New i3 2100 build - Overheating issue

[008Rohit]

So, I've bought a new PC half a month ago. Here's the specs of it : Processor : Intel Core i3 2100 (LGA1155) Motherboard : Intel DH61WW Desktop Board RAM : 2GB DDR3 1333Mhz - EVM Graphics Card : Inbuilt Intel HD 2000 Hard Disk : 500GB S-ATA 3.0GB/s Seagate Cabinet : Frontech Imagine PSU : Came with the Cabinet (Local maybe) - 450W ; LG DVD R/W

Do you suggest me anything else or is this fine for Smartphone Firmware files Repacking and Mid-scale gaming (FIFA 11, NFS Most Wanted etc) and web-browsing?

BTW, The Processor temp. goes all the way up to 75C while playing games. Is this normal? I have no case fans installed at the moment but I was planning to buy a CoolerMaster one.

 

[Puppies04]

buy a graphics card, you are using the gpu built into the cpu at the moment, they aren't that good and that is also the reason the chip is heating up so much. Oh and buy a fan for the case.

 

[008Rohit]

Can you please check these pictures whether the thermal paste is there or not?

 

[zi0n.]

It is there, it comes pre applied on the heatsink. You could buy thermal paste and see if the temps drop or just get a cheap heatsink like a hyper212+ or the corsair version of it.

 

[008Rohit]

I've just opened up the PC and saw some things,

1. The case is too tiny. (It can barely hold the MicroATX MoBo.
2. The assembler assembled the HDD on top of the RAM slot, so wires were over the RAM chip.
3. He bundled all the PSU and SATA wires and left it on top of the processor.
4. There were no case fan installed. So there was almost no airflow. (though there are small holes on the case. (to fit the fans on those)

Would a local case fan (80mm) with a PSU connector be fine?

 

[mvbighead]

Yep. Anything that gets air moving through the case should improve the temps a good deal.

Obviously some cases are better than others though, so if you're not too stuck on this case, you might consider a better case that is either standard ATX or just a better micro-ATX case such as:

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-...2291575&sr=8-1

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

+2 for the Coolmaster 212

 

[fffblackmage]

75C should be still ok, I think, but having at least one case fan should bring temperatures down quite a bit.

You may want a discrete graphics card if you plan on doing some gaming.

 

[mfenn]

+2 for the Coolmaster 212

A case fan would be the first order of business though. No cooler can do too well when it is fighting high ambient temps.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

A case fan would be the first order of business though. No cooler can do too well when it is fighting high ambient temps.

I do not disagree but maybe I can offer a different route that may prove in the end to be the best option for cooling performance, overclocking, resale value, and use on another platform.

If the OP were able to open the side of his case the 212 would be the best and cheapest route to go. It would best the fan in cooling performance (with case open) & save on buying a fan which IMO starting to cool by ambient fan reconfiguring is not the best place to start. And the op would be ahead on the dollar by just going with the 212 and omitting the 2$ fan cause I think in the end the 212 will offer the option to overclock and possibly be used on another platform.

 

[Red Dawn]

I do not disagree but maybe I can offer a different route that may prove in the end to be the best option for cooling performance, overclocking, resale value, and use on another platform.

If the OP were able to open the side of his case the 212 would be the best and cheapest route to go. It would best the fan in cooling performance (with case open) & save on buying a fan which IMO starting to cool by ambient fan reconfiguring is not the best place to start. And the op would be ahead on the dollar by just going with the 212 and omitting the 2$ fan cause I think in the end the 212 will offer the option to overclock and possibly be used on another platform.

Except the 212 wouldn't fit in his case.

 

[mvbighead]

I do not disagree but maybe I can offer a different route that may prove in the end to be the best option for cooling performance, overclocking, resale value, and use on another platform.

If the OP were able to open the side of his case the 212 would be the best and cheapest route to go. It would best the fan in cooling performance (with case open) & save on buying a fan which IMO starting to cool by ambient fan reconfiguring is not the best place to start. And the op would be ahead on the dollar by just going with the 212 and omitting the 2$ fan cause I think in the end the 212 will offer the option to overclock and possibly be used on another platform.

