Intel Core 2 Temperature Issues

John Lewis wrote:

Mistake !!

You must apply a very thin layer of Arctic 5.

OK thanks; everyone is saying the same, I'll do a total clean up and try
again.

--
Gerry_uk

Phil wrote:
TAT is very difficult to find. It's not even available from Intel's site.
The link provided is what you want. Just beware that it was made for earlier
pentium CPUs, and has not been updated to recognize the conroe line of CPUs.
It works fine, but detects conroes as Pentium Ms.

OK, TAT all set up now, it's a nice program! It agrees exactly with the
Core Temp program. ASUS Probe seems to be way off. Note that ASUS Probe
agrees with the reading in the BIOS (which is expected)

--
Gerry_uk

He's right .... in fact, that stuff is electrically conductive, and if
it gets on things or goes where it's not supposed to, it can destroy a
system.

The correct amount of thermal compound is very small ... about the size
of one to three grains of (uncooked) rice.

John Lewis wrote:
On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 15:49:47 +0100, Gerry_uk
wrote:


I assumed this was the problem and got the Zalman cooler and the Actic
Silver 5. I took out the whole MB, reseated the CPU, cleaned everything
and let dry. Put quite a lot of Actic 5 on the CPU, bolted down the
Zalman, then used a torch to look at the connection. Everything looks
flat and some compound has squashed out the sides.



Mistake !!

You must apply a very thin layer of Arctic 5. Enough to fill any
un-eveness and no more! Seeing it squish out the sides is not a good
sign. For a CPU and heatsink both with polished-smooth surfaces and no
obvious visible indentations, 3 or 4 very small beads smoothed flat
with a finger such that the CPU header is visibly entirely covered
with a THIN gray layer of Arctic 5 should be quite sufficient. The aim
is to get the CPU header and heatsink core in as close a contact as
possible with all un-eveness voids filled and no more than that.
Compared with the heat-transfer efficiency of the heatsink slug and
the CPU header, Arctic 5 is a much poorer heat conductor.

Hi,

You must apply a very thin layer of Arctic 5.

OK thanks; everyone is saying the same, I'll do a total clean up and try
again.

I cleaned everything (it took a while) and then applied a very thin
layer of AS5 compound to the CPU, put everything back. Unfortunately,
there's no perceptible difference

I notice this Zalman CNPS8000 cooler says it's for Pentium D and Pentium
4, but surely Core2 is the same?

I also notice the Zalman instructions for the Intel CPU say to use
"generous" amount of Zalman thermal compound whereas the instructions
for AMD say to use a "thin layer" - that seems strange!

I also notice two of the LGA pins on the mainboard socket look odd, I
didn't notice this before?

The top of my CPU is only just above the load plate, but it is above - I
don't think the load plate is getting in the way.

--
Gerry_uk

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 13:14:27 -0400, "Phil" wrote:

| First, too much AS5 is bad, for two reasons. First, too much will actually
| inhibit efficient heat transfer from the CPU to the HSF. Second, AS5 is
| conductive, so it cause problems if any seeps out onto the motherboard's
| circuitry. I would remove the HSF, clean it and the CPU, and then apply a
| very small amount of AS5 - about the size of a small grain of uncooked rice.
| Spread it evenly across the surface of the heatspreader.

Everything is fine until the last step. I have found putting the AS5 on the
center of the CPU (but NOT spreading it any), then seating the heatsink and
allowing that contact to do the spreading works best.

Something else that helps but hasn't been mentioned is preparation of the CPU
and heatsink surfaces. Clean both surfaces well with isopropyl (not rubbing)
alcohol or acetone. Let dry. Then apply some AS5 to the heatsink surface, put
your finger inside something like a plastic sandwich bag, and use your finger to
thoroughly rub the AS5 all over the heatsink surface area (you want to protect
your finger AND keep oil from your finger away from the heatsink). Then clean
the AS5 off the heatsink surface with a lint-free paper towel or a piece of
crushed newspaper. Be careful not to touch the heatsink surface with your
finger(s). The purpose of all that is to get AS5 into tiny holes and crevices
on the heatsink surface that may not even be visible to the naked eye. That
way, there shouldn't be any dead air spaces in your CPU/heatsink connection, not
even very tiny ones.

I've heard this said many times: with AS5, less is more!

Larc



§§§ - Change planet to earth to reply by email - §§§

What exactly do you mean by "odd"? If any of the pins are bent or missing,
RMA that sucker. Regarding the CPU placement in the socket, it should be
visibly obvious whether or not the CPU is properly seated.

As for your temps, if nothing has changed, that seems to confirm that the
sensor read by the BIOS and Probe II is faulty. All things considered, I
would RMA the board.

-phil

"Gerry_uk" wrote in message
...
Hi,

You must apply a very thin layer of Arctic 5.

OK thanks; everyone is saying the same, I'll do a total clean up and try
again.

I cleaned everything (it took a while) and then applied a very thin layer
of AS5 compound to the CPU, put everything back. Unfortunately, there's no
perceptible difference

I notice this Zalman CNPS8000 cooler says it's for Pentium D and Pentium
4, but surely Core2 is the same?

I also notice the Zalman instructions for the Intel CPU say to use
"generous" amount of Zalman thermal compound whereas the instructions for
AMD say to use a "thin layer" - that seems strange!

I also notice two of the LGA pins on the mainboard socket look odd, I
didn't notice this before?

The top of my CPU is only just above the load plate, but it is above - I
don't think the load plate is getting in the way.

--
Gerry_uk

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 11:53:12 +0100, Gerry_uk wrote:

Hi,

I'm experiencing problems with Intel Core 2 E6800 temperatures on my
ASUS mainboard, but part of the problem is I don't even know if the
values I'm seeing reported on screen are correct or not!

I've created a quick web page with a screen shot and details here

http://www.xp20.dircon.co.uk/hardware/

Does these readings make sense?


My results on a P5B, with E6600. I also see a noticable difference
between the PCProbe and the Core Temps.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mark.gillespie/Junk

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 22:42:27 +0100, Gerry_uk
wrote:

I also notice the Zalman instructions for the Intel CPU say to use
"generous" amount of Zalman thermal compound whereas the instructions
for AMD say to use a "thin layer" - that seems strange!



It seems more wrong than strange. Don't put faith in
aftermarket product instructions, there is never a case
where there should be more than enough compound applied to
just barely make a *complete* interface. If the heatsink
base were rough, it will require far more than if smooth.

Generally on a very smooth heatsink the amount of grease
needed is less than a grain-of-rice sized blob, applied only
to the middle (not like spreading a cake where one tries to
completely cover the entire top surface).

Hi,

My results on a P5B, with E6600. I also see a noticable difference
between the PCProbe and the Core Temps.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mark.gillespie/Junk

Your offset looks similar to mine, but obviously your temps are much
lower and your fan speed is lower too; the only difference is you are
using E6600 and I'm using E6800.


--
Gerry_uk

I am experiencing 50-55C on my E6400 in idle/low load mode with ASUS
P5B, Intel stock fan and Antec Sonata II with an air duct.

What is considered to be "normal" for these processors? And what's the
highest safe temperature?


Gerry_uk wrote:
Hi,

My results on a P5B, with E6600. I also see a noticable difference
between the PCProbe and the Core Temps.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mark.gillespie/Junk

Your offset looks similar to mine, but obviously your temps are much
lower and your fan speed is lower too; the only difference is you are
using E6600 and I'm using E6800.


--
Gerry_uk