Hot Temps even after installing new fan

Jordyi · 02 Mar 2013

So, I'm receiving rather hot temperatures on my computer for my CPU. My CPU is an 8-Core AMD Bulldozer 8120. I monitor the speeds on Speedfan and Idle I will get very minimum temp of around 47C, but usually around 52C. On load, these temps go up to anywhere between 65 and nearing 80. I've read that 61 is probably the limit for this cpu so, I'm a little worried..

I recently installed a Arctic Freezer 7 Rev 2. CPU fan too, believing it was the stock that was the issue, but if anything things seem worse now.. I should mention that my room does get a little warm due to these temperatures being so high, but I wouldn't say the temperature in my room would/should have such a massive effect on the cpu.

Any help appreciated, I'm at a loss of what to do next..

TwoCables · 02 Mar 2013

Do you keep your computer inside a deskhole, or is it out in the open?

crankypenguin · 02 Mar 2013

Did you use arctic silver thermal paste between the cpu and heatsink? Is cool and quiet enabled in bios? In fact, have you changed any bios settings since installing this cpu? I have read that the 8core bulldozers do indeed run a bit hot and some people opt out for water cooling. It can be done under 100 dollars these days with a closed loop cooler such as a Corsair H70.

Jordyi · 02 Mar 2013

I keep it in a desk hole at present with 2 fans on the side facing the more open area bringing air in and one fan at the back with about a 20cm gap to the wall taking air out.

I believe cool n' quiet is on right now. I tried messing with some settings earlier today like asus core unlocker but reverted them back to factory settings after there seemed to be no difference.

Oh, and the fan originally came with pre-applied thermal paste, but I needed to resit the fan because I installed it the wrong way (like an idiot), so bought some slightly more spensive silver thermal paste to reapply it with. Granted, I was still getting these kind of temps with the pre-applied stuff.

TwoCables · 02 Mar 2013

Jordyi said:

I keep it in a desk hole at present with 2 fans on the side facing the more open area bringing air in and one fan at the back with about a 20cm gap to the wall taking air out.

I believe cool n' quiet is on right now. I tried messing with some settings earlier today like asus core unlocker but reverted them back to factory settings after there seemed to be no difference.

Oh, and the fan originally came with pre-applied thermal paste, but I needed to resit the fan because I installed it the wrong way (like an idiot), so bought some slightly more spensive silver thermal paste to reapply it with. Granted, I was still getting these kind of temps with the pre-applied stuff.

As an experiment, take it out of the deskhole and watch the temps for about 5-15 minutes. I think that they will be much lower. I know you have a couple of fans on the deskhole, but still.

crankypenguin · 02 Mar 2013

TwoCables said:

Jordyi said:

I keep it in a desk hole at present with 2 fans on the side facing the more open area bringing air in and one fan at the back with about a 20cm gap to the wall taking air out.

I believe cool n' quiet is on right now. I tried messing with some settings earlier today like asus core unlocker but reverted them back to factory settings after there seemed to be no difference.

Oh, and the fan originally came with pre-applied thermal paste, but I needed to resit the fan because I installed it the wrong way (like an idiot), so bought some slightly more spensive silver thermal paste to reapply it with. Granted, I was still getting these kind of temps with the pre-applied stuff.

As an experiment, take it out of the deskhole and watch the temps for about 5-15 minutes. I think that they will be much lower. I know you have a couple of fans on the deskhole, but still.

I came across this problem many years ago. I had a nice desk with a computer compartment...only problem was...it was a compartment..no air flow. So I ordered 2 car amplifier fans and drilled two openings in the desk compartment. I hooked up the fans to the computer psu and used push/pull air direction method. So when the computer turned on, so did the compartment fans...it actually lowered overall temps on all peripherals.

TwoCables · 02 Mar 2013

crankypenguin said:

TwoCables said:

Jordyi said:

I keep it in a desk hole at present with 2 fans on the side facing the more open area bringing air in and one fan at the back with about a 20cm gap to the wall taking air out.

I believe cool n' quiet is on right now. I tried messing with some settings earlier today like asus core unlocker but reverted them back to factory settings after there seemed to be no difference.

Oh, and the fan originally came with pre-applied thermal paste, but I needed to resit the fan because I installed it the wrong way (like an idiot), so bought some slightly more spensive silver thermal paste to reapply it with. Granted, I was still getting these kind of temps with the pre-applied stuff.

As an experiment, take it out of the deskhole and watch the temps for about 5-15 minutes. I think that they will be much lower. I know you have a couple of fans on the deskhole, but still.

I came across this problem many years ago. I had a nice desk with a computer compartment...only problem was...it was a compartment..no air flow. So I ordered 2 car amplifier fans and drilled two openings in the desk compartment. I hooked up the fans to the computer psu and used push/pull air direction method. So when the computer turned on, so did the compartment fans...it actually lowered overall temps on all peripherals.

When a computer is inside a deskhole, it's circulating its own air. It's a little bit like being in bed and you put your head underneath the covers: after a while, you get a bit warm because you're just circulating the warm air and it just keeps getting warmer and warmer. Our modern computers generate lots of heat, and so it's critical that they are not allowed to circulate their own exhaust air at all, and it's critical that they're allowed to take in "fresh" air.

Deskholes were fine for computers back in the old days (like 10+ years ago) because they didn't generate enough heat for it to be much of a concern. These days though, they just generate too much heat.

essenbe · 03 Mar 2013

As Twocables said, take it out of the hole and place it above the floor so it can draw in fresh air. Get a can of compressed air and blow out all the dust from the fans and all the components inside. If you have a space on the case add another intake fan. When you replace the CPU cooler, you have to remove all the old thermal paste from the CPU and the cooler using a lent free cloth. A coffee filter will work nicely. You can use high purity alcohol to do it, but best to use thermal paste remover. Place a small BB size drop in the middle and let the pressure from the cooler spread it out. This is one of the best ways of doing it. This part is critical.

TwoCables · 03 Mar 2013

To me, having the same temps with the stock CPU cooler tells me that the problem lies in the internal temperature of the case.

essenbe · 03 Mar 2013

TC, that's very true assuming he removed the old thermal paste and seated the cooler correct. But if he has dust clogged up and an improperly mounted cooler, nothing is going to help a lot. But, I suspect you are correct. Bringing it out of the hole will help everything, or it should. Even a properly mounted cooler is using the air inside the case to cool the CPU. I've always thought of it as a combination of things. But, the first thing, as you said, is getting enough fresh air inside the case. A good test would be to put the case on the desk, take the side off and use a house fan to blow air inside the case. If that does not bring CPU temps down, then he has other problems.