AMD Phenom II X4 955, Practically on Fire with Temps - Overclock.net

Simca · 06-20-09

I'm sure everyone knows how to check my computer specs so no need to go into detail there.

My temps are off the flippin' wall. I just don't understand why they're so high. Idle my computer ranges from 43-47 degrees Celcius.

When programs are running (but not even to the point of a full load) my temps can run up to 55 degrees Celcius(this was after I had played Crysis and started to transcode a video to my 360 with a few other programs in the background).

I'm sure on a maximum load it would explode!

What are people getting air cooled with my set up? What kind of temps should I be getting? I'm not really sure, but people have told me my temps are high. My friend is telling me that it's not high and isn't high until like 80, but I know 80 is lava hot!

This is my first post and I think I should let everyone know that I'm not the greatest with computers. I feel computer dumb at times and I've become frustrated with my computer after having spent over 1000 dollars on it.

I'm thinking my case and CPU cooler aren't good. Can someone tell me otherwise?

Why are my temps so f'ing high?

I want to overclock my system, but with temps like these, overclocking is a joke.

Do I actually need to go to watercooling?

My CPU fan is spinning it's head off at 2485 RPM. I set it to performance in BIOS so it's basically at max rpm.

My case fans are spinning as well, but there's no option to check those speeds.

My case has a 120mm rear fan, 80mm Side LED fan and a 80mm LED front fan.

My gfx card is running at 51 degrees celcius idle.

I'm starting to wish I hadn't gone cheap on the case, even though it looks nice (to me anyway..since I moved on from a boring dell).

The reviews on the cpu cooler aren't bad so I don't understand why it's so high -.-

Any suggestions, information etc would be sooooooooooooo helpful.

I tried asking on techsupportforums.com, but the responses are soooo slow and most of the people are telling me stuff I already know. That doesn't help me!

P.S., I've checked my CPU temps on CoreTemps, PC Wizard 2008, Speedfan and now I'm on and sticking with Everest Ultimate Professional (looks the nicest and has a lot of features..keeping speedfan though).

I also use Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste.

I'm not really sure how to check Ambient temperature, but here are a few screenshots of the temps etc for those that are smarter than me about this stuff.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w...erestTemps.png

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w...47AM1Temps.png

P.S., dunno' if this has anything to do with it, but my PSU's fan is in the case facing towards the rear fan and the CPU cooler fan.. the CPU cooler fan is facing towards the rear fan.. so in text it looks like this:

. V
< <

Where the V is the PSU fan facing direction, the rear fan is the < on the left(first one) and the other < is the CPU cooler.

Yeah..nice explanation, I know..but I think it might help. I'll take a picture if necessary, but I don't even know if that's necessary because my setup there might not even be the problem.

Sigh...frustration is the best word to explain how I feel.

DuckYy · 06-20-09

you really need to get a different cooler. the ac7 are really meant for the dual cores. switching over to a megahalems, s1283, true would be the best options. my advice is get the mugen 2 if it fits.

Simca · 06-20-09

It sucks that I just bought this dang cooler and already I have to trash it. Do you really think that my CPU cooler is the problem? Will getting a Mugen 2 really lower my CPU temps by like....15 degrees celcius? Somehow I don't think so.. I mean they're 5 bucks apart..

Do you think maybe it's the case? Is my case fine?

I'd love to stay aircooled, but is it worth it compared to watercooling (in terms of price..cuz if I have to drop 60+ dollars on more air cooling stuff I might as well spend that on water cooling in my mind and get better temps/performance.)

If a Mugen 2 would give me 32c idle or something, I'd love it and stay air cooled..but ugh..

awdrifter · 06-20-09

Is your CPU overclocked? While the ACF 64 isn't that good of a cooler, it should still be sufficient for 3.5-3.7ghz. I oc'd a PII 940 to 3.4ghz on stock cooler, while they are hotter than dual cores, the PII are not that hot. I'm guessing you might've used too much thermal paste, try reseating the cooler. Use only about a grain of rice amount of thermal paste, use a credit card or other hard plastic to spread it over most of the IHS surface.

