P5N32-E SLI 680i MCP and SPP temperature

[klau1]

After a series of BSODs and failed memtests, it was confirmed that my P5N32-E SLI 680i died last week after 10 months of operation.

While the Heatsinks were all stock, this board was not overclocked.

I had to buy a new identical one immediately, but curious as to what caused the problem.

I suspected it was temperature as many have mentioned - the combination of ThermalRight 120 Ultra as the CPU HS and a passively cooled motherboard chipsets was a deadly combination due to the lack of downward airflow sweeping the whole motherboard generated by a downward fan that would normally accompany conventional CPU heatsinks.

After installing Everest; I found the MCP temperature was 81 degrees Celsius. Indeed, a touch with a finger confirmed it was too hot to touch for more than a split second. I found this to be same with the north bridge.

I have read many recommendations for Thermal Right HR-05 chipset coolers, but am concerned with

1.) (and foremost) WARRANTY
2.) my lack of experience with modifying chipset HS


This is very disappointing, as I can see another failure on the way in 10 months at temps like this.



Should I keep it stock to save the warranty or mod the HS, if so do i need to mod both the SB and NB? what HS do you recommend?

BTW, I have a 8800GTX so clearance for the Southbridge HS will be limited.

Any suggestions appreciated.
thx

SPECS:
CASE: Antec P180
FANS in Antec P180: 1x 120mm front, 1x 120mm back (all in the MAIN compartment)
PSU: Seasonic 650w
Videocard: 8800GTX
Sound: Auzentech X-Merdian
Tuner: ATi T-550pro
Harddrives: 2x 500GB in button compartment with the PSU.

 

[jimmor]

Originally posted by: klau1
After a series of BSODs and failed memtests, it was confirmed that my P5N32-E SLI 680i died last week after 10 months of operation.

While the Heatsinks were all stock, this board was not overclocked.

I had to buy a new identical one immediately, but curious as to what caused the problem.

I suspected it was temperature as many have mentioned - the combination of ThermalRight 120 Ultra as the CPU HS and a passively cooled motherboard chipsets was a deadly combination due to the lack of downward airflow sweeping the whole motherboard generated by a downward fan that would normally accompany conventional CPU heatsinks.

After installing Everest; I found the MCP temperature was 81 degrees Celsius. Indeed, a touch with a finger confirmed it was too hot to touch for more than a split second. I found this to be same with the north bridge.

I have read many recommendations for Thermal Right HR-05 chipset coolers, but am concerned with

1.) (and foremost) WARRANTY
2.) my lack of experience with modifying chipset HS


This is very disappointing, as I can see another failure on the way in 10 months at temps like this.



Should I keep it stock to save the warranty or mod the HS, if so do i need to mod both the SB and NB? what HS do you recommend?

BTW, I have a 8800GTX so clearance for the Southbridge HS will be limited.

Any suggestions appreciated.
thx

SPECS:
CASE: Antec P180
FANS in Antec P180: 1x 120mm front, 1x 120mm back (all in the MAIN compartment)
PSU: Seasonic 650w
Videocard: 8800GTX
Sound: Auzentech X-Merdian
Tuner: ATi T-550pro
Harddrives: 2x 500GB in button compartment with the PSU.

Your n/b and s/b would probably be ok if you don't overclock anything ---> but that's another story !

My PN5-E SLI has similar n/b and s/b high temp issues ---> unfortunately it's just not the best of designs. Solution was to fit 50x50x10mm fan onto n/b heatsink, and fit small chipset heatsink (which can be around 1/4 inch high) onto s/b. Even better if you can fit small fan onto s/b, but obviously not possible if your large and long gfx card encroaches over s/b location ?

And also make sure you have good cool airflow within your case!

 

[lopri]

Both SPP and MCP get hot and upon installing HR-05 on either of them you will immediately able to *feel* it. The Thermalright usually gets very hot, suggesting that the heat is being transfered. Unless you're using two video cards, you should be able to use HR-05 or HR-05-SLI on one of them. Warranty could be an issue, yes, but I would blame it on ASUS for not providing adequate thermal solution. It's a risk worth taking if you encounter frequent BSOD or other system instability due to the burning NB/SB.

