Stock 2500k maxing at 73C during LinX

[schott1984]

My system specs are in my sig. All the BIOS settings are stock right now. Trying to get a baseline for OCing and maybe adding fans after this.

Is this a normal high to see on a stock 2500k w/ CM 212+ (single fan push thru cooler toward rear case vent)?

Seems high to me, but I'm just getting back into the game here. Only case fan I have is the LED one that the case came with on the front.

Also, the fan on the 212+ seems very low flow. It's SILENT and you really don't feel a lot of air. SpeedFan shows it at 1250rpm right now.

LinX has been running for 53mins and is on the 15th pass. Hit 73C max on one core (during first pass I think). Showing 67,70,73,72 on the max temps.

The cooler was originally in a pull configuration and when I ran LinX like that it his 77C max. So apparently the push is doing 4C better at the moment.

What do you guys think? Should I get my stock full-load temps lower before I OC? And what temp is safe on this chip during a LinX test after I do start OCing?

Thanks much!

 

[Puppies04]

While ambient temps might be responsible for higher temps and you also don't seem to have a lot fo case cooling I would like to point out that even in my old xclio case I couldn't get my stock 2500K to get above 55C on any of the cores.

To put things into perspectice I don't see a whole lot more than 73C (1 core will push 75-76C the rest are slightly lower) @4.5ghz and 1.35v.

I would suggest you add a couple more case fans to see if it brings the temps down, if that doesn't work try reseating your hyper 212+. Also make sure you are in the CPUfan header on the mobo. You could also try setting a more aggressive fan profile if you have that option avaliable.

 

[schott1984]

I can't figure out how to get that 212+ fan any faster than 1250rpm. It's the standard 3-pin and plugged into the header on the mobo. Even disabling auto fan speed in the BIOS only gets it to 1250. On the CM site it says 2000rpm max (PWM).

 

[MontyAC]

The 212+ fan goes as high as 1890 rpm and it has a 4 pin plug not 3 pin. Thus, you can vary the fan speed.

 

[schott1984]

The 212+ fan goes as high as 1890 rpm and it has a 4 pin plug not 3 pin. Thus, you can vary the fan speed.

It's only a 3-pin on mine... I got it used. What gives?

Looking at THIS, i don't think I put enough AS5 on. I'm going to re-apply now and see.

Ambient is about 22C.

 

[MontyAC]

If you got it used, then the fan is not a CM fan that comes with the heatsink. Go get a better fan for it.

 

[Puppies04]

I can't figure out how to get that 212+ fan any faster than 1250rpm. It's the standard 3-pin and plugged into the header on the mobo. Even disabling auto fan speed in the BIOS only gets it to 1250. On the CM site it says 2000rpm max (PWM).

Buy a 4 pin PWM fan and replace the one on it.

Looking at THIS, i don't think I put enough AS5 on. I'm going to re-apply now and see. Ambient is about 22C.

Sounds possible, also make sure it is bolted down nice and tight. You shouldn't be seeing those temps at that ambient with that cpu cooler.

 

[schott1984]

Buy a 4 pin PWM fan and replace the one on it.



Sounds possible, also make sure it is bolted down nice and tight. You shouldn't be seeing those temps at that ambient with that cpu cooler.

This helped by about 6C. Running LinX now and max it has it is 67C. Ambient currently is 26C according the thermometer I have sitting here.

I come from the "tiny dot" school where a paper-thin layer of AS was all you needed. You can see how that worked out in these pics:

Hard to get a good pic of the CPU...

So does anyone have suggestions regarding the fan replacement? Something that doesn't get crazy loud would be preferred. And something that's really quiet at idle load.

What about case fans?

Given that the GPU blocks much passive flow up toward the 212, I think I would benefit from a fan on the bottom of the case blowing up, in addition to one at the rear blowing out. Case already has a quiet low rpm fan at front.

What about the side window? Fan blowing in for GPU since it exhausts out the rear of the card?

 

[Joseph F]

This helped by about 6C. Running LinX now and max it has it is 67C. Ambient currently is 26C according the thermometer I have sitting here.

I come from the "tiny dot" school where a paper-thin layer of AS was all you needed. You can see how that worked out in these pics:

Hard to get a good pic of the CPU...

So does anyone have suggestions regarding the fan replacement? Something that doesn't get crazy loud would be preferred. And something that's really quiet at idle load.

What about case fans?

Given that the GPU blocks much passive flow up toward the 212, I think I would benefit from a fan on the bottom of the case blowing up, in addition to one at the rear blowing out. Case already has a quiet low rpm fan at front.

What about the side window? Fan blowing in for GPU since it exhausts out the rear of the card?

Wow, that spread is terrible.
Put a small dot on each heatpipe, bolt it down tight and see how that works. You shouldn't need another fan.