Here's a guide on how to do it.
http://www.techpowerup.com/printarticle.php?id=134

Quote:

With AS5 and some other TIMs, it's perfectly fine to put a little dab in the middle without spreading it with a CPU that has an IHS. With the mounting force of the heatsink, the thermal paste will spread itself out. In some ways this is a better way of doing it, because you don't have to worry about getting it even. The possibility of having air bubbles between thermal paste and heatsink is also drastically reduced that way. CPUs with an IHS produce heat only in the center of the IHS, where the core is.

Note: It is recommended that you use the little dab in the center without spreading it technique on CPUs with an IHS. On everything else without an IHS (bare die, like a GPU or the picture above right) you should spread the paste out as thin as possible over the die.

Some people will put their hand in a plastic bag or latex gloves and spread the paste out so they don't contaminate it, then use some straight edge (usually a credit card) to get it nice and even. Others will just use the credit card straight away. You want the layer of paste as thin as possible; less than half a millimeter, almost translucent, is good.

Simca · 06-20-09

UUUUUUUUUGHHH...Sadly It's completely stock at 3.2ghz!!

I've reapplied the thermal paste 3 times already thinking that was the problem, each time thinner and thinner.

I used rubbing alcohol to wipe the previous Arctic Silver 5 off, and then applied a small amount on the chip. I then used a rubber glove to spready it across the entirety of the chip.

2nd time through I tried spreading it with a business card.

But the last time I did it..I did end up pulling the CPU cooler off the chip and some areas weren't covered by the paste I assume, is that bad?

IF NOT THEN THE THERMAL PASTE IS COMPLETELY ON PERFECTLY AND MY COMP SUX FOR NO REASON!!

gerikoh · 06-20-09

faulty sensors? check out the rest of your temps such as temp1, temp2, temp3, cpu temp etc instead of the coretemp. select the one that is very responsive and what you think suits your temps when you turn on and off your stress tests.

what that ac64, the range would be around 45-50c load if you have ambients of 28-30c.
good luck

Simca · 06-20-09

Sadly, everything seems to be checking out right..I can't see how they're faulty.. They move up and down accordingly when I place them under stress. I'm checking the actual CPU temp, not the core temps for my reading.

so unless the sensors are WAAAY off, these seem to be right.

Akito · 06-20-09

The sensors are find, either the cooler just isn't too great or the thermal paste isn't applied too well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simca

I used rubbing alcohol to wipe the previous Arctic Silver 5 off, and then applied a small amount on the chip. I then used a rubber glove to spread it across the entirety of the chip.

Good, but the guide says to make sure that it's evenly spreaded with a sharp edge after, such as a credit card.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simca

2nd time through I tried spreading it with a business card.

But the last time I did it..I did end up pulling the CPU cooler off the chip and some areas weren't covered by the paste I assume, is that bad?

A business card or anything paper related might not be a good idea... If some areas weren't covered then that's be bad, as that area wouldn't be cooled too well. The paste should have a almost see though appliance over the whole chip...

Simca · 06-20-09

Hm.......it's nearly impossible to have a nearly transparent finish with Arctic silver 5. It's a really thick non-see through substance. I can go really really light on the stuff, but near transparent is impossible.

The problem I had with spreading the stuff out with miniscule appliance to thermal paste was that I'd start to wipe the thermal paste off certain small areas.

I'll try AGAIN though..4th times a charm? I highly doubt the thermal paste is the problem; however. I'll go even lighter on the thermal paste.

Akito · 06-20-09

You want about as small as a piece of rice when you apply it, maybe less if you've gotta wipe some off. It's worth another try, if you could find something like an old credit card too, or anything plastic with a sharp edge.

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AMD Phenom II X4 955, Practically on Fire with Temps

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