Question for people running a NB47J on a A8N-E/SLI

[MJGunn]

Wondering what your cpu/chipset temps are? Though I know that won't definetly tell me if I'll be alright with the NB47, it should give me an idea if my system, in general, is cool enough to run it.

 

[Gerbil333]

Click the link in my sig to see pictures of the NB47J in my system. There is no thermal sensor for the nForce 4 chip, therefore, no one will be able to give you their northbridge temperature. I'd like to find out where the "motherboard" sensor is located because it always reports temperatures at or below that of my CPU; the NB47J is much hotter than the CPU.

I'm running with an NB47J. It's extremely hot. I can touch it indefinitely, but it's not comfortable to do so. I let the computer run 24x7 the first two weeks I built it. I did over 24 hours of Prime95, over 12 hours of hosting a 32 bot UT2k4 while viewing the game, I beat Half-Life 2, played BF2 and UT2k4 some, and of course used the computer for general desktop applications. I haven't had a single problem.

Gigabyte and Chaintech use passive coolers on some of their nF4 Ultra boards. I figure that if they've decided it should work, and because the NB47J has a greater surface area than the heatsinks they used, the NB47J should be an acceptable solution.

This room gets hot. It's about 76-78F right now. Here are my current sensor readings:

CPU: 38C
Motherboard: 38C
Aux: 30C
X800 XL Core: 44C
X800 XL Ambient: 42C
WD 74GB Raptor: 38C
CPU Fan: 1048 RPM

Yesterday I saved a screenshot when it was about 72F in the room:

CPU: 34C
Motherboard: 34C
Aux: 29C
X800 XL Core: 41C
X800 XL Ambient: 39C
WD 74GB Raptor: 35C
CPU Fan: 865 RPM

Both of those sets of numbers were taken while the computer was nearly idling (Winamp playing music, PSP8, Word, and a few other apps running...0-5% CPU usage most of the time). These were taken right after some intense UT2k4 gaming (32 players) with maximum settings plus 4xAA and 16xAF at 1280x960:

CPU: 44C
Motherboard: 37C
Aux: 29C
X800 XL Core: 69C
X800 XL Ambient: 49C
WD 74GB Raptor: 40C
CPU Fan: 1298 RPM

Don't worry about the X800 XL. It cools down to the high 40's in under 30 seconds and is supposed to handle up to 100C I believe. The hard drive and northbridge get the hottest after gaming because the X800 XL's fan blows the flaming air right in their direction. The NB47J receives most of that hot air, but somehow the Raptor heats up too.

Even with the X800 XL shooting out all of that hot air, the computer is completely stable. To reassure myself, I let the computer run for over 8 days straight without a reboot. It still didn't give me any problems, even after numerous games.

Edit:

Now that I've installed and tested my new Zalman VF700-AlCu on my X800 XL, the NB47J now feels much cooler (as does the video card).

 

[slidax]

this is under average load, not full load. but i know the CPU temp has never gone above 40C
CPU - 29C
CPU fan - 767rpm
Motherboard - 27C
my temp probe is measuring the NB47 at 36C (there is some airflow around it)

i recommend you have some sort of fan moving air around the NB47 such as front intake fan or the likes as it gets quite warm if the air isnt dissipated

 

[MJGunn]

Wow your system runs cool slidax, however, I'm very close to your numbers Gerbil. Thanks for all the information, looks like I should be good. Now I just have to stop being lazy, and pull my motherboard out and put the NB47 on

 

[imported_caf2461]

I posted this a while ago on another thread using the NB47J on an A8n-Sli in an Antec Sonata case. Never got an aswer though:
Using a non contact infa red gun my zalman nb47 reads 136 degrees f and 57 degrees c. Is this ok?

 

[Gerbil333]

Is that under full load? If so, I think that's very safe. The nF4 chips must be able to withstand incredible temperatures.

slidax: Do you keep your AC set at 60F or something?!

 

[imported_caf2461]

Yes that was shortly after running 3dmard05. I have an intake fan and my Zalman video card cooler right next to it.

 

[MJGunn]

Caf, hows the Zalman cooler (I'm assuming you're talking about the vf700), fit with the nb47?

 

[Gerbil333]

I bought a Zalman VF700-AlCu for my X800 XL. It should be here tomorrow. After I modify it to fit, I'll post pictures and results.

 

[imported_caf2461]

I'm running dual 6600GT's and scrapped the failing Leadtek fans for the Zalman. Everything fits fine with no mods.

 

[Gerbil333]

I've finished my A8N-E + NB47J + VF700-AlCu cooling solutions. I'm not going to type this again, so take a look here:

Last post in AT thread - Focused more on NB47J cooling

Last post in a SPCR thread - Focused more on VF700-AlCU in combination with the NB47J

If you don't want to read any of that, I'll get down to the point. My NB47J feels cooler now that the VF700 is installed since the large fan blows plenty of air onto the northbridge area. My hard drive is oddly running 1-2C cooler in the same ambient temperature. Finally, my X800 XL is running 4-8C cooler with the Zalman VF700-AlCu at 5V than it did with the stock hsf. :thumbsup: I haven't noted any change the "motherboard" temperature. That sensor must not be near the northbridge.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
I've finished my A8N-E + NB47J + VF700-AlCu cooling solutions. I'm not going to type this again, so take a look here:

Last post in AT thread - Focused more on NB47J cooling

Last post in a SPCR thread - Focused more on VF700-AlCU in combination with the NB47J

If you don't want to read any of that, I'll get down to the point. My NB47J feels cooler now that the VF700 is installed since the large fan blows plenty of air onto the northbridge area. My hard drive is oddly running 1-2C cooler in the same ambient temperature. Finally, my X800 XL is running 4-8C cooler with the Zalman VF700-AlCu at 5V than it did with the stock hsf. :thumbsup: I haven't noted any change the "motherboard" temperature. That sensor must not be near the northbridge.

Gerbil333, I'll say what several have said already: your additions to these forums are ALWAYS invaluably informative. :thumbsup:
BTW, your system looks eerily similar to mine, right down to the bright blue PS!

 

[MJGunn]

Definetly, thanks gerbil. Did you attempt to mount the nb47 crooked like others have in order to get it to fit without bending the vf700's fins?

 

[Gerbil333]

Originally posted by: MJGunn
Definetly, thanks gerbil. Did you attempt to mount the nb47 crooked like others have in order to get it to fit without bending the vf700's fins?

Originally posted by: MJGunn
Definetly, thanks gerbil. Did you attempt to mount the nb47 crooked like others have in order to get it to fit without bending the vf700's fins?

I installed it straightly when I built the computer because I didn't plan to buy the VF700 unless the stock X800 XL hsf was too loud. I don't think I would have been able to set the angle of the NB47J correctly without having the VF700 on hand. The VF700 mod was easy enough that it totally wouldn?t be worth the trouble to remove the motherboard and readjust the NB47J. I tightened the tiny bolts on the NB47J so that it can?t be twisted or turned while mounted. I was making sure the chip gets plenty of pressure for maximum heat transfer.

 

[ProviaFan]

I have been considering adding active cooling to my NB47J... This Panaflo looks nice, partly because I need to order other stuff from Newegg and it would be more efficient to get that one than to have to order a Papst 40mm fan from somewhere else. Besides, my video card is passively cooled, so I'm not sure how much air is directly hitting the NB47J. Anyway, thanks Gerbil333 for the great info!