| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
MoneyMike
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:15 pm Post subject: CPU running too hot |
 |
|
Hey guys, I'm having a bit of trouble with my new-ish computer.
I'm using an i2500k processor with an Asus mobo. I haven't done any overclocking with the processor yet, it's running at stock speeds.
I was playing Rage last night and when I closed the game I noticed a popup from the Asus monitoring program, saying that the processor was running at like 92 degrees C. I went and got another monitoring program (Real Temp) just to make sure that the reading was accurate. Turns out when I'm playing Rage my processor heats up to the mid 90's, which is way high from what I understand.
I'm using a Zalman CPU cooler, and I've tweaked the fan profile so that the fan goes up to full speed fairly quickly as the CPU gets warmer. All the dust filters in the vents of the case are nice and clean, and my case itself has an intake fan directly in front of the cpu cooler, and 2 exhaust fans directly above it. (Also has an intake fan near the front)
If its pertinent, here's the other specs of the system:
i2500k processor /w Asus mobo
Radeon 6950 2gb, slightly OC'd (840mhz from the base 800)
4gb gskill ddr3 ram at 1600
zalman cnps10x performa CPU cooler
I forget the exact case I'm using, but 5 fans, 1 intake at the front, one intake at the back, and 2 exhaust fans at the top, also 1 fan inside blowing directly on the GPU.
Any suggestions? What could be causing my cpu to run so hot? I wouldn't even expect it to run that hot with a stock cooler.
Appreciate any thoughts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Italy37612
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Location: Somewhere
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Perhaps the fan's heat-sink isn't making proper contact with the top of the CPU. This may be due to improper application of thermal paste. Get some Arctic Silver thermal paste (IMO best there is).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-CPU+Thermal+Paste+/+Grease-_-Arctic+Silver-_-35100007
Remove the CPU fan and clean off all of the current thermal paste residue. Apply the new thermal paste to the top of the CPU and spread it over the entire top of the CPU. Then, lock down the fan unit on top of the CPU.
Sounds like the case has good airflow so that shouldn't be an issue.
Zalman fans are pretty decent so that shouldn't be the problem either.
If it still runs really hot after this you could have a voltage problem, at which point fixing that gets a bit more difficult. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 6:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sounds almost definitely like a bad CPU - heatsink contact.....as said above.
After you've cleaned off the old thermal paste make sure you reapply the new paste using as little as possible. The absolute thinnest layer you can achieve is best.
I believe the Zalman method is to apply an extremely thin layer to both CPU and heatsink block.
Too much thermal paste will have a negative effect and raise your temps. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MoneyMike
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hmmmm. I wonder if I can pick up thermal paste at Kumho World... Any suggestions for other brands if I can't find the one you recommended Italy?
Anyone happen to know the Korean word for thermal paste by chance? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MoneyMike
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Oh, and being somewhat inexperienced with hardware, will i need to totally remove the mobo from the case to do this? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| MoneyMike wrote: |
| Oh, and being somewhat inexperienced with hardware, will i need to totally remove the mobo from the case to do this? |
Probably not. The Zalman heatsink has a backplate on the underside of the mobo....but you don't need to take that off. Just loosen the screws on the top and take off the heatsink/fan assembly, hoping that the backplate won't fall off! Maybe wedge a piece of card or something in there to keep it on.
And you don't even really need to take the CPU out of its slot. Just wipe the thermal paste off the top, preferably with a soft cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Then do the same to the heatsink block.
Then apply a very thin layer of thermal paste to both. Which thermal paste? All the big brand names will do the job. Arctic Silver. Zalman. Coolermaster.......I wouldn't worry too much which paste to use.
