Temp Concerns

[Nuocmam]

I'm using the Asus A8V Mobo with an AMD 3800+ with the stock HSF. The case is a Lian Li PC65.

My current Idle temps are = 37-39C
Under heavy load (Prime95/Doom3) = 58-60C (it never goes higher then 60 that i've seen yet)

I had to remove my HSF before to check something and I did use Arctic Silver 5.

Is this an unacceptable temperature?? Should I remove the HSF yet again and reapply the AS5??

A friend is using the same setup, only his case is the Lian Li PC75 and although he has quite a few more fans running in that case, his temperatures are way lower then mine. I believe his temps are:

Idle = 32-33C
Load = 45-46C

He did not apply AS5, instead he used the stock compound.

Are my concerns viable or are these temperatures normal...

Thanks!

 

[Nebor]

Your temps are just fine. As long as your PC is stable, there are no negative effects.

 

[nuocmam23]

Also, when I touch my heatsink it is hot, not warm so much, but its pretty hot. I can still place my finger on it and leave it there but its feel can be comparted to as between warm and hot.

Is this normal? I was actually going to rmeove the heatsink and take a look at the coverage of the Arctic Silver5 contact but the sucker wouldn't come off, even after a few mins of twisting and pulling. I didn't want to try any longer in case I accidently pull too hard and pull the chip out of socket. I hate dealing with the HSF seeing as it can be a fragile process.

I'm running Prime95 again, so far its running as normal, but the temps around 59C after 2 hours. Rising from its Idle temp of 35C.

 

[nuocmam23]

Is the fact that my heatsink is more then warm and less then scorching hot an idication of thermal breakdown? When I installed/added the thermal grease, arctic silver 5 on the stock HSF i made sure i didn't put too much, the size of a grain of rice, maybe a bit more then that, like 2 grains at the most and spread it just a tad, then sat the HSF on it and wiggled it a bit to get a good surface contact. I mounted the HSF and so far the system is running stable, but i'm still concerned with a temp under load of 60C.

I keep reading back and forth and can't determine or get the assurance that a load of 60C on a amd 3800+ is reasonable. I just ran Prime95 for 4 hours and got a high of 59C, a tad better but still kinda high from everyone's 55C being the highest they'd prefer. Did I use too much AS5?? Too little?? Or is it working the best it can?

Any help would be appreciated. The more I read the more confusing its starting to get...

 

[Mik3y]

dont worry. its fine. the cpu can take up to 70-85 degrees C, but its not recommended. the stock hsf isnt too great either, so you can always make an upgrade to a better one. you're just overreacting.

 

[nuocmam23]

Thanks, i've been searching all over, and AMD says 70C is the highest it should ever go and thats pushing it. Just seeing it 10C below that limit kinda unnerving, invested a lot into this system and really didn't want it to work a year and crap out.

Hehe. I was going to upgrade the HSF, but eh i can't get this sucker off to begin with today so I'm just not going to pursue that route right now.

 

[HardWarrior]

How warm is your computer room? While it might be okay to have a load temp of 60c it isn't good either. For some people, the medium-term breakdown from excessive temperature swings isn't all THAT much of a problem, because they upgrade often. If, however, you want to get the most out of your investment for the long haul, or even sell it when you upgrade next, I would suggest using a more-able HSF. It's a small chunk of change for a bit more security.

 

[nuocmam23]

Went ahead and ordered the recommended Thermaltake A1772 to be safe, last thing I want is to shorten the lifespan into oblivian. I'd like this to last a while and 60C isn't going to get me there.

Thanks

 

[mechBgon]

Three things:

1) if your system has Q-Fan enabled in its BIOS, and your friend's system doesn't, that will result in higher temperatures for you than for your friend.

2) Cool 'n Quiet could also explain your different temperature readings between the two computers

3) BIOS updates can change the temperature calibration too. Doesn't mean anything has actually changed, the reading has simply been altered to show you what you want to see.

 

[nuocmam23]

I'd agree. He also has a bigger case and like 4 more fans then I do. However, that doesn't excuse my high temperatures. At first I figured it was an invalid reading, but after touching that heatsink, it seems pretty hot , hotter then normal.

For 30 dollars if I can get a 30% increase in life expentancy, then thats good enough for me.

Does anybody have a good way of removing the HSF? I had removed it before with a thermal pad application and it went off pretty smoothly. Using this AS5 seems different or something b/c its being really really resistent to being removed. I wiggled it left and right and applied some upward force, but it just seems like it won't budge. Im really trying to refrain from yanking on it and pulling it out of socket, boy that would be a nightmare. Anyway, any suggestions please post them.

Thanks thus far folks.

 

[nuocmam23]

anybody have any experience with the TT A1772 (Venus 7) HSF? Amd seems to recommend it as a viable product, but reading around seems to be a lot of disdain for TT's HSF's.

MechBgon: My Q-Fan isn't enabled and we both have amd's cool'n quiet enabled. We are also both running Asus' v1006 Bios.

Thanks