Zalman 9500AT running at 45C idle?!?!

[Mudokon]

asus p5b motherboard, e6400 cpu:

stock intel fan was running really hot, 45 idle 60 load
bought Zalman 9500 AT fan since high praise for it in the forums.
installed with arctic silver 5, thin layer of thermal, hooked on brackets, tightened firmly.

started up PC, and boom, 40C then up to 45C idle.

am i gonna have to RMA this motherboard?

temp reading programs i should use?

core temp says im idling at 45C too!

suggestions?

 

[Mudokon]

Okay so i ran all the stress tests in the sticky, the highest it hit using core temp was 55C! that was after running the test for 15min. on BLEND.

i had speedfan open, and it said 45C, idle at 42C.

so which should i trust:

speedfan: 42C
asus probe II: 48C
core temp: 45C

im running a ZALMAN 9500 AT, I assume, with a better case (airflow) i would be keeping this thing down at 30C. or do you guys think its too much thermal or bad mobo?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Mudokon
Which should i trust:

speedfan: 42C
asus probe II: 48C
core temp: 45C

Trust... okay!

I don't trust anything or anybody. I don't even trust myself... do you?

Obviously, you trust someone, or you wouldn't have bought that POS Korean flower fan (against your better judgement)!

Actually, it sounds like you are the kind of person that is looking more for social reinforcement, more than trust... You've probably been burned too many times by 'trust', so called, and you think you got burned again, yes? I can't give that to you. It takes a village, you know?

Anyway, trust me on this, if you can! Your CPU probably uses, what, 25 Watts? Don't worry about it...

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Mudokon
Which should i trust:

speedfan: 42C
asus probe II: 48C
core temp: 45C

Trust... okay!

I don't trust anything or anybody. I don't even trust myself... do you?

Obviously, you trust someone, or you wouldn't have bought that POS Korean flower fan (against your better judgement)!

Actually, it sounds like you are the kind of person that is looking more for social reinforcement, more than trust... You've probably been burned too many times by 'trust', so called, and you think you got burned again, yes? I can't give that to you. It takes a village, you know?

Anyway, trust me on this, if you can! Your CPU probably uses, what, 25 Watts? Don't worry about it...

I don`t see anywhere in Mudokan`s post where he said he bought the 9500 against his better judgement. maybe against your bettr judgement?

I personally like my 9500 and am getting numbers that are as good or lower than my XP120 and as low or lower than my Ninja.....so go figure.

This individuals 9500 could possibly not be making proper contact with the CPU!! The bottom may need to be lapped. From time to time different manufacturers put out heatsinks where the bottom needs to be lapped.

That would be my guess as to what his problem was!!

 

[Mudokon]

lapped ???

please explain


my idea is that i DID put a semi generous amount of Arctic Silver 5 on there, like a thin icing, rather than a light amount to fill in cracks.

i think that might be whats really not letting it cool.

ill take it apart tonight, and take off some Arctic, not all, but some, and see what i get from there.

i really like this fan, i beat it up with everyhting and it stayed stable at 55C

the stock Intel fan was going from 42C to 60, to 55, nothing solid

 

[Navid]

When you remove the sink inspect the bottom. Looking at the paste pattern left on the sink, you should be able to tell if the sink makes a good contact with the CPU or not.

 

[Mudokon]

yeah, the intel stock HSF, when i took it off, you could tell it was hitting, so we'll see what the Zalman looks like.

you guys think a new case with better airflow will drop my temps down? by how much you think?

Rosewill R5604:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147037

 

[Skott]

Personally I like a case that has front and back fans, a side fan, and a top blowhole & fan if possible. So, three fans bare minimum, preferrably four. They should all be 120mm IMO too. Is your room air conditioned? This can make a difference inside the case. With just aircooling you likely wont get the temps lower than the ambient air temps.

 

[Mudokon]

yeah my current generic case has two small fans on the outside wall pointed basically at the graphics card, no back or front fan, and thats it. all non-tool less design, basically junk.

just curious if, in my regular temperate 1bdr apartment, getting a Rosewill or Antec, will blowhole vent on the side, back/front fan, will drop my temps down much.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Mudokon
you guys think a new case with better airflow will drop my temps down? by how much you think?

Run your tests with the case open. That may give you an idea what you may get from a case that has a better air flow.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Mudokon
yeah, the intel stock HSF, when i took it off, you could tell it was hitting, so we'll see what the Zalman looks like.

What you want to know is if the sink makes contact only at one point because of a malfunctioning clip or an obstacle in the way or warped surface of the sink or the CPU, or if it makes contact at multiple points and preferably at a large surface.

 

[zodiak]

Originally posted by: Mudokon
yeah my current generic case has two small fans on the outside wall pointed basically at the graphics card, no back or front fan, and thats it.

Does it at least have a place for fans in the front or back? If so, take the side off of your case to test the temps. If good, then I'd place some fans in the front and back. If it doesn't, I'd suggest either (a) a case mod or (b) a new case altogether.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Mudokon
yeah my current generic case has two small fans on the outside wall pointed basically at the graphics card, no back or front fan, and thats it. all non-tool less design, basically junk.

just curious if, in my regular temperate 1bdr apartment, getting a Rosewill or Antec, will blowhole vent on the side, back/front fan, will drop my temps down much.

Get a new case....

By far the most important is having a good exhaust (rear fan), intake fans provide proper air flow and cool hard drives but are not required, fans mounted in the side panel should be avoided.

For a basic case I would suggest this InWin. The construction is very solid; a bit better then Antec in my opinion so almost certainly better then Rosewill. The tool-less drive and card mounts actually work and work well, a rarity.

If you want something a bit upper-class the Lian Li PC-7B is very nice; take note of the free shipping .

 

[Skott]

You have no exhaust fan/s? Yeah, that definetly isnt good. A front intake and a rear exhaust fan will make a big difference. A rear exhaust fan alone will make a big difference.

 

[Mudokon]

yeah no rear, just a vented metal opening, no fan there