's painted out to be. The radiator and sides should feel warm if it's doing its job, dissipating heat. I think you have a poor contact between the heatsink and the cpu. Try reapplying thermal compound properly and see if that makes a difference. You didn't list your CPU (not in specs either) so I can't compare apples to oranges, but my Core i7-860 (at stock) hits the lower 50s while doing Folding@Home.

First off...Aigo... that wasn't the mouth we put those in... (JK JK just had too!)

Anyway. The H50 hasn't ever been billed as a "miracle" cooler... But yeah, you're right, radiator feeling warm is a *good* thing. The H50 is however competitive with air coolers at the price, and takes up MUCH less room in your case. The H50 isn't going to match or outperform a high end Noctua, but it also doesn't block your ram slots and look ridiculous...lol.

Anyway, 60c under load is fine, however for stock the H50 should be able to keep it in the lower 50's depending on your room temp

Make sure the cooler is tightened down on all 4 sides. You used the stock thermal paste on the H50, right? (It's VERY good). Is your fan blowing air from *outside* the case in, like corsair recommends? If yes, try adding another fan in a pull config.. so you have two on it. That is good for 4-6C drop in temps. But anyway, 60c under load is fine. I think you can get better out of it for stock, but meh. My rig under a nice custom water cooling setup sometimes gets into the 60's depending on room temps, and I consider that to be very good, i7's run super hot (then again i'm putting 1.425vcore and 1.367vtt through it at 4.4ghz lol).

 

[Synomenon]

I took the stock stuff off and replaced it with some MX2 I had around.

The fan is actually sucking air out of the case through the radiator because it's all squished together against an opening in the case and the side of the PSU:

That was the only place it would fit in my case.

 

[Synomenon]

I just did a search and see lots of comments regarding how hot the i7-860S gets compared to other i7 processors which surprises me since it has a lower 82W TDP.

 

[TemjinGold]

My CPU is in my sig..

Your sig says "CPU"...

 

[Synomenon]

Thanks, I could have sworn I had my CPU in there. I use the same sig. on a couple of other tech forums and those forums have my CPU in them.

 

[zagood]

This is the worst possible configuration I think I've ever seen. I'm surprised your temps are as good as they are. If you have a little space on top of your case, I would suggest attaching the radiator to the inside of the case and the fan on the outside of the case. Either intake or exhaust, blowback from the small space will make intake less efficient than normal so test it both ways.

Also get a fan guard since your fan's going to be in free space.

 

[faxon]

just an FYI but the MX2 you used is probably worse than what came with it. the stock paste was shin etsu x23-7783D. MX2 is no slouch either, but you could have got better temps with what it shipped with . zagood is right though about the airflow, its probably starved for air and heating up as a result. i would definitely consider moving the rad to a better location like the rear exhaust for your case, and putting a second fan in push on it if you didnt already.

 

[aigomorla]

Your sig says "CPU"...

ROFL... sorry i almost spat coffee at this comment..

yeah its kinda hard figuring out what cpu the OP has when it says CPU.

 

[zagood]

i would definitely consider moving the rad to a better location like the rear exhaust for your case, and putting a second fan in push on it if you didnt already.

His case. Ouch. Not many options.

 

[Synomenon]

The only other option I have is to replace my 750W SilverStone ST75F-P with a 450W SilverStone ST45SF SFX PSU. I don't know though if that's enough power for my system.

Also, the thought of going back to a non-modular PSU makes me cringe.

Finally, I think the ST45SF would be louder than the ST75F-P since the ST45SF has an 80mm fan vs. the 135mm fan in the ST75F-P.

 

[Synomenon]

Just found out that Performance-PCs can turn any PSU into a modular PSU, but it costs around $75 to do this on the ST45SF.

Another way to rearrange things is to attach the radiator to the 140mm fan using a 140mm to 120mm adapter, but then the heat from the radiator would be blowing back into the case. Kind of how it was setup in a SilverStone SG05.

Also, another reason I replaced the H50's stock Shin Etsu thermal compound was that Corsair just put way too much on there and all I had on hand was MX2.

 

[Synomenon]

So which option would be best?

- Replace my PSU with a SilverStone ST45SF SFX PSU (would this be enough power for my configuration?)

or

- Mount the radiator to the front 140mm intake fan using a 120mm to 140mm adapter (all the heat from the radiator would be blown back into the case, but then the 135mm fan in my PSU + the 120mm exhaust fan on the top of the case are there to help with that heat).

 

[CurseTheSky]

I would mount the radiator in the front using an adapter. Also, if your graphics card is the type that vents outside of the case (full shroud, not the "egg" cooler), try turning the top 120mm fan around for extra intake. After using both the Silverstone FT01 and FT02, I'm a HUGE fan of positive pressure and notice a large benefit to configuring a case that way.

 

[Synomenon]

My HD5770 uses a an Arctic Cooling designed HSF that doesn't vent outside the case:

If I mount the H50 radiator to that front 140mm intake fan, should I still turn the top 120mm fan into an intake?

Just nevous about pumping all that heat from the radiator back into the case over the motherboard and all the components.

Also, I just read about the Corsair H70 today. The pump / heatsink is much smaller, but the radiator is much thicker.

If I'm going to mount the H50 radiator on the front 140mm fan, might as well return the H50 and get a H70.

 

[CurseTheSky]

With that style graphics card heatsink / fan, I'd put the radiator on the 140mm front intake (as described before), and keep the top 120mm fan as exhaust.

 

[Synomenon]

Does everyone else agree that I should just mount the radiator on the 140mm front intake fan?

 

[faxon]

His case. Ouch. Not many options.

wow i totally missed that, i built 5 boxes with that case just a couple weeks ago for someone (good money), yea thats really the only place you can mount it in there, i missed the airflow orientation, its small but it should be fine more or less, airflow will only be partially obstructed. still, isnt ideal case layout. i was planning a similar concept for a build in that exact case, but i was planning to just use a 140mm fan attached to a 140mm rad, the rubber mounts holding the fan in are pretty sturdy once in place, so the weight shouldnt be an issue. if it is i can just drill holes and use a couple rubber washers so i dont scratch the case up any more. the top location really isnt the ideal spot to mount a rad all in all, but it isnt out of the question. your temps are higher than average with that cooler but i would hardly call them bad. i think the suggestions about using a 120mm fan adapter for the 140 mount, or my simple mod idea, are both good options to consider. if you do the mod idea though let me know how it works out

 

[Synomenon]

There's a very tiny gap b/w the side of the PSU and the radiator and b/w the radiator and the 120mm fan. Also, another reason I used that Enermax fan is that the frame has cutouts so that it can suck air in from the sides too. They call it a "halo frame" w/ punched air intakes.

I'm still considering just getting rid of the ST75F-P and getting the ST45SF SFX PSU so that I'll have the space I need up there.

Another thing; I didn't know the stock thermal compound on the H50 is better than MX2, BUT Corsair puts so much of it on there that I decided to take it off. I have another H50 coming for my other PC, even though Corsair puts so much of the compound on, should I still use it over MX2?

 

[Synomenon]

Radiator is gonna have to stay up to. Just finished trying to put it up front and it got in the video card's way.

I'll have to switch to a ST45SF at this point.