CPU Temperatures too high...

martinlest · 28 Dec 2012

Hi,

I have a PC which I use only for MS Flight Simulator (specs below): I have just added a CPU temp gauge (via CoreTemp) to the desktop and am a bit alarmed at the information it is giving. The PC came with the i7-950 pre-overclocked to 3.8 GHz (and I wouldn't dream of losing this overclocking - Flightsim runs as smooth as silk). I have never had any problems with sudden shutdowns in the two years I have had the PC...

Temperatures at startup show around 50-60degs. When running Flight Simulator they are between 70 and 95 degs, just under the TJMax, but nevbertheless...

The PC was shipped recently from where I was working, in Thailand, to the UK, but I have checked inside the case that the fans are OK and that the big Fenrir cooler on the CPU is clipped in place properly: all fans seem to be turning just fine. No visible dust at all, on vents or fans. Q-Fan is enabled in the BIOS and the fans do vary in speed as I use the PC. They certainly seem to be whirring away (max I imagine) as Flightsim rruns. (What should the CPU fan speed be? The BIOS showed me around 2500rpm I think).

What would folks expect the core temperatures to be for this CPU at 3.8GHz when the PC is at idle? I did try an experiment yesterday which makes me think that the figures showing may be wrong. I put the PC onto Standby (Sleep) last night: everything shut down OK. This morning I started the PC up from its sleep mode - takes about two or three seconds, literally. The CPU temp immediately showed 60degs. Given that my ambient room temperature is under 20degs, it seems a bit unlikely that the CPU would rise 40degs in temperature in the few seconds that the PC takes to come out of Standby. Or not??

Thanks for any advice,

Martin

Intel Core i7-950 CPU @ 3.8GHz; GeForce GTX 470 GPU, 1280MB; 1 x OCZ Vertex 2E 120GB SSD; 1 x Corsair Force 120GB SSD; 2 x Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA drives; 6GB KINGSTON HYPER-X T1 TRI-DDR3 2000MHz RAM; ASUS P6X58D-E M/B; 2 x HannsG monitors, 28" & 24"; Windows 7 x64

King Arthur · 28 Dec 2012

The following assumes the temperature readouts are correct, use multiple tools to make sure you're getting accurate readings if you have doubts about your current one!

I would first consider reseating the CPU heatsink/fan and also reapplying the thermal paste; the heatsink/fan assembly might have become dislodged ever so slightly during shipment even though there might be no evidence of it to the naked eye, and/or the thermal paste may have dried up and lost its heat transfer qualities. Also check to see the fan spins freely too.

Having done and failing that, I would see if nothing else is overheating inside the computer (ie: video card, HDDs, etc.) that might be elevating the ambient temperature inside the computer and heating up the CPU as a result.

If all else fails, you might want to consider a better aftermarket CPU heatsink/fan assembly, ~~especially if you're using the stock cooler. Intel stock coolers are terrible for cooling (the stock cooler for my i7 2700k couldn't adequately cool the CPU even with stock clock speeds!).~~

essenbe · 28 Dec 2012

I agree with King Arthur, about paste and heatsink. I have never heard of the CPU cooler you listed. Although I've never had one, the CPU you have, I understand it to be very hot running. But, those temps are much higher than they should be. Make sure your case has plenty of ventilation. Whatever CPU cooler you have id dependent on the ambient temp and the air temp inside the case. You want as much cool air coming in to your case as possible. It is pushing the air inside your case through the fins to cool the CPU. If that air is already hot, it can't cool very well. See if adding a couple of case fans helps. If not, look into a better CPU cooler and removing the old Thermal paste and replacing it with some really good paste. The prober application of the paste is very important and can make or break any cooler. In a nutshell, less is better than more. You should have good ambient temps in the UK, from everything I understand, so I would be looking at case air flow and the cooler itself. Applying thermal paste is not that difficult. See if this will give you an idea.

martinlest · 28 Dec 2012

Thanks for the suggestions.

