Q6600 @ 3Ghz - 70C+?

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dom_b

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Feb 20, 2008
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I've just got myself a nice Q6600 G0 and have clocked it at 3Ghz which is great but when running Prime95 the temps on the first core peak at around 70 which seems very hot! Even when idle the temps are around 40-50.

I'm using a Silverstone NT01 v2 to cool it with two 60mm fans on there which I thought should do the job. I've tried reapplying the Arctic Silver, remounting the heatsink but it seems to stay roughly the same (now around 68C).

Do I just need a better heatsink? Has anyone else used the same heatsink and had better results? It
 
Intel doesn't want the temp of that chip to exceed 62oC!

The heatsink is defiantly the problem. If this isn't in a HTPC case, there are tons of better coolers then that.
 
colinstu said:
Intel doesn't want the temp of that chip to exceed 62oC!

The heatsink is defiantly the problem. If this isn't in a HTPC case, there are tons of better coolers then that.
Click to expand...

Thats for a B3 .his is a GO ..he is still close to the limit though



OP, What voltage are you at?
What are you using to measure temps?
 
Crap, I thought something was wrong with that temp XD. I swore looking at that yesterday and seeing 70 something.

Still, I wouldn't want any processor to exceed 60oC...
 
colinstu said:
Crap, I thought something was wrong with that temp XD. I swore looking at that yesterday and seeing 70 something.

Still, I wouldn't want any processor to exceed 60oC...
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My cores are sitting at 61-66C with the stock cooler running stock with 100% load with the F@H SMP client. Using CPUIDs HWmonitor to monitor core temps.
 
OP, what's your room temperature?

ND40oz said:
My cores are sitting at 61-66C with the stock cooler running stock with 100% load
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When my room temperature is around 22C I get the same temps as ND40oz actually better because I don't go over 61C on an E4300 1.8Ghz stock OC'd to 3.0Ghz.

However, in summer in an un-airconditioned room the room temperature used to reach even 36C and at 100% load on the 9500 zalman I used to get as high as 72C.

I solved that by moving my pc to the air-con bedroom.
 
The 72C spec is the Tcase, actually, which is generally estimated as 10C less than the hottest core, so you're still fairly within thermal specifications there - but still hotter than I'd like, yes.

I do wonder about the voltage - especially if you have the motherboard set to "Auto" voltage, it will probably be overvolting the chip and making it needlessly hot.
 
Temps sound right for that cooler at that frequency. You'll need a better cooler to lower those temps.
 
Thanks for the replies! Im using it in an Antec Fusion case so my cooler options are a bit limited. Using HWMonitor to monitor temps. Have used CoreTemp too but same results. Voltage in CPU-Z is around 1.360, and yes its set to auto using an Asus P5E-VM HDMI.

I have tried re-seating the heatsink a hundred times but only seem to get it down to 70 peak on the first core. The others peak between 63 - 67. What im more worried about is if its a safe temp.

Maybe i'll get myself a Scythe Ninja mini or something.
 
dom_b said:
Thanks for the replies! Im using it in an Antec Fusion case so my cooler options are a bit limited. Using HWMonitor to monitor temps. Have used CoreTemp too but same results. Voltage in CPU-Z is around 1.360.

I have tried re-seating the heatsink a hundred times but no difference!

Maybe i'll get myself a Scythe Ninja mini or something.
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Do you have the cpu core voltage set to auto in the bios? The number cpuz reports is lower then what is is really getting. That's an awful extra amount of voltage for only a 3GHz oc... especially for a G0 stepping.
 
Its set to auto. Im not really sure what the voltage should be. Is there a default I can try? HWMonitor is showing the Max CPU VCORE at 1.37 whilst running Prime95.
 
70c at 1.3v for 3Ghz? That's odd. I don't let my computer run more than a few seconds when I see the temps get that high.

Right now I'm getting the following:
57c load running Prime 95
3.0 GHz 1.21v on my G0 Q6600.

I was about to created a thread with questions about my temps when I saw mine go over 67c running Prime 95. I reseated my HS and saw an 8c drop in temps. I still wasn't happy so I checked Arctic Silver's website for proper application of Ceramique and found that Quad Cores require a different application method than the other models I've been using this paste with:

Orient the chip so the triangle faces the lower left and horizontally apply a thin amount across the center of the chip. Carefully mount the heatsink and twist a few degrees clockwise then counterclockwise ONCE. Run it through a few power on power cycles for about 25hours to let it set.

After applying as per their directions my temps dropped another 4c. I noticed that my chip is nowhere near flat and needs to be lapped so I'll be doing that soon as well but I have no idea what to expect from that. Anyway, temperatures are acceptable at 57c load and 46c on the hottest core when Vista idle. This is in a 10'x11' room with the door and window closed. When I crack the window the temperatures drop another 3-4c. If I remove the side panel of my case I witnessed temps drop to about 30c Vista idle and 44-7c load running Prime95 and anything else I can load up on the computer.

