Is my heatsink supposed to be hot to the touch?

[newuser]

My heatsink seems pretty cool (not warm) even after running for a while. The cpu temp stays at 47*C. Is this normal or did I do something wrong?

AMD 2600+ @ 2.1GHz
SK-7 + 80mm ystech fan
AS3 applied thin per AS instructions (1/2 grain of rice worth on the CPU core then spread out. rubbed AS into heatsink and wiped off)

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: newuser
The cpu temp stays at 47*C. Is this normal or did I do something wrong?

No My AX7 is BIG...Its cool to the touch on the sides as well. Now if I took the fan off and felt it at the center that would be a different story.

People need to stop worrying about temps...if you don't have any system instability, you really don't have to worry.

 

[beatle]

The SK7 on my tbird gets warmer than the 8045 on my tbred. They both cool within a couple degrees of each other, so it may have something to do with copper (it's denser).

 

[Mday]

if your heatsink is warm or hot, that means it's working. if it's cold, there is a BIG problem.

where did you touch your heatsink?

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: Mday
if your heatsink is warm or hot, that means it's working. if it's cold, there is a BIG problem.

where did you touch your heatsink?

Im sorry but this is just not always true. There are many factors that come into play, it could be a cool CPU, There could be good air flow, he could be watercooling. A copper CPU is one of the best heat conductors on the market (silver is not an option, and nether are diamonds), And so with good air flow it is possible that you have a cool heatsink. The only resion a cool heat sink would be a bad thing is if there is improper contact with the cpu, such as lots on thermalgrease, no thermalgrease, poorly lapped heatsink (lots of bumps, and scratches)

 

[Cerb]

The SK-7 is probably big enough that you're fine. With a small cooler, it should be hot...but the SK-7 is not small by any means (though not big, either ).

 

[deerslayer]

Originally posted by: Mday
if your heatsink is warm or hot, that means it's working. if it's cold, there is a BIG problem.

where did you touch your heatsink?

I'm going to have to agree with you. If the heatsink is warm that means the heat is transferring from the core to the heatsink properly. If it's cool, I would think in most cases it is not transferring properly.

 

[chr6]

running a p4 2.6c @ 3.25 with an slk900u, it is warm to the touch on all sides. im not sure why yours wouldnt be, it could be that its not seated properly?

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: Cogman

Originally posted by: Mday
if your heatsink is warm or hot, that means it's working. if it's cold, there is a BIG problem.

where did you touch your heatsink?

Im sorry but this is just not always true. There are many factors that come into play, it could be a cool CPU, There could be good air flow, he could be watercooling. A copper CPU is one of the best heat conductors on the market (silver is not an option, and nether are diamonds), And so with good air flow it is possible that you have a cool heatsink. The only resion a cool heat sink would be a bad thing is if there is improper contact with the cpu, such as lots on thermalgrease, no thermalgrease, poorly lapped heatsink (lots of bumps, and scratches)

a cool CPU is one that is not being used, that is, the computer is off. there is no heatsink in watercooling, since a waterblock would be used and that should feel warm after a while. in any case, unless the ambient temp is COLD, there is no reason a heatsink would not be warm to the touch. especially if it's on a 2600+.

i have a 2400+ and the slk800, and my CPU is at high 30s to low 40s and the heatsink feels warm. the slk800 is larger than the sk7, btw.

 

[amcdonald]

If your reported cpu temp is in the low to mid 30's and you have a massive heatsink, then it is entirely acceptable for it to be cool to the touch.
The reported temp is not directly reflective of the temp of the outside of the heatsink.
Thats the way slk900 is. Same thing with the alpha 8045.
Cpu temps have to crawl into the 40's before it begins to feel warm to the touch.
Most people have crappy heatsinks and ~50ºC temps, so for them it should be hot or something is wrong with the contact between the cpu and the heatsink.

 

[newuser]

Originally posted by: Mday
if your heatsink is warm or hot, that means it's working. if it's cold, there is a BIG problem.

where did you touch your heatsink?

near the bottom on the sides

I am running my hsf blowing towards the CPU, should I flip it around?
It is a YStech adj fan. I am running it @ 100% adjustment (fast speed). @ 100% I am getting temps of 46*-49*C Running Prime 95 for a couple hours, 40-41* Playing DVD's , 35-37* idle

If I run the fan around 60% (quiet) I get ~40*C Idle and jump to ~50*C after running prime 95 for like 5 minutes

Of course, these are the temp sensor readings, so the core is a bit hotter (+10*C ?)