One thing that I had forgotten was that I have Asus Probe suite installed. Now I run it, it shows temperatures a good 15degs lower than the third party software I have. I think perhaps because I was looking at core temperatures, not CPU temperature. Whatever, I'll use the Asus Probe on my desktop in future.

Temperatures are still rather too high, even so: 68degs with Flightsim running, 45degs idle. I agree that the seal between the sink and the CPU may have been damaged in the shipment. I'll look into that..

The CPU cooler is quite well known. Here for instance:

Blog - Titan Fenrir Evo Hands-on | bit-tech.net

M

essenbe · 28 Dec 2012

I really wasn't saying it was a bad cooler. I have just never heard of it in the US and know nothing about it. Just check the airflow in the case and the seating of the cooler. It may need new paste on it, but for whatever reason, in my opinion, those temps are too high. Also, I may be wrong, but the Asus software is reading TCase (temp in the center of the CPU) and the 3rd party software is reading TJMax (temp of individual cores). Tcase is always lower than TJMax.

Solarstarshines · 28 Dec 2012

Well for the sake of suggestions

If the cooler is fitted properly and there is a good thermal paste spread the other culprit can be the fans being worn down or just need a stern cleaning also check all fans to see if anything has stopped working

I remember my water loops escaleted in temps and my fan was working and the heatsink was on properly so i went bought higher powered fans problem solved my fans became to weak to carry the cooling to it's potential

Indianatone · 28 Dec 2012

You have moved from a tropical country to England in winter and you have trouble with temps? Do as King Arthur and Essenbe suggest and replace the thermal heat sink compound. If anything the temps should be lower in England due to the cooler moderate environment.

Layback Bear · 28 Dec 2012

The i950 should be like my i960. (@ 4.2) They do run hot. Idle temps are always about 40c with ambient at 21c. 100% load at about 65c. Keeping your vcore at 1.28v or lower should help your temps. Raising the vcore just a little will jump the temps very quickly.
I use Real Temp and HW Monitor.

martinlest · 30 Dec 2012

Thanks for the replies.

Whatever, idle CPU temp is around 50degs with core temps around 65degs - clearly too high. Up to 25degs higher with Flightsim9 running. FSX can set my AsusProbe warning signal off. I was not aware of any problems in Thailand, before shipping (although as I said, I didn't monitor CPU temperatures regularly, the PC being in an air-conditioned room) and I suspect it is the shipping that has cracked the thermal seal.

As for voltages, my core voltage in CPU-Z and AsusProbe shows as 1.34V. Maybe that needs to go down?

There was a time when I built my own PCs, but twenty years on I no longer trust myself (rather, my patience, or lack of it) to take the heatsink off and do repairs myself. It's worth a bit of money to me to get this fixed by someone who knows exactly what they are doing. I can either get a local firm to look at the problem, or I can have the PC shipped back to pcspecialist, who have given me a very reasonable guide price for fitting liquid cooling.

But I won't dive into liquid cooling (so to speak) until I learn more about it. What are the pros and cons? Some say they need regular maintenance, even if leaking isn't too often a problem these days... Or maybe just get the thermal paste checked out. Would a NH-D14 cooler be better than the Fenrir I currently use?

In any case, I am now working in Greece and go back this Friday (without the PC), so have plenty of time to decide what to do before I come back to the UK in early June!).

Martin

essenbe · 30 Dec 2012

I have water cooling in my computer, and it does require a little maintenance, but nothing too bad. Just make sure it is built right and tested properly. But, with the temps where you live, I don't believe you need it, unless you went with a closed loop cooler like the Corsair H100. But, air should be sufficient for your cooling needs unless you do some very high overclocks. As far as the Noctua D-14, I have one and in my opinion you won't find a better air cooler. In the end, I think you would be better with your same set up if you removed the old thermal paste and reapplied some good quality paste. The ambient temps in the UK are much better than where I live, and air should be sufficient to keep your temps at a reasonable level. Maybe, as Layback Bear said, try replacing the thermal paste and lowering your overclock a little to get your Vcore down.