 

[Rvenger]

I just did that on my FX6100, had it OC'd to 4.0ghz and watched the temps spike to 60c within 30 seconds. Took the heatsink off and it looks identical to yours in that pic. I reapplied using the "spread with my finger with plastic wrap method" and temps dropped 7c. Pea size method does not work all the time in my experience.

 

[slpnshot]

What does it mean by ambient? Because my temperatures are at 75~ with the 2500k at 4.5Ghz and a 212 Evo, so I'm wondering if I'm doing it wrong. The system runs stable, but I wouldn't want it to run too hot.

I also don't really understand the point of putting the bare-bare minimum thermal paste. If you put the heatsink on tightly(without hulking it) shouldn't it make the thickness as thin as possible just because of gravity?

Sure putting too much and having it overflow into the mobo is stupid but isn't it better to go just a little more than a little less since a little more just gets spread out while a little less causes air bubbles to form?

 

[Puppies04]

What does it mean by ambient? Because my temperatures are at 75~ with the 2500k at 4.5Ghz and a 212 Evo, so I'm wondering if I'm doing it wrong. The system runs stable, but I wouldn't want it to run too hot.

I also don't really understand the point of putting the bare-bare minimum thermal paste. If you put the heatsink on tightly(without hulking it) shouldn't it make the thickness as thin as possible just because of gravity?

Sure putting too much and having it overflow into the mobo is stupid but isn't it better to go just a little more than a little less since a little more just gets spread out while a little less causes air bubbles to form?

Ambient is the temperature of the air in the room you are in, obviously this plays a large part when talking about cpu temps because all we are really interested in is knowing how many degrees over this number your cooling setup can keep the cpu.

The "bare minimum" method of applying thermal paste doesn't work with these cpu coolers. You need to fill the ridges between the heat pipes otherwise you end up with air gaps. The best methon i saw was to apply the paste into the gaps then scrape off as much as possible with a very flat item (lets say a bank card for instance) running the card in the same direction as the heat pipe runs then add a small amount to the cpu (4 tiny dots) and tighten the cooler down.

When you say your temps are at 75 degrees, we need context. Is that when gaming or during a stress test (if so what stress test) and is that in a warm room or a cool one. If we don't know the answers to these questions then trying to extrapolate anything useful from them is futile.

Also a slight correction, it isn't gravity that makes the layer of TIM as thin as possible, it is the pressure between the cooler base and the CPU but I get what you mean.

I would say a little too much is better by a long shot than not quite enough specifically when talking about these coolers with ridges on the contact plate. I really don't get why they were ever designed in the first place other than to keep manufacturing costs down. There are models on the market that have the best of both worlds now, the heatpipes are in direct contact with the CPU but they are polished flat so the cooler presents a flat (to the naked eye at least) to the cpu.

 

[wpcoe]

If it's not too late and/or if you need to re-apply the thermal paste:

Best Thermal Paste Application Methods

and, in particular:

Application on HDT Coolers

 

[schott1984]

If it's not too late and/or if you need to re-apply the thermal paste:

Best Thermal Paste Application Methods

and, in particular:

Application on HDT Coolers

I'm going to open her up and check how the pattern is and try this. Also make sure it's tightened down well.

It seems as if the four screws tighten to a definite point where they're "done", though.

 

[schott1984]

about 1/4 of the CPU was not covered in grease.

Reapplied using the method in that link. It has to be pretty well covered now. Temps are peaking at 66C.

I'm telling you though; That fan on my 212 sucks. hard to even feel the air flowing from the other side of the cooler.

Anyone have suggestions on a PWM fan to replace this 3-pin one? I'd like it pretty quiet, especially at idle, but not too loud at 100%.

Also, since I got my cooler used, i don't have an additional bracket to mount a pull fan on the other side. Can I get one somewhere? I looked but I can't find one.

Or, would it be almost as good just just have a 120mm rear case fan exhausting right behind the cooler?

thanks.

 

[slpnshot]

Ambient is the temperature of the air in the room you are in, obviously this plays a large part when talking about cpu temps because all we are really interested in is knowing how many degrees over this number your cooling setup can keep the cpu.

The "bare minimum" method of applying thermal paste doesn't work with these cpu coolers. You need to fill the ridges between the heat pipes otherwise you end up with air gaps. The best methon i saw was to apply the paste into the gaps then scrape off as much as possible with a very flat item (lets say a bank card for instance) running the card in the same direction as the heat pipe runs then add a small amount to the cpu (4 tiny dots) and tighten the cooler down.

When you say your temps are at 75 degrees, we need context. Is that when gaming or during a stress test (if so what stress test) and is that in a warm room or a cool one. If we don't know the answers to these questions then trying to extrapolate anything useful from them is futile.

Oh sorry about that. I have it at 75C when running IBT and I don't have a thermometer in the room, but I usually run my tests overnight(and I tend to leave my windows open) so it's probably around 15C.