I have to try and OC at 3.6 - 4ghz again with the window cracked and side panel off and see if I can boot into Windows. Case, window and door closed I see idle temps in the BIOS of about 67-72c when I attempt 4ghz using 1.45v. I can post and reach the Windows loading graphic but it crashes shortly thereafter and the computer acts funny for a couple of minutes until I reset the BIOS (hit power a few times while holding reset). I have a feeling I won't hit 3.6GHz until I'm over 1.45v. I really don't want to run the chip like that. The whole point of getting this chip was to run it at a lower vCore. Right now, I'm amazed that I can repeatedly see 4Ghz with 1.45v. Normally with my C2D E6600 I would see that and then it would crash, never to be seen again for a month or so. This chip seems like I may be able to run it at that speed with the right voltage and cooling.
 
I've been changing the voltage now and have managed to get Prime running for longer than a few seconds @ 1.375 in the bios. This reads as between 1.24 & 1.25 in HWMonitor.

I also reseated my heatsink and applied the Arctic silver properly but still peaking at 68-70C.

Looks like the heatsink just isnt up to the job. Unless anyone can think of trying something else? Im a bit of a noob when it comes to OC'in intels.
 
Well, since you're admitting to being a noob at OC'ing (we all were at some time), you probably didn't apply your AS5 correctly. Start over, clean it all off and follow the instructions here.

When they say thin, they really mean THIN. You might not get the best temps with that HS but from what I'm reading it's WAY better than stock. Some dudes on AVS forums are using it to OC the q6600 to 3.0GHz with 52c temps at full load. Come to think of it, 52c is really good depending on the room temp. I didn't research the unit so I'll ask you this, does it support 80mm fans? If so, go get you some.
 
One of the best heatsinks for the Antec Fusion/2400 case is the Scythe Ninja Mini. With the right motherboard, you don't even need a cpu fan at all, just use the case exhaust fans to cool it. It fills the case to the top, probably only 2mm clearance, but that's just as well.

DCP_2574.JPG
 
Although I am a newb to OC'ing I've fitted plenty of heatsinks. I even re-read the instructions and reapplied the AS5 just to makes sure! Its definately on there ok!
 
dom_b said:
Although I am a newb to OC'ing I've fitted plenty of heatsinks. I even re-read the instructions and reapplied the AS5 just to makes sure! Its definately on there ok!
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Well then I'm stumped, wtf could it be? Try 1.2625v or whatever is close to that in your BIOS, see what the temps are if you are able to boot. Basically start low and keep raising the voltage little by little (.05 steps if you can) until Windows stops throwing blue screens at you and Prime doesn't leave the building.
 
1.400v in the the bios is the lowest I could boot and run prime with. have left it running today to see what happens...
 
How hot is your room? Some other [H] members could figure out what your minimum temps should be but if your room is really warm then 68c isn't entirely out of the question.
 
hmmm... not sure? fairly warm i guess. 20C maybe? Its England so its not going to be tropical!

its quite frustrating as i've taken care to fit the heatsink properly, it has a 120mm fan on side of the heatsink as an exhaust and two 60mm fans sucking air through and its nice and cool to the touch. have another exhaust 120mm fan too. so i just can't get my head around the temps.

i was thinking maybe the nt01 isn't pushed down far enough but all he screws are nice and tight without thraeading anything.
 
1.4v is going to bring your temps up a bit.

but it still seems too hot. It's also possible that the thermal probe is just inaccurate. Have you tried another temperature monitoring utility like Coretemp?

My 2 cents is that if it's Prime stable, even at 95 C, it's fine. Problematic temperatures will yield themselves in system instability before they cause any long term damage to your CPU, as long as your voltage is below Intel's maximum for the architecture (I think it was 1.55v, but don't quote me)

Oh, one possibility is that you have a concave heatspreader on the chip and that even your best efforts to fit the heatsink will not make full contact. DIsmount your heatsink and examine the pattern that the AS5 leaves on the heatsink base to see if it's uneven. You may find that lapping your chip will solve the problem.

And you're just using a tiny dab of AS5 on the center of the IHS when mounting, right? Less is more with that stuff...
 
i tried a dab at first, then read the instructions for quad cores and applied a line like they suggested. have tried coretemp an hwmonitor and both report the same temps. speedfan reports them about 10C lower but I read that its inaccurate for the quad cores. i think you might be right about the lapping. im thinking so long as it doesnt go much over 70-72C then i'll be reasonably happy. The max temp is 71 for the CPU but as someone suggested earlier the cores are normally about 10C over the T Temp.

If I were to replace the heatsink, any suggestions for an Antec Fusion case? I'd like to be able to overclock it more aswell as I do a lot of encoding.

