Will this make a difference?

[Stiganator]

I have a Q6600 G0 with a Sunbeam Direct Core Cooler, GA-P35-DS3L, with Lancool K7 and Enermax Modu82+.

I lapped the IHS reasonably well I think.

I applied the AS5 the way I normally did with previous processors, apply a thin film across the entire IHS area.

I saw the actual instructions on AS website, saying you should apply a bead of grease across the center of the IHS and let your heatsink spread it when it is attached.


So I'm wondering,

1)Will I see a significant drop in temps if I were to redo it using the manufacturer's method?

2)If I were to redo it should I use AS5 or Tuniq TX2?

My Temps at stock 2.4 GHz were ~34 Celsius.

OC'd to 3GHz it is about ~43 Celsius.

Those temps reasonable?

What is the upper safety limit for a Q6600 temperature wise? 50, 60?

 

[Idontcare]

OK, I have G0 Q6600, lapped with lapped tuniq, on DS3L. Very similiar setup as you.

I conducted a test. AS5, TX-2, TX-1, Ceramique, and MX2 as well as no TIM (just metal-to-metal since both the IHS and HSF were lapped to 1000 grit).

Overclocked the G0 to 3.3GHz (9x367).

For TIM application I tried the dot, the bead (both directions, why not), as well as the thin-film ala credit card and even a thinner layer approach called "tinting" where you basically buff the surface with just enough TIM so that it barely changes reflectivity/color.

The end results of all the TIM's and application methods were inspiring and uninspiring at the same time. Meaning I practically got identical temps no matter what I did. The only thing I could do to screw up the temps was to put on waaaayyyy too much TIM and then it made an obvious difference.

But even the no-TIM metal on metal method yielded the same (within a degree) fully loaded small FFT temps.

So to answer your question I doubt you'll see to much of any improvement in your temps unless you are still dealing with a not-so-well lapped IHS/HSF interface or if your HSF isn't well installed or if you just simply used way too much AS5 in the first place.

For the record I ultimately settled on using TX2, applied the AS5 installation guide method (bead) as it just seemed wrong to not have a TIM and the TX2 was more expensive so I felt like using it instead of the AS5 sitting next it on the shelf.

My temps (Coretemp 0.99.3 with TJ Max set to 90C for G0 Q6600) are 23-21-23-21 at idle and 49-46-49-46 at full load with small FFT.

Those temps reasonable?

What is the upper safety limit for a Q6600 temperature wise? 50, 60?

Are they idle temps? is the TJ Max for your temp program set to 100C or 90C. If 100C then add 10C to my temps above to compare to yours. 33C at idle for a 3GHz clock seems high if my 3.3GHz chips are running at or below that.

As for how hot they can go - they are fine all the way up to temps that exceed the point where they thermal throttle. Intel sets the TJ Max and DTS so the chips will not ever get hot enough as to damage themselves.

Usually we worry about temps when overclocking because our systems are not stable at higher temps before thermal throttling kicks in. So its not about damaging the chips but about keeping them cool enough that they are stable when fully loaded for the voltages we are willing to give them.

 

[Stiganator]

I only have the fan at about 1/2 speed, since I don't like noise. Those were idle temps I mentioned earlier. I'm not sure what my TJ Max is set too. I'm using Temperature Monitor in OS X.

 

[Idontcare]

Well in any event my B3 stepping QX6700 runs at 38C idle temp at stock with a Tuniq. So even if you are hitting 43C at idle with 3GHz it can't be all that bad for the chip.

Are you trying to go higher than 3GHz?

 

[hclarkjr]

idontcare, i have a question about the TJ Max setting. what exactly does it do and what is it used for?

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
idontcare, i have a question about the TJ Max setting. what exactly does it do and what is it used for?

TJ Max is the value Intel programmed into their logic circuit for the DTS to track and trigger a thermal throttling action to keep the CPU from going above that temperature.

The DTS doesn't actually report temps, but rather how far the CPU is from the TJ Max temp.

Say your G0 has a TJ Max of 90C and it is running at 40C...then the DTS is actually reporting the value 50C (90C-40C = 50C) which is what programs like coretemp and realtemp read.

These programs then take the DTS reading and back-calculate what the die temp must be.

If they use the wrong TJ Max then they get report the temp wrong (not the CPU, but the program is doing the wrong math).

Coretemp allows you to adjust the TJ Max value it is using for its temperature calcs. It defaults to 100C TJ Max for G0, but recently Intel publicly stated that G0's really have a 90C TJ Max.

So with coretemp you can adjust the TJ Max offset as -10 which results in a TJ Max of 90C for temperature calcs by core temp.

It doesn't change how hot your CPU is, it changes how hot core temp reports your CPU to be. And DTS is still not accurate as it is not calibrated to change linearly nor with the same y-axis intercept (y = m*x + b)...DTS is just calibrated to properly know when the CPU has hit the TJ Max value (90C for G0) so that thermal throttling can be activated.

 

[hclarkjr]

ok, so if i am reading this right coretemp defaults at 0 degrees celcius for the TJ MAX setting so i need to set -10 on that setting to get my accurate setting?

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
ok, so if i am reading this right coretemp defaults at 0 degrees celcius for the TJ MAX setting so i need to set -10 on that setting to get my accurate setting?

coretemp defaults to 100C for TJ Max and the defaults to a 0C TJ Max offset.

To change the TJ Max that coretemp uses, go "options" then "settings" in the menu.

The third option down from the top says "Tjunction Max offset:"...click in the white box to the right and type -10. Then "OK".

Now on the main screen of coretemp you will note the "Tj. Max:" value reads 90°C and the individual core temps are 10C lower than previously reported.

This is for Core temp 0.99.3, not sure about prior revs.

 

[hclarkjr]

wow, i just set it like you instructed. my temps before were 98,98,90 and 94 Fahrenheit now the readings are 80,80,71 and 76. and that is with the version you listed too.

 

[Stiganator]

The best way to compare would be to check the temps on your program then quickly reboot and compare to the BIOS readings. If it seems like it's off by 10 degrees Celcius, the program you're using is not using the same TJ Max.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Farenheit? Are you sure about that, most report in celcius.

 

[hclarkjr]

there is option to show temps in Fahrenheit or Celsius in the options menu