And sorry schott not trying to jack your thread, but we have such similar cpu/oc amount/cooler that I was really curious if my temp was too high.

 

[Charlie98]

Anyone have suggestions on a PWM fan to replace this 3-pin one? I'd like it pretty quiet, especially at idle, but not too loud at 100%.

Oddly enough, you and I have almost the same system (minus a few brand differences.) I had a thread working with many of the same questions... I had heat issues using LinX as well.

I had to stop at 4.1GHz because that was the happy medium between overclock, stability and heat. At 4.1GHz I get low 70C's using LinX at full memory, and maybe 50C in normal useage.

The best way to apply thermal paste (for me, anyway) was to pack the grooves in the heatsink, scrape it flat with a credit card edge, smear a thin coat on the CPU, add two little dots and then seat the cooler. After I torque it down (and, yes, the 4 thumbscrews 'bottom out', at least in my install...) and then wiggle it... just a little turn back and forth to further seat the cooler.

The 212's fan is a 4-pin, I bought a 2nd fan for mine (to help with the heat issues,) the correct part is this, and I used this for a splitter so I could run both fans off the one CPU plug on the mobo.

 

[Charlie98]

If you want some OC specifics on my 4.1GHz OC, let me know and I'll dig them up.

 

[schott1984]

If you want some OC specifics on my 4.1GHz OC, let me know and I'll dig them up.

I'll absorb whatever you have!

 

[jimpatrick]

linx really heats up cpu,iirc there was a thread here last last week asking if heat created by linx can be done using real life programs.imho that 60c is normal for im getting 88-90c on 5ghz.

 

[schott1984]

Well I just ordered that CM replacement fan for the cooler (with PWM), 4 120mm case fans, 1 80mm for the bottom, a sunbeam fan controller, and that $8 rosewill card reader that's on sale at newegg right now.

This should do something about my temps. HAHA

 

[VirtualLarry]

I reapplied using the "spread with my finger with plastic wrap method" and temps dropped 7c. Pea size method does not work all the time in my experience.

I come from the "tiny dot" school where a paper-thin layer of AS was all you needed. You can see how that worked out in these pics:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2223081

I used the "pea" method with a three-heatpipe OCZ Vendetta cooler on my AMD X6. When I corrected it, I applied lines down each heatpipe, but perhaps I put too much on, as my temps were the same!

SLK, did you applied the thin layer to the heatsink, or the CPU?

I'm thinking of trying the same thing, but on the CPU, and then putting the heatsink down on it.

The cooler was originally in a pull configuration and when I ran LinX like that it his 77C max. So apparently the push is doing 4C better at the moment.

This is a good datapoint. I have mine configured in "pull", perhaps if I re-do it to "push", it would lower temps?

 

[schott1984]

This is a good datapoint. I have mine configured in "pull", perhaps if I re-do it to "push", it would lower temps?

Glad I could help.

 

[Charlie98]

This is a good datapoint. I have mine configured in "pull", perhaps if I re-do it to "push", it would lower temps?

I really think 'push' would be a better setup, or push-pull if you have the room.

 

[Charlie98]

I'll absorb whatever you have!

I have BIOS v F8, there is actually 2 newer updates (10c being the newest,) but I'm fine where I'm at, at the moment.

CPU multi: 41x
Turbo: auto
C3/C6: enabled
CPU therm monitor: auto
EIST: enabled
BCLK: 100.2MHz (I ran into stability problems trying to pump up the BCLK, so I left it essentially stock.)
XMP: Disabled
SPD : Auto
Memory: 1600MHz

Voltages:

DVID : -0.080v
QPI: Auto

CPU fan: Normal/auto (I'm going to do some testing soon on what effects different fan speed has on core temps.)

I took the DVID all the way down to -0.10v, but ran into stability problems there, too. Since finalizing my settings (41x, 100.2MHz, -0.080v) I've only had one system lockup (during MW2) in probably the past 3 weeks or so.

Originally, using the MB OC utilities, my LinX temps were topping out in the high 80C's to a max of 92C at one point. After reducing voltage, my temps dropped 10C, so my LinX temps are now about 72C at max memory, and in the 50C's gaming. I have since discontinued using the MB utilities (except for EasyTune6's very nice voltage monitor) for pretty much anything. The only idiot-proof setting would be the 3.8GHz OC in the SmartBoost utility, and that is pumping the BCLK and voltage up, from what I've seen. You could easily set a 3.8GHz OC manually, drop the DVID a few points and have a very stable system, I believe, leaving everything else pretty much alone.

I did add a fan controller and 2 more fans, so I have 4 case fans and 2 cooler fans... does it make a difference? I don't know. The primary purpose for the fan controller was to reduce the noise of the case fans, but I may switch the CPU fans to the controller as well, we'll see.

My CPU also has a 5-10C difference between the first core (#0) and the hottest third core (#2) at full LinX test. Even at idle there is a 3-5C temp difference.