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CPU Temperature too high

G

gkg101

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 4, 2007
Messages
422
Phenom II x4 975 @ 3.8 ghz, stock HSF
Biostar TA880GB+
EVGA GTX 660
Corsair HX 620w
8 GB Gskill DDR 3
ADS Computer steel mid tower case

Hello
My CPU temps were fine in early April when I installed this CPU coming from an Athlon II x4. But now I'm surprised how high they are (51c/72c) now that it's getting warmer outside. I think the culprit is my very old case which I've had since 2007. It's a brushed steel mid tower case that was from a boutique ABS Computer. It has one 120 mm fan in the front, and 2x 80 mm rear blowing fans in the back. The side of the case has an opening for a 120 mm fan but ADS chose instead to attach a black plastic shroud, (or scoop) which passively channels heat away from the CPU and directs it outside the case. It does seem to work because I've noticed with other builds that the CPU temperatures are down when the side attached. But would a 120 mm fan be better? And if so, should it blow in or outside the case? Thanks.
 
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51c is a little warm if that's idle temp, but not surprising if it's the stock heatsink/fan. The 72c temp is above the threshold I believe, which is 62C.

With that being said, you'll have better results replacing that stock cooler than doing anything else. I do recommend getting the Coolermaster 212+ cooler for ~$30. It should bring idle temps down into the 30s and your load temps should be in the 50s with it.
 
If you have a spare 120mm already, then attach on the side of the case blowing in. See if that affects your temperatures.
 
Thanks Danny. I think splurge for a new 120 mm fan to try first, and in the meantime I'll try to keep this rig as cool as possible.
 
honestly a big reason why your temperatures are so high is because of the stock heatsink. I suggest you buy something else after installing a 120mm on the side panel.
 
gankernation said:
honestly a big reason why your temperatures are so high is because of the stock heatsink. I suggest you buy something else after installing a 120mm on the side panel.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll end up getting that 212+ most likely but I want to see what happens when I replace this shroud with a fan. But I won't know until the temps here in Philadelphia go up.


 
Just to let everyone know - the installation of a 120mm fan in the place of that shroud/scoop pictured above has solved my heat issue. The ambient temperature in my apartment is back up but right now I am enjoying 44c idle and mid 50's to 61c under load. Only Max Payne 3 moved the temperature above 60c. I thank everyone here for the good advise.
 
I'm bumping this thread because my temps are still high. The side fan helped but now I find that Grid 2 runs at 66c and has gotten as high as 68c. CoreTemp reports the Tj Max for my CPU to be 70c but AMD states that 62c is the max temperature. I was ready to get the Hyper 212+ but after measuring I found my case is too narrow. It's a little less than 7.5 inches wide but there's a back plate, stand offs, socket reducing available space. My computer is not giving me any problems. Can I get away with a few hours of Grid 2 confident that the odds are good that my system will survive until the fall.. This computer is not for critical business use. But is there an effective shorter HSF available. It would be a plus if I didn't have take out the motherboard.
Thanks.
 
You should look at low-profile CPU coolers similar in design to either the Noctua NH-C12P SE14 or the Noctua NH-L12. But there's a good chance that regardless of which CPU cooler you choose, you'd have to remove the motherboard (based on the case design, and it appears to be a pretty old case).
 
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Out of curiosity and since no one else asked.
Have you tried taking the heat sink off and cleaning it and replacing the thermal paste with fresh stuff?

Dust build up may be a cause for the temps to rise like that.
 
@FearXL
The HSF comes off my old Opteron 185 but the CPU was just installed about 2 months ago with Artic Silver 5. There is some dust accumulated between the fins of the heat sink but I think the culprit is the narrowness of the case, which I think was sold as far back as 2005.

@tirades
Thanks for the suggestions. I guess it's time to take out the motherboard, but I'd rather have assurance that I've a good chance of making it a few more months because AMD is conservative, and the Tjmax of 70c hasn't been reached yet.
 
gkg101 said:
@tirades
Thanks for the suggestions. I guess it's time to take out the motherboard, but I'd rather have assurance that I've a good chance of making it a few more months because AMD is conservative, and the Tjmax of 70c hasn't been reached yet.
Click to expand...

I'm a "better safe than sorry" guy myself. I can't tell you how long is too long.

Having said that, instead of a new CPU cooler, you may want to consider a more spacious case that allows for more case fans. For example, the NZXT Source 210 Elite is a relatively inexpensive case that can support up to seven case fans (some of them being 140mm and the rest 120mm). Add a couple of cheap 120mm fans for the front (intake) and you could have a superior cooling setup to what you currently have.
 
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I agree, a new case is definitely the best way to go. And less than the cost of that cooler. Its a real nice looking case. Thanks all !
 
gkg101 said:
I agree, a new case is definitely the best way to go. And less than the cost of that cooler. Its a real nice looking case. Thanks all !
Click to expand...

I wouldn't discount the potential of a new CPU cooler. With the case swap to the NZXT Source 210 Elite, you could now use one of the tower-style CPU coolers like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus.
 
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It's a possibility. Let me see what a change of case does, to save money and for curiosity sake. Thanks, I'm ordering that case now.
[EDIT]
Nah, I decided to go ahead and order the Hyper 212+ because I'd rather do it before the re-build than later.
 
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gkg101 said:
Nah, I decided to go ahead and order the Hyper 212+ because I'd rather do it before the re-build than later.
Click to expand...

Didn't you just say that your current case is too narrow for tower-style CPU coolers like the Hyper 212 Plus?
 
I ordered the case as well as the the Hyper 212+
Sorry for the confusion.
 
You'll notice a lot better temps for sure. I'm using that case for my NAS, with I think the identical case fans too. Not 100% sure on the case fans, I just remember they are NZXT's white case fans to match the other one. Then I went and stored it in my desk's computer cabinet and you can't even see them. Ha!
 
Finally did it, sorry for the delay getting back with the results with Hyper 212 + (in push pull configuration venting up) and NXZT case:
BEFORE Grid 2: 68C max
AFTER: Grid 2: 46C max
Thanks all for the solid advise.
 
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