A $30 CPU fan is a better place to start than a $5 case fan?

Sure, a 212 would offer better cooling than stock... but the OP has an I3. If his system is getting hot, he needs to draw the hot air out of the case, and pull in cool air if possible. As it is now, he is recirculating hot air.

Don't get me wrong, the 212 is a great fan... but completely unnecessary in the OP's case.

 

[Patrese]

Except the 212 wouldn't fit in his case.

Since the case seems to big quite small, that's the first thing that came to my mind. No way a 212 will fit in there.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Wow that sucks, didnt know that. Then, I was thinking he might not even know how to install the heatsink..

Well, keep an on on the bigget picture, OP, good luck <== lol, i hate auto correct

**Keep an eye on the bigger picture***

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I did mention having the side panel off a couple of times though, right?

 

[mfenn]

I did mention having the side panel off a couple of times though, right?

Yeah you did. :awe:

OP, that is not a bad suggestion for troubleshooting. Take the side of the case off and point a desk fan at it. If you notice the temps go way down, then you've isolated the problem to a lack of air flow in the case.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Yeah you did. :awe:

OP, that is not a bad suggestion for troubleshooting. Take the side of the case off and point a desk fan at it. If you notice the temps go way down, then you've isolated the problem to a lack of air flow in the case.

:thumbsup:

 

[008Rohit]

I've fitted a local case fan on the back of the case which takes cool air in the case from outside. It'd be best if I could keep the side cover opened but I have a 2yr old brother in my house, so can't really do that.
The temps now stays at ~40C while web browsing or torrenting when the room temp. is ~32C
However, The processor temperature stays under ~65C now while playing games except in rare cases where I play a heavy game without a GPU and download a file with uTorrent at the same time.
I'm thinking of getting a GPU, but the question is, will PCIe 2.x x16 cards fit inside the cabinet?

 

[mfenn]

Your new temps are much better. 65C under load is fine.

From the pictures, it looks like only a short card will fit. Another issue is the amount of amps available on the PSU's 12V rails. Look at the sticker on the side and post the 12V ratings.

 

[008Rohit]

Your new temps are much better. 65C under load is fine.

From the pictures, it looks like only a short card will fit. Another issue is the amount of amps available on the PSU's 12V rails. Look at the sticker on the side and post the 12V ratings.

12V - 19A
5V - 45A

How's this in your opinion?

 

[mfenn]

Pretty poor, looks like you got stuck with a really old model PSU. With only 228W available on the 12V and such a short case, you will want to stick with something like the 6750 at most.

 

[008Rohit]

Pretty poor, looks like you got stuck with a really old model PSU. With only 228W available on the 12V and such a short case, you will want to stick with something like the 6750 at most.

The problem is that shop-keepers in India neglect about stocking up high-end cases or PSUs. So, I had to take what they offered.
That cheap PSU costs about 7$ seperately.

BTW, You said the max supply in 12V is 228W. Is this 450-500W in branded ones which states "450W Max" ?

 

[mfenn]

Not necessarily. You have to look at the sticker that breaks it down by amperage. 250W on the 5V rail doesn't do a modern PC very good. Another thing to keep in mind is that really cheap PSUs (yours qualifies) often outright lie about their specs.

 

[008Rohit]

Here I come again, after two months, I guess.

I've kept one side of the case open, and fitted another 80mm CM case fan in intake position. I've also bought a Corsair CX430 PSU as I that Frontech one eventually killed my motherboard which I got replaced after one month thanks to Intel.

Now, the temps look like this : (Room Temp. 22C)

Idle : 25C
Gaming : ~50C
100&#37; Load : Close to 70C

Do they look normal, at all for a 32nm chip? I've also raised the fan speeds from BIOS.

 

[mfenn]

The load temp is a little high, but still reasonable given that you are using the stock Intel cooler.