Need help on AMD CPU Heatsink

[chucky2]

I bought a CPU + motherboard combo from Microcenter a while back. Been working just fine for a while now, but lately I've been having some spontaneous crashing when gaming.

Tonight, I had my first non-Windows crash shutdown. Was playing BF3, then computer immediately just shut itself off. Thinking 'Just fried the power supply', I hit the power button and it turned right on. Went into BIOS, went to hardware monitoring section, and...

...holy CPU temp batman! 115C is what it said (maybe a typo, who knows?), when I saw that I just shut it down. Now for the part I need help with.

The fan was running normally so I don't think it was the problem. After cooling down I took off the heatsink, and, other than the AS5 being what'd I describe as pretty dry, what I noticed was:

About 1/4" around the entire edge of the heatspreader on the CPU had heatsink fin marks on it. Meaning, the solid part of the heatsink that I got with my CPU doesn't actually cover the entire heatspreader of the CPU.

Has anyone run across this before? Is it normal? Any opinions on this?

Chuck

 

[jaedaliu]

Is your aftermarket cpu cooler designed for your processor?

Assuming it is, I would clean it off, apply fresh thermal material, and make sure the heatsink is properly locked down.

 

[chucky2]

Well, that's the thing. This isn't an aftermarket heatsink, this is the AMD heatsink that came with the CPU. That's why I was so surprised to see the fin marks and find out that the solid part of the heatsink doesn't cover the entire heatspreader of the CPU.

I'm wondering if this is normal, or, if maybe I somehow got a heatsink not meant for my CPU?

Chuck

 

[T_Yamamoto]

What CPU do you have?

 

[chucky2]

The numbers on the CPU are:

AMD Phenom II
HD96ZTWFK4DGR
CCBBE CB 1150PGT
9B15694L10739

Made in 2009.

According to cpu-world.com, I have a Phenom II X4 960T.

Chuck

 

[Binky]

I have a few AMD heatsinks but i'm not familiar with one that could leave fin marks on the CPU. I'm guessing that you didn't lock it down properly. Maybe it was not latched, or it was hung on the plastic mount.

 

[chucky2]

No, it was latched down nice and tight, and level.

What I'm saying in regards to the fin marks is, the AS5 showed where the solid base of the heatsink was, and also where the fins were, on the CPU. If you looked at either the CPU heatspreader, or the heatsink itself, you could see where the solid base of the heatsink was on the CPU (or vice versa), and where the cooling fins were, by where the AS5 was.

What I'm saying is, shouldn't the solid metal core of the heatsink cover the entire heatspreader of the CPU? Or, does it only cover most of it and maybe 1/4" around the entire outside edge of the heatspreader will be uncovered (except where the cooling fins are)?

Chuck

 

[Binky]

If it was reading 115C and the fan was spinning, there are really only two possibilities: the heatsink wasn't latched down properly or the temp reading is incorrect. It's almost certainly the first one.

I assume that the heatsink was boxed with the CPU? If not, are you sure it's compatible?

 

[chucky2]

Well, who knows, maybe it was spinning but low, or maybe it selectively spins. I had my headphones on when I was gaming when it died, so I don't know if it was spinning or not. When I fired it right back up, it was spinning.

As far as the temp reading, I'm fairly certain I saw 110-115C. I read it quick though, so maybe I was wrong there. Then again, it's Asrock, so who knows.

It took quite a while for the heatsink to cool down though, much longer than normal, which leads me to believe the PC really did shut down due to overheat.

And Yes, this is the boxed heatsink/fan combo that came with the combo deal.

Chuck

 

[Compman55]

Can you install that model backwards? Some you can, and if so this could be an issue. Another thing I have experianced is how hard AS5 is to install. A white paste replaced each year I find to be simply less hassle. Another way to install AS5 is to leave it thick. There are still battles going on to this day on which method is better. I personally had lower temps leaving it thicker.

 

[chucky2]

I took a look just now, and No, and I don't think it's possible to install it backwards. Even if I did, the heatsink would be in the same orientation so it wouldn't matter.

