Zalman 9500 question.

[de8212]

I guess this isn't specifically about the 9500 but do your temps generally get a little better (or worse) after the AS5 has had time to "bond" the heatsink and cpu?

The reason I ask is that I had a stock hs/fan on my prescott 3.2e for a while. temps were idleing at nearly 70C.


Just installed the 9500 adn my temps are at an unbelievable (to me anyways) 30C. I planned to take my time tomorrwo and clean out the case because it is pretty dusty and clean off the CPU with alcohol, etc. Just for th eheck of it I figured I'd go ahead and do it. I just wiped off the cpu with a shirt and slapped some AS5 on it. Installed the 9500 and I've never seen it run so cool before. OCuld it get better?

 

[JEDIYoda]

let me tell you my experiences with the 9500!!

The first time I installed it I used the thermal paste that shipped with the 9500.

Then I uninstalled it and used AS5 the 2nd time around!!

Even after the burn in period ther was no diiference in the temps from the first install!!

Yes, I also had excellent temps!!

 

[lenjack]

The heatsink and cpu don't bond. AS5 is not an adhesive. I realize that AS says the temps will improve after a bit, but I've not seen it happen.

 

[Howard]

I don't think my temps lowered after I first installed my XP-90 with AS5, but I didn't record the temps.

Perhaps your stock HSF was performing so poorly because of all the dust clogging its fins.

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: lenjack
The heatsink and cpu don't bond. AS5 is not an adhesive. I realize that AS says the temps will improve after a bit, but I've not seen it happen.

I didn't mean bond as in literally.

It's been on there a while and everything is still good. I did have anohter question about the install. I put the metal S-clip on a little different then the instructions show. Then ends that the screws go through didn't go through the heat pipes. I just put it on the other way. I can try to take a picture of that didn't make sense.
Only thing is I can actually slide/twist the heatsink a little bit. If it were on like the instructions say then the twisting motion would be stopped due to the clip hitting the pipes.
Is there any reason I should take it all out and reinstall?

 

[de8212]

still looking for some opinions on the questions I posted above.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

JediYoda and I had a minor disagreement about this months ago.

As opposed to your Zalman 9500, I used an SI-120 (and JediYoda and I had another minor disagreement, but no problem, really . . . )

I was SURE that I saw both idle and load temperatures drop about 2 to 3C degrees over some hundred hours of burn-in, and I was trying to keep tab on the room temperatures, so I knew how the idle and load values would vary with room temp.

Personally, I "believe" there is a slight but noticeable improvement. Some people believe in Santy Klaus, and others believe in Saddam's WMDs. And yet others may see it differently. If there IS an improvement over time, it's a drop in the bucket compared with exchanging a stock aluminum cooler and fan with any of the four or five best heatpipe coolers out there.

One person mentioned the XP90-Cu. While the SI-120 and Zalman 9500 definitely trump some water-cooling kits, the XP90-Cu has a thermal resistance that is way down there with one of the best Swiftech WC kits. It's heavier than the other two, but it only requires a 92mm fan.

I've been away from this board for a few months. And I haven't kept up with the cooling technology. I'm not even sure if these are on the "bleeding edge" anymore, but they certainly were at the top of the list late last year.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

. . . . I can't help much on your Zalman re-install though . . . .

Jedi Yoda would be more familiar with that . . . .