Normal temperature for Pentium D 960

[kudzu22]

I realize this is a totally subjective question. But it seems to me that its optimized to run hot. Of course when I load it up its going to get hotter. But what I'm trying to determine is if it has adequate cooling etc.

The secondary issue seems to be from Intel's noise management. To keep the noise down the fan level is adjusted. So to me that would seem to mean that they let the CPU get hot and only cool it down in increments, only really laying on the fan when it gets up around 67 or so. Just turning it on its in the hight 50's and even under normal processing gets to mid 60's. A good game will get it to 67 easily.

Im using the standard fan. I'm considering replacing it with a more aggressive cooling system as noise is not an issue for me. Thoughts?

 

[myocardia]

Well, I'm anal about temps. I could care less about noise levels, as long as a Vantec Tornado fan isn't involved (and I even ran a 92mm Tornado full blast for over a year). But, if you decide to get a better heatsink, you really can't beat a Scythe Ninja, especially for the price they're selling them at now, $35-40.

 

[kudzu22]

We have quite a selection of components here, but often it is different than what is in the US. I'm not sure if those are here or not. But assuming they are not, when I go what features should I look for in a cooling system for a Pentium D 960?

How hard are they to change? I've had the whole system apart and have bulit many systems but have not changed a fan on 775 sockets. It looks rather easy... but just in case?

 

[Pabster]

Yeah, the D's run hot. 9xx are better than 8xx series but they still run HOT as hell. Get yourself a decent aftermarket cooler. There's plenty in the $35 or less range.

 

[SuperSix]

For a few $$$ more - get the Zalman CNPS9000.

As far as temps - what are you seeing idle and load?

 

[RichUK]

Dunno, probably enough heat to grill a steak ?well done?

 

[kudzu22]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
For a few $$$ more - get the Zalman CNPS9000.

As far as temps - what are you seeing idle and load?

I got a 9500. Its perfect size and just fits in the custom case. And WOW! The CPU runs a minimum of 15 degrees (Celsius) cooler! In fact when really loading it up it used to run at 67, and with this it now runs at 51 on same load. It is night time now, but I ran the same tests at night and day and with old cooler it didnt matter. With 16 degrees celsius to play with, I should really be able to do some overlocking I would guess?

 

[dexvx]

Dont listen to some of the mis-informed people. The Pentium-D 960 is based on the C1 stepping (950/955XE was max for B1 stepping):

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2duo-shootout_11.html
http://techreport.com/reviews/2006q3/core2/index.x?pg=16

A 960 consumes around the same as a 965XE, which is less than an FX-62 (Ironically you never see anyone call the FX-60 or FX-62 a space heater). You can probably hit low 4Ghz mark easily. However, the 960 isnt a good overclocker due to high multiplier, and you probably shouldnt overclock with it. If you feel the need to overclock, you'll have better luck with a low-end C1 9xx series (915 or 930 and up) or Core2 solution.

 

[stevty2889]

Those temps are a bit high even for the stock heatsink. The heatsink can be tricky to install, I would check to make sure it's well seated. Also, what do you have for case fans? The airflow of the case is also very important. Like Dexvx said, the 9xx series, especialy the c1 revision runs much cooler than the 8xx series. My 805 is hitting 55c load at 3.6ghz with a scythe ninja but was running at 62c at stock speeds with the stock heatsink. My 920 was running at around 57c with the stock heatsink at 3.6ghz.

 

[kudzu22]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
Those temps are a bit high even for the stock heatsink. The heatsink can be tricky to install, I would check to make sure it's well seated. Also, what do you have for case fans? The airflow of the case is also very important. Like Dexvx said, the 9xx series, especialy the c1 revision runs much cooler than the 8xx series. My 805 is hitting 55c load at 3.6ghz with a scythe ninja but was running at 62c at stock speeds with the stock heatsink. My 920 was running at around 57c with the stock heatsink at 3.6ghz.

Case fans were 2 120 mm fans, one front one back. The heat sink seemed like it was seated properly. I had taken it off after that and then reaseated it, but all looked well.

How can I see if I have a c1 without taking the heat sink back off?

 

[kudzu22]

Originally posted by: dexvx
A 960 consumes around the same as a 965XE, which is less than an FX-62 (Ironically you never see anyone call the FX-60 or FX-62 a space heater). You can probably hit low 4Ghz mark easily. However, the 960 isnt a good overclocker due to high multiplier, and you probably shouldnt overclock with it. If you feel the need to overclock, you'll have better luck with a low-end C1 9xx series (915 or 930 and up) or Core2 solution.