I'm beginning to wonder if maybe the AS5 dried up? It had quite a dry feeling to it for something that'd just been heated up and was still somewhat warm. Could it be that the heatsink really is designed to not have the solid part cover the whole CPU, and that the AS5 dried out and that's what caused my overheat?

Has anyone heard of AS5 drying out?

Chuck

 

[Jovec]

Does your heatsink look like this:

Or more like this:

The first is AMD's 125w heatsink and is quite good (for a stock unit). The second is AMD's 95w heatsink and is marginal for something like the 960t.

AMD doesn't have graceful thermal throttling. It just shuts down. The BIOS reading isn't correct for AMD temps - that is the socket temp sensor located below the CPU and is often +/- 10C off. Still, too high.

Are you overclocking? Have you unlocked cores? Have you raised the CPU or CPU-NB voltages?

If no to all of the above, most likely you can clean the heatsink, CPU, reapply TIM, and be okay. I would also look into manually lowering Vcore as AMD tends to set it high.

If yes to any of the above and you are using the 95w heatsink, I would invest in something better.

 

[chucky2]

Does your heatsink look like this:

This is what my heatsink looks like.

Are you overclocking? Have you unlocked cores? Have you raised the CPU or CPU-NB voltages?

If no to all of the above, most likely you can clean the heatsink, CPU, reapply TIM, and be okay. I would also look into manually lowering Vcore as AMD tends to set it high.

If yes to any of the above and you are using the 95w heatsink, I would invest in something better.

Yes to all three of your questions. I overclocked to like 3.4GHz from the 3.0GHz stock. I unlocked both cores (so went from 4 to 6 cores). And before I shut down while I was in the BIOS I went and looked at voltages and for whatever reason (probably just me figuring I'd give a little extra for stability due to core unlocking and overclock) I had my RAM and CPU-NB voltages upp'd. They're back to Auto now.

I've got an e-mail into CoolerMaster suppport asking if their Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 is going to be compatible with Haswell, which I do plan on upgrading to once the price gouging is over. If it is, that'll be my new heatsink.

Question: Given the above, what do you guys think the cause was? AS5 getting fried a little more each gaming run due to inadequate heatsink, finally just too dry to transfer the heat thus leading to an overheat?

Chuck

 

[Doougin]

it is definitely the heatsink. that heatsink really is not enough for that cpu especially if u unlocked the cores and overclocked it. as for the AS5 drying up ive had it happen when it runs too hot for extended periods of time.

 

[dma0991]

Yes to all three of your questions. I overclocked to like 3.4GHz from the 3.0GHz stock. I unlocked both cores (so went from 4 to 6 cores). And before I shut down while I was in the BIOS I went and looked at voltages and for whatever reason (probably just me figuring I'd give a little extra for stability due to core unlocking and overclock) I had my RAM and CPU-NB voltages upp'd. They're back to Auto now.

You should NEVER overclock/unlock cores with the supplied heatsink. The heatsink given is meant for its factory specifications, 4 cores and no overclock. Overclocking adds heat and so does unlocking 2 extra cores. You will need that CM heatsink for this CPU if you want it to run at a safe temp.

 

[chucky2]

Cool folks, thanks for the help!

Sounds like what I did then is run the chip past what the heatsink/fan could dissipate, and ended up cooking the AS5. At some point, the AS5 likely just got too dried out, couldn't transfer the heat to the heatsink, and...crashes.

Once I get a response from CoolerMaster, I'll order a better replacement heatsink.

Thanks for the help!

Chuck

 

[chucky2]

Slight update:

Didn't get an answer from CoolerMasters submit a question system, then did their online chat. According to the online chat guy, CoolerMaster doesn't know yet if their Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 will fit on Haswell. I find that strange, given Haswell releasing to the public at the start of June, but according to their online guy they don't have an evaluation system.

Anyways, got tired of waiting, don't have to time to research, so I just got it and if it doesn't work on Haswell I'll just sell it here.

Chuck

 

[chucky2]

Last update:

Fired up the system a couple of nights ago after putting in the CM and using MX-2 this time. Much lower temps...

Thing that is scary is that the BIOS temps really are in C, and I really did see 110 or 115C there when I had my crash. Sure hope I didn't cook that chip...guess I'll play some BF3 and see...