 

[klau1]

I have encountered no BSODs, at the moment, as with my older P5N32-E SLi before it abruptly died. From my experience with the old P5N32- E, I don't expect to have any instability issues, but I am just worried about it's life span.

 

[klau1]

Hi, I am considering installing the NB and SB Passive Heatsinks system by Thermal Right. However, I noticed the original mosfet heatsinks seem to be attached to the original NS and SB heatpipes.

Can the heat pipes be detached allowing the original mosfet heatsinks to be used after removing the original NS and SB Heatsink/pipe or will I have to buy new mosfet heatsinks as well?

 

[PCTC2]

I have the same chipset, the 680i, and have had my SPP running between 60-100+C on an average day of overclocking. I have never had problems below 75C so if you could just get a little better airflow onto the chipset (I have a small 40mm fan on the eVGA cooler), you should be fine. I have had BSoDs above 80C every once in a while, and BSoDs like no other above 90C.

You cannot detach the heatpipes without completely removing the fins on any other part of the HS. Once you cut a heatpipe, it is useless. The HR-05 IFX is a great choice if you can fit it. You'd have to get the HR-09's for the mosfets though. I'd say just increase the airflow across your stock heatsinks and you'll be fine.

 

[PCTC2]

Double Post

 

[SleazyC]

Hmmm... this is pretty close to what I am experiencing right now. I had RMA'd my board for another reason and just got back it back and when I fit my RAM back in I was getting errors in Prime95. Interesting thing is that I could run fine with 1 stick so I thought the other stick was dead and went through and RMA'd them. I just sent them out when I bought another 2 sticks to hold me over until then but I was also having weird temperature problems. With an Antec P180 I have idle temps of 31C with the side panel off but 39-40C with it on. Looking at my MCP temp its at 96C and after reading your post I'm beginning to think that the heat generated by the MCP warms up my ambient temp very fast when I have the side panel off. I still need to run these two new sticks through Prime95 but I really hope I don't get any errors. I'm not sure if I want to try to install an aftermarket NB/SB cooler but if I have to I guess I will have too.

Specs are below:

CASE: Antec P180B revision 1.1 (3x120mm fans -- 1 front blowing air in, two in back blowing air out)
CPU: Intel E6850 @ stock
Video card: EVGA 8800GTX
Sound card: Creative X-fi Platinum
HDD: 150GB Raptor X
PSU: Corsair 620W

 

[Arctucas]

I have an HR-05/SLI on the NB (SPP) on my Striker Extreme.

The latest version of Everest Ultimate (4.50/1343 BETA) shows a temp of 84°C.

I have an E6750 @ 3.2GHz, not a huge O/C.

Does that temperature seem high, or is that fairly normal for the 680i? I suppose I could always put a fan on the HR-05.

 

[Arnejoh]

Originally posted by: Arctucas
I have an HR-05/SLI on the NB (SPP) on my Striker Extreme.

The latest version of Everest Ultimate (4.50/1343 BETA) shows a temp of 84°C.

I have an E6750 @ 3.2GHz, not a huge O/C.

Does that temperature seem high, or is that fairly normal for the 680i? I suppose I could always put a fan on the HR-05.

That nb temp was very high. My mobo with the original heatpipe did not reach more than 72°C with SLI enabled before i got BSOD. Now i have mounted my old waterchill set at the nb plus my two 8800GT. Temps are now down to 45°C@1 hour prime in blend test.

I can now overclock my q6600 g0 to 3.4 with 1.35v on air with the thermalright 120 ultra extreme and a 120mm 16db mist fan.

 

[Rpholt]

This is a little disturbing. I've had this board for just over a year now without any trouble. I had initially over clocked the cpu a bit, just to try it out but performance gains were small so I set it back to default settings. I just ordered a pile of upgrades for it and now I'm thinking that the MoBo should have been included on the list :l. Anyone running a Q9300 on this board? Over clocked or stock?