Question about my NB temp, please help

[kantona]

Hi all.
Please help me with a dilemma about my NB temp. I have a Gigabyte MA78G-DS3H motherboard with a built in HD3200 in the NB that I use (onboard graphics).
After assembling the PC months ago I was looking for programs so I could check my temp once in a while and because I was getting different results I even contacted Gigabyte support who confirmed the board only has two sensors, CPU and System(Motherboard, Northbridge). I settled for Everest Ultimate which reports these two temperatures and I remember my CPU was about 35degC and the mobo few degrees higher.
So everything looked normal with my new system and I forgot about the temps for a while. After that, to lower the noise from the factory supplied fan on the back of my case, I bought a low noise fan, max 1500rpm and replaced the factory fan. If I remember correctly, my system(NB) temp was low and the fan was even not working on the full 1500rpm (BIOS smartfan enabled).
These days I checked Everest Ultimate after a long time and I got stunned to see NB temp of 77degC. Very different from 35-40 when I assembled the PC.
Few things that could have triggered this:
1. Replaced the fan on the back of the case with low noise low RPM one.(not likely I think)
2. Upgraded video driver but the new was directly from ATI (AMD) website.
The PC is used just for normal everyday stuff, no video rendering, no games, nothing like that.
My dilemma:
1. Is 77degC high when the integrated graphics is in the NB too? Should I do something about this?
2. Although I trust Everest I am a bit confused because while those 77deg are reported I opened the case and put my finger on the NB heatsink and I could comfortably hold it. The heatsink is a bit warmer than my finger but I can hold it quite long. Would I be able to do this with 77degC? I don't think so.
3. If the 77deg is high, should I consider active cooling, chipset cooler with a fan or maybe some budget VGA card? If I install VGA card should I expect the NB temp to go down because I won't use the integrated GPU?

At the moment I installed back the factory noisy fan to see if it will make a difference and the temps curently reported by Everest: NB 77, CPU 33, CPU core1 12, CPU core2 9, HDD 26.
The heatsink on the NB is without a fan and it is rectangular (not square) so some standard chipset coolers with push trough holes might not fit. The best I could measure the current heatsink is hole to hole approx 71mm.

My main worry is that I clearly remember the NB temp was no more than 40degC in the first months. Something changed that. Any advice from someone more experienced please? Thanks in advance. Cheers.

EDIT PS: What about attaching a small 40x40 or 30x30 fan if the screws can fit between the heatsink fins? Is the better the airflow to be towards the heatsink (down) or from the heatsink?

 

[Gillbot]

I keep a fan on my NB, even if I just lay it in there. Anything to help stir the air.

 

[kantona]

If I attach a fan on top of it, is it better to blow downwards or upwards? Blowing air onto it or extracting the air?

 

[Gillbot]

It really doesn't matter, but you could try both to see what gives you the best results. All you need is to keep the air stirred and moving so you don't get a hot pocket of air trapped at the heatsink.

 

[Binky]

Are you sure that "system" is the northbridge? Typicall, this isn't true. System is generally some other chip on the MB. Most motherboards do not read the NB temps.

 

[kantona]

Yes.
At first I tried Speedfan for temp reading and that showed me some other third reading at 90-95degC which freaked me out.
So I had an email exchange with Gigabyte support who said they have only two sensors (so that third one in Speedfan is who knows what) and one is placed at the CPU the other close to the NB so they consider System temp as NB temp.

After looking more at this subject, I am considering a fan in front of the case. I actually have no flow at the moment, just one fan on the back blowing outwards. I will mount 120mm fan in front blowing inwards of course.
The dilemma is, should I put a filter in front of the fan? That would mean between the fan and the metal of the case. All filters I have seen would not be able to be installed in between a fan and the case. Especially since I plan to mount the fan with those silicon gel mounts. I guess they are designed to take the thickness of the fan but not a filter on top of that.

Any ideas for filtering a front fan blowing inwards?

 

[Gillbot]

Just because a piece of software reports a temp reading, doesn't mean it's accurate.

 

[kantona]

Yeah, I got that.
But the readings I have now with Everest seem correct with the difference that Everest call the two readings CPU and Motherboard and the BIOS calls them CPU and System. But the numbers are the same.

 

[kantona]

Now I officially don't understand anything...
Today I got a 40mm fan and with two screws attached it on top of the heatsink. I even made plastic spacers of 8mm to have some distance between the fan and the HS (thought it would help). The fan is blowing towards the heatsink.
The temperature as reported by Everest and BIOS did not even move, 77C steady. There is NO WAY the NB heatsink is on 77C after attaching this fan blowing directly on it. Because of the design of the HS, it has a higher and a lower part, I am still able to put my finger on the lower part, just under the new fan, and it is literary cold, not even warm. As I would expect because there is a fan blowing directly on it.
But still the reading is 77C...
Looks like faulty sensor but I am nervous to just ignore this reading. What if there is a problem? Also I am unwilling to disassemble my PC just to send the MB to be checked. I'll be weeks without it.
I am thinking of getting one of those Kaze Master Ace fan controllers and put one of its temp sensors right between the NB HS fins. The reading from that sensor would be the temp of the HS right? And the NB beneath should have the same temp approx.
Any ideas how and what to check?
Cheers.

 

[Binky]

"System" is not the NB! I believe it's generally some chip on the motherboard meant to measure internal case/MB temps. It's an ambient temp sensor.

And yeah, it's unlikely that this temp is accurate (77C/170F is hot...). Unless you can find a chip that is painful to touch (uhh, don't blow anything up), ignore the faulty reading.

 

[kantona]

Thanks. I would agree with you. The only thing confusing me is that earlier I had asked GB support what that system reading is and they said the sensor is very close to NB and it can be considered NB temp. As long as you can trust their support. Besides, the sensor might be close but not close enough to be considered NB temp.
I wrote them an email now asking them if they could tell me exactly where that sensor is, so I will have an idea where to check for heat. But I am afraid they might just say that even if those 77C are correct that it is "normal" temp for some component. We'll see...
I am getting ready to order the Kaze Master Ace. Because it will come with 4 temp probes could you advise me where is it best to set them up? One of them will definitely go between the NB heatsink fins and that should help me get the NB temp. I assume the actual chip temp should be close to the heatsink temp. As for the other 3 probes I have no idea. I am happy with my CPU temp readings from the built=in sensor so I won't waste a probe for the CPU cooler.
Maybe one probe on the HDD? How should I place it, just on top of it touching it?
Anyway, I don't have to use all 4 probes, saves from too much cables inside the case too. Just wondering if there are some places worth monitoring?
Cheers.