I was thinking a Scythe Ninja Mini. Should get 3.4Ghz with something like that?
 
just got a Scythe Ninja Mini so will give that a go when i get home. thanks for all your advice! will post when ive sorted the temps out.
 
Ok, got the Scythe Ninja Mini on there. Was somewhat annoyed when I booted up at first and was idling at 60C and ran Prime to watch it shoot over 80! Have reseated it and put a bit more Arctic SIlver on there and now running prime at around 62-65C on the first core. Much better! Oh, and whats with those push pin clips? It feels like your mobo is going to snap in half by the time its in right!
 
dom_b said:
Have reseated it and put a bit more Arctic SIlver on there and now running prime at around 62-65C on the first core.
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Sounds like you need to lap your chip but congrats on the progress. I need to do the same.
 
i dont actually know how much progress has been made? im now peaking at 71 after a day running prime at 3ghz. Seeing that other people are getting mid 50s to mid 60s i dont know what im doing wrong? its only a couple of degrees lower than with the silverstone nt01.
 
dom_b said:
i dont actually know how much progress has been made? im now peaking at 71 after a day running prime at 3ghz. Seeing that other people are getting mid 50s to mid 60s i dont know what im doing wrong? its only a couple of degrees lower than with the silverstone nt01.
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Have you been testing with your case's side panel(s) on or off? What are your temps at stock settings? What are your stock settings? Check your VID using CoreTemp and then set your chip to stock speeds and use the VID as the setting in your BIOS if a higher default voltage is chosen for the CPU.

Something tells me, you have poor airflow in your case and a warm ambient temperatures. Post a pic of your rig with the case open.
 
If you're still getting those crappy temperatures with the new heatsink, it's probably time to look into lapping that chip. If you really care that much.

Problem is, if you need 1.4v to boot at 3.0ghz, you've got pretty much a dud overclocker and lapping will bring your resale value down in most cases.

If I were you, I'd leave it be as long as it's stable at your chosen speed.
 
i think im gonna take the mobo out and make 100% sure that the heatsink is seating as far down on the CPU as poss. I think the airflow is ok. Its not great but it should be enough i think. I'll see if I get get a pic and post it on later when i've finished.
 
ok, ive got the bottom of it...

its all to do with airflow. i was thinking that the nexus 1200rpm fans would do a fairly good job of getting the air in/out of the case but it turns out they don't! i originally bought them for quietness as its a media centre but now i realise to get the most out of a decent heatsink you really need to get air around it to keep things cool. i took everything out, reseated everything, put it all back in and my temps were reduced a bit, but until i put the original fans back in the case my temps were still high. now i peak at 60C but the machine sounds like its going to take off!

lesson learnt. if your going to overclock something, you're going to have to put up with some noise! otherwise, leave it stock and use it as a standard media centre.. or find a happy medium between coolness and noise!

thanks again for the help in the thread.
 
dom_b said:
lesson learnt. if your going to overclock something, you're going to have to put up with some noise!
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yes, that's if you're using air cooling. you can set up a pretty much dead silent water cooling rig which would cool much better than your current setup.

case airflow is one of the most important factors when air cooling. if your CPU heatsink is dumping hot air into the case and your case fans aren't moving enough air, the CPU will be radiating heat faster than the hot air can be exhausted out the back, and your temperatures will rise.

as far as noise goes, you'd be surprise at how much air some fans can move without much noise. panaflow has some great, quiet fans. of course it helps to use 120mm fans instead of 80mm, since they sound quieter, but you may not be able to use them in your case.
 
i currently have 2 x 120mm nexus fans running. i'll have a look at the panaflow fans ;)
 
The panflows are INCREDIBLY loud. Scythe has nice fans and they're a nice balance.
 
I'm kind of in the same boat. My cores idle around 51C at an overclock to 3.0GHz (Q6600) with a Tuniq Tower 120. I've lapped the heatsink and the processor, and used AS5.

I just ordered an Antec Nine Hundred to see if airflow can help, since I have relatively poor airflow right now (even though the Tuniq Tower is room temperature to the touch)
 
i've got a q6600 in a cm690 case, with stock fans and a cm hyper tx2.. idle at 3ghz runs 35 max... with as5.. i'd be really leery of 50+ idle. mine gets to 59 after 24hours of prime, but that's it. at stock volts.
not sure if you're going to see the sort of results we'd all like....
 
ammosponge said:
i've got a q6600 in a cm690 case, with stock fans and a cm hyper tx2.. idle at 3ghz runs 35 max... with as5.. i'd be really leery of 50+ idle. mine gets to 59 after 24hours of prime, but that's it. at stock volts.
not sure if you're going to see the sort of results we'd all like....
Click to expand...

What are you using to monitor your temps?
 
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