Korean for thermal paste is probably 'termul paste-uh'!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Italy37612
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Location: Somewhere
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Eamo is spot-on with all his instructions. Arctic Silver isn't necessary I guess I am just a bit biased because that is what I have always used. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MoneyMike
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Alright, I guess I'll try and do that this week. Anything else I need to know? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Italy37612
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Location: Somewhere
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Don't crack your motherboard when you are pushing the heat-sink back down onto the CPU.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
akcrono
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
| eamo wrote: |
| MoneyMike wrote: |
| Oh, and being somewhat inexperienced with hardware, will i need to totally remove the mobo from the case to do this? |
Probably not. The Zalman heatsink has a backplate on the underside of the mobo....but you don't need to take that off. Just loosen the screws on the top and take off the heatsink/fan assembly, hoping that the backplate won't fall off! Maybe wedge a piece of card or something in there to keep it on.
And you don't even really need to take the CPU out of its slot. Just wipe the thermal paste off the top, preferably with a soft cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Then do the same to the heatsink block.
Then apply a very thin layer of thermal paste to both. Which thermal paste? All the big brand names will do the job. Arctic Silver. Zalman. Coolermaster.......I wouldn't worry too much which paste to use.
Korean for thermal paste is probably 'termul paste-uh'!! |
I'd like to add a few things.
I like to use those cotton ball pads girls use to remove their makeup for getting the old thermal paste off. Put the alcohol on the pad and rub the processor and heatsink until its clean, making sure not to get any of the paste on the sides of the processor.
For applying new thermal paste: use an old credit card (or similar plastic card) to apply a THIN layer of paste over the processor. If you do it right, you should have a uniform film over the processor that you can barely see through. Put the heatsink back on with the pressure applied as evenly as possible.
If this doesn't work, there is a more complicated trick to get your temps down called lapping, which is basically where you sand down the heat sink and processor until they are both completely flat. I did this with my laptop and dropped around 3 degrees in temp. As risky as that sounds, its not particularly dangerous to your components. However, please look up how to do this properly (or ask) or you can make the problem worse. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MoneyMike
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Thanks for the thoughts akcrono, those cotton pads should work well. I've been reading up on applying thermal paste and I have repeatedly seen people say the best thing to do is just to put a corn to pea sized dot in the middle of the processor, then press the heatsink on to spread it. What do you think would work better, that method or using a card? The dot method seems easier, but it might be a bit harder to get the right amount. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
phatrick
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Location: Busan
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Did you put the system together last time? If so and did the dot method maybe you shouldn't. I just put a system together last week with same cpu/heatsink and used akcrono's method of applying the paste. I have it OC'd to 4.6ghz and ran prime95 for 3 hours. The cpu never got over 68c. Good luck! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| MoneyMike wrote: |
| Thanks for the thoughts akcrono, those cotton pads should work well. I've been reading up on applying thermal paste and I have repeatedly seen people say the best thing to do is just to put a corn to pea sized dot in the middle of the processor, then press the heatsink on to spread it. What do you think would work better, that method or using a card? The dot method seems easier, but it might be a bit harder to get the right amount. |
The dot method works great. Just about the size of a cooked grain of rice is about right............in this case you wouldn't put another spot of paste on the heatsink block. Only the CPU.
I like the Zalman thermal paste because it comes as a little bottle with a little brush. I find it much easier to brush on a thin layer than to use the credit card method.
Basically, all these methods work. Take your pick. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| phatrick wrote: |
| Did you put the system together last time? If so and did the dot method maybe you shouldn't. I just put a system together last week with same cpu/heatsink and used akcrono's method of applying the paste. I have it OC'd to 4.6ghz and ran prime95 for 3 hours. The cpu never got over 68c. Good luck! |
Which CPU? 68c would be very high for most CPU's. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
phatrick
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Location: Busan
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It's 2500k overclocked to 4.6ghz, it idles at 29-31c and only sees the extreme temps of 68c when I am doing full load stress tests for 8 hours (prime/intel/etc). When I am playing games it is in the 40-50c range. 68c is a little hot but from what I have read is you just don't want it to go over 70 and it's not like I am running those tests all the time  If I leave it at stock speed it runs much much cooler |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
