My Q9550 Temps - Too High?

[imported_dalemccl]

I just built my first PC with an Intel Q9550 (not over-clocked). I am concerned that I didn't apply the thermal paste to the CPU properly since I had never done that before.

At idle, the BIOS says the CPU temp is 57C. Speedfan says it is 49C.

Under heavy load while rendering high-definition video, Speedfan says core 0 hit 74C with the other cores a couple degrees cooler. I think rendering pushes all 4 cores to 100%.

This is with the CPU fan set to a variable speed where it speeds up as the temp rises. It runs fast and loud while rendering video.

Are these temps acceptable?

 

[OCGuy]

Use realtemp.


If your cores go above 70C, you are out of Intel thermal spec for a guaranteed 3 year lifespan.

As far as the thermal paste, how did you do it? Also, what heatsink are you using?

 

[videogames101]

My Q9550 is OCed to 3.4ghz right now and the cores idle at around 38C, so, thats a little high i think. Are you using the stock intel cooler?

 

[imported_dalemccl]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Use realtemp.


As far as the thermal paste, how did you do it? Also, what heatsink are you using?

I used paste supplied with the PC. Probably should have bought some Arctic Silver.

I put a pea-sized glob in the middle of the CPU and spread it with my finger over the entire surface. Then tried to smooth it out with my finger, but wherever I touched seemed to pull the paste off, so there was no grey paste visible in some areas. Then I pulled a credit card across the CPU to even it out.

The result was areas where there was a thin layer of paste visible, and areas where I could not see paste, even though paste had been on those areas before I tried to smooth it with my fingers. I had hoped that even though I didn't see grey paste in some areas, that there was a micro-thin layer of paste that, though not visible to my eyes, would be sufficient for cooling.

The heatsink/fan is not the Intel one. The PC is a small form factor Shuttle SX38P2 Pro, which has a proprietary CPU cooling system called ICE, which is a heat sink and fan that screws down on top of the CPU.

 

[Murq]

To me that sounds like way too much thermal paste.
Also you don't need to spread the paste around like that, pressing the sink on the cpu should be enough to make it spread evenly.
Did some of the grease squeeze out from between the sink and the cpu?

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: dalemccl

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Use realtemp.


As far as the thermal paste, how did you do it? Also, what heatsink are you using?

I used paste supplied with the PC. Probably should have bought some Arctic Silver.

I put a pea-sized glob in the middle of the CPU and spread it with my finger over the entire surface. Then tried to smooth it out with my finger, but wherever I touched seemed to pull the paste off, so there was no grey paste visible in some areas. Then I pulled a credit card across the CPU to even it out.

Wooops! Not a very good idea to use your finger.

I would remove your heatsink, clean off the TIM and then clean cpu with 99% Alochol and a Q-tip. Same with your HS, clean with Alochol and a Q-tip and then clean dry with a coffee filter. Skin cells, hair can affect the temperatures. Applying the Tim should be a thin line accross the cores and then the HS should be applied with a small twist each way and the secured properly. I secure my HS in a "X" pattern and evenly.

Go here to learn more. I got some of this information from here.

 

[imported_dalemccl]

Originally posted by: Murq
Did some of the grease squeeze out from between the sink and the cpu?

I checked and didn't see any.

 

[imported_dalemccl]

Originally posted by: Drsignguy

Originally posted by: dalemccl

Originally posted by: Ocguy31

Wooops! Not a very good idea to use your finger.

I would remove your heatsink, clean off the TIM and then clean cpu with 99% Alochol and a Q-tip. Same with your HS, clean with Alochol and a Q-tip and then clean dry with a coffee filter. Skin cells, hair can affect the temperatures. Applying the Tim should be a thin line accross the cores and then the HS should be applied with a small twist each way and the secured properly. I secure my HS in a "X" pattern and evenly.

Go here to learn more. I got some of this information from here.

I bought some Arctic Silver 5, cleaned the old paste off the CPU and heatsink with 99% isopropl alcohol, and applied the AS5 with a thin line across the cores as shown on Arctic Silver's website. They show a nice straight line of uniform width, but I found that impossible with the thick paste but got pretty close to what they show.

I didn't have a coffee filter so I used saran wrap around my finger to spread it, and then ran a credit card across the CPU to try to even it out. (I forgot to twist the heat sink when installing it though.)

Temps are about the same as before with Speedfan. I downloaded Realtemp, as suggested above, and it reads a few degrees cooler than Speedfan. Mid-40's at idle and high 60's under the load of video rendering.

I also downloaded Prime95 to force a full CPU load and RealTemp got up to the mid-70's.

This still seems too hot.