Overclocking isnt a requirement, but since its running so cool now it seems like at least a good option to take what I can get reliably. I know it has a high multiplier, but the MB seems to have options for overlocking beyond the norms. I havent played with it much yet but its an ASUS and it has a utility to play with the overclocking specs and I read something or other that one of the features is that it can easily move up in small incremements or something or other. Since overclocking was not one of my initial requirements I didnt look too closely at that. I had considered some CPU's that were prime for overclocking, but I needed EMT64 and VT (Which later it turned out the VT was "useless" because of how both VMWare and VS use it, only with 64 bit guests in 64 bit hosts).

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: kudzu22

How can I see if I have a c1 without taking the heat sink back off?

All of the 960's are C1 revision, so no need to check.

 

[jws2346]

Oops, Sorry, I know, not the best place for this post. I have a PD 805 in an Asrock 775DUAL-VSTA MB, It has no option for a vcore adjustment. I have the PD 805 OCed to 3.40 GHz on stock vcore, running stable after 1 hr of Prime95 both cores. My ambient temp is 20 c (indoor/outdoor thermometer, right at the case hole for the BT HSF), my idle temp is 25c, my load temp is 36c to 39c. I took these temps with MBM, Speedfan, Sisoft Sandra and BIOS. In the software programs my temp was about the same idle 25c load 36c to 39c, in the BIOS my temp was idle 28c and load 42c. My HSF is a Tt Big Typhoon (stock fan), lapped up to 1500 grit (with AS5). I don't have a digital camera (wish I did) so I can't provide pictures as proof. When I get the time, I've got a hardware temp probe and I'll install it on the PD 805 HSF to confirm my temps (drill a hole in the HSF ?). The case has 2x 80 mm front intake fans, 1x side intake fan, 1x ehaust top "blow" hole fan, and a 1x 120 mm ehaust back fan (plus 2x fans in Thermaltake 420w PSU). I'm thinking about another 1x 120 or 1x 80 mm exhaust fan, what do you all think ? I've never heard the "well done steak" deal, but I have heard the 805 is like a "mini space heater", it doesn't start clicking until around 3.60 GHz or so and it's a major power hog at OC.

 

[GFORCE100]

Originally posted by: stevty2889

Originally posted by: kudzu22

How can I see if I have a c1 without taking the heat sink back off?

All of the 960's are C1 revision, so no need to check.

Some are D0 stepping too.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: GFORCE100

Originally posted by: stevty2889

Originally posted by: kudzu22

How can I see if I have a c1 without taking the heat sink back off?

All of the 960's are C1 revision, so no need to check.

Some are D0 stepping too.

I think at this point no one cares about C1/D0 Pentium-D 9xx's. It'd be great just from a testing PoV, but don't be surprised if a D0 would knock the power consumption off by another 10-20% from the C1.

 

[Maxspeed996]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Well, I'm anal about temps. I could care less about noise levels, as long as a Vantec Tornado fan isn't involved (and I even ran a 92mm Tornado full blast for over a year). But, if you decide to get a better heatsink, you really can't beat a Scythe Ninja, especially for the price they're selling them at now, $35-40.

I've honestly thought about getting an xp-90 and one of those Tornado's just to say I did it...just because of the volume of air it moves.... one in the front of the case , one in the rear , and one on the processor....would it be loud? And will I hate it..or would placing one on an xp-90 make a big difference. And what did you think of it's noise level?

 

[jws2346]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
Those temps are a bit high even for the stock heatsink. The heatsink can be tricky to install, I would check to make sure it's well seated. Also, what do you have for case fans? The airflow of the case is also very important. Like Dexvx said, the 9xx series, especialy the c1 revision runs much cooler than the 8xx series. My 805 is hitting 55c load at 3.6ghz with a scythe ninja but was running at 62c at stock speeds with the stock heatsink. My 920 was running at around 57c with the stock heatsink at 3.6ghz.

I haven't got a 9xx series yet, I'm waiting to see what the 915 cost after Intel releases their E4300 in 1Q next year. Maybe a E4300. (only 800 fsb, might OC good?)
I've got a question about the PD 805. I have one in a Asrock 775DUAL-VSTA board and I was wondering if it's worth my while to put a Silverstone 120x120x25 Dual Ball Bearing Case Fan on top of my Tt Big Typhoon HSF or even if it will fit? I can't get this chip above 3.4 GHz without a bump in vcore. (no vcore adjustment on this board, everything else is just great)
My ambient temp is 20c, my idle temp is 25c, my load temp is about 39c in MBM, SpeedFan,
and Sisoft Sandra. The cpu temps in my BIOS are 28c idle and 42c load. I took the load temp after running Prime95 stable for 1 hr on both cores. (This was before I found the stress test program, I like their GUI better) Thx for any reply

Edit: You know how us air coolers are always looking for ways to lower our cpu temps. I'm still a little phobic about using water, I'm afraid to add moisture to any electronics. (who knows, maybe I'll try it?) I even have a hardware temp sensor, but I'm a little hesitant about drilling a hole in my HSF. (<grin>)