Gaming CPU temperature questions

[Sumea]

Okay...

Only that this turns to go out in funny way, either it was just me, since after this morning, I reinserted the CPU Heatsink Cooler combo, I just took it away, and reinserted it - now 30 mins of playing GTA IV, 50Celsius has been the biggest it has gone.

In fact, it goes back down to 47 and maybe then to 50, but not over that 50...

Dunno what it was but I just put it in again firmly and all. At moment I write this from steam ingame browser, and it still shows 50C...

Wow... what? What CPU are you running? I used to have Q6600 with stock Intel heatsink and it runs at around 70 so I had to change the heatsink. Reseating the heatsink does change the temperature if you did it incorrectly the first time. What is your CPU? If it is 45nm based, then that explains a whole lot.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 @2.5ghz

 

[Originality]

First thing I'll mention: that cheap plastic thing mentioned in the first few posts is known loosely as a fan shroud. Is does nothing but direct the flow of air coming from the fan to make the weak piece of crap that is the Intel stock cooler that tiny bit more efficient. What it doesn't do is help the fan itself find the air in the first place so that it can blow it out again. It relies on (I think it was called) negative static air pressure, meaning that when it blows the air out, it creates a low air pressure that sucks air from the rest of the case. Not the most efficient system therefore the heatsink itself becomes somewhat suffocated and only works half as well (or badly) as normal.

Most motherboards I've seen so far put the CPU warning temperature between 85C and 95C. This is the point where it feels the CPU is suffering so it either throttles it, or shuts down completely. Some motherboards even let you choose either or both and at what temperatures it happens at.

For pre-applied thermal paste, it's designed to be applied once, and correctly the first time. When it makes contact with the CPU, it's supposed to spread and eliminate any gaps to make a (theoretically) perfect contact. However, if you ever take it off, that perfect contact will be ruined. The spread will become uneven (possibly not even touching at some points) and, most importantly, air pockets will form. These air pockets trap heat and only make your CPU get hotter and hotter over time. Btw, ideally thermal paste should be a single, thin layer between contacts. The more of the junk there is, the more chance for air pockets and most importantly, the less efficient it is in transferring heat.

If you're going to buy a HSF with pre-applied thermal paste, first know that it's not the best compound in the world, but it'll do the job. Second know that you only get 1 shot in getting it on right, for the above reasons. If at any point you need to remove it again, you'll need a thermal paste removal solution to clean the contacts before you try applying another layer of thermal paste. I like the Zalman thermal paste because it comes with a lil brush for a thin and perfectly even application.

EDIT: Link for info on thermal paste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_paste...ng_and_removing

Not that it matters, but the linked Xiggy HSF really isn't "one of the best", but it's not bad either. Certainly much better than Intel's stock fan anyway, with the advantage that even though it's big, it's thin (probably to make space for the fans). For a long time, the Arctic Freezer 7 Pro was the most popular SKT775 HSF because it was cheap, relatively small, very easy to attach and worked surprisingly well. These days there are better alternatives for triple the price, but they require looking around for. I use a Sythe Kama Angle in mine, which is large and L shaped, but can fit 3 fans on it (I only use one because my case has a 200mm roof fan and 2x120mm exhaust fans, but the design is supposed to be used for systems that have less fans, if any).

 

[Sumea]

For westside:
This may also explain somewhat of the temperature:

As you see, the cooler is there, and next to it is a Case cooler, and above it is my PSU and it's massive cooler too.

At moment it seems good, one hour of GTA IV straight and it maxed at gasping 51Celsius, my god.

...As above poster said there maay have been air bubbles or something since after I took it off and back on, I put the cooler in way I initially put it as seen from processor position and cooler position...

It seems all is good at moment, I can be more peaceful, and think of getting a new cooler further in future.

 

[Joe88]

it doesnt look like your ram is set in dual channel mode

just move the ram in the black slot to the other yellow slot

 

[Deleted member 35947]

Okay...

Only that this turns to go out in funny way, either it was just me, since after this morning, I reinserted the CPU Heatsink Cooler combo, I just took it away, and reinserted it - now 30 mins of playing GTA IV, 50Celsius has been the biggest it has gone.

In fact, it goes back down to 47 and maybe then to 50, but not over that 50...

Dunno what it was but I just put it in again firmly and all. At moment I write this from steam ingame browser, and it still shows 50C...

Sounds like the cpu heatsink wasn't fully seated originally. The intel stock coolers aren't exactly great. More so since intel made the heatsinks even smaller with the newer cpus.

To measure your cpu temp accurately, I'd suggest using coretemp while stressing your cpu with something like prime95 or orthos. Coretemp is meant to be pretty accurate at temperature monitoring, compared to some others.

 

[Sumea]

it doesnt look like your ram is set in dual channel mode

just move the ram in the black slot to the other yellow slot

Hmm, Thanks, Gotta test that.

I had two extra 512 sticks what I tested today anyhow, machine did not boot with them so I just left it like that...

Also, Edhel:
Even if the coretemp would tell more accurately, it still means now that the problem is greatly reduced, to level where it shouldn't be a problem (?) anymore.

Even if it would be 10Celsius more, it no more is a killing one. unlike the 80 celsius same meter told me yesterday.

 

[67birdman]

80 degrees is pretty bad, mine only goes up to 42-45 only when gaming.
I think your heat sinks fucked, try using liquid cooling.
It keeps it really cool, the only downside is that if there is a leakage, then the components would get damaged.

 

[fgghjjkll]

it doesnt look like your ram is set in dual channel mode

just move the ram in the black slot to the other yellow slot

Hmm, Thanks, Gotta test that.

I had two extra 512 sticks what I tested today anyhow, machine did not boot with them so I just left it like that...

Also, Edhel:
Even if the coretemp would tell more accurately, it still means now that the problem is greatly reduced, to level where it shouldn't be a problem (?) anymore.

Even if it would be 10Celsius more, it no more is a killing one. unlike the 80 celsius same meter told me yesterday.

Your RAM slot is prolly fucked. My laptop also has the same problem with one of the slots and i tested it with ten different ram sticks...

 

[Joe88]

80 degrees is pretty bad, mine only goes up to 42-45 only when gaming.
I think your heat sinks fucked, try using liquid cooling.
It keeps it really cool, the only downside is that if there is a leakage, then the components would get damaged.

and it only costs about $300

 

[67birdman]

LOL, im just sayin if he has that option..

 

[Sumea]

LOL, im just sayin if he has that option..

not to mention that I already did post in this thread that I took my cooler off, and reinserted in other way, pressed it in more firmly, and my "GTAIV temperature" is now 51celsius at max.

also for FGG, I also do not think that my ram slot would be fucked. Either it is other one of the sticks, or just incompability to have two 2gig sticks by kingston, and the other two sticks are some random manufacturer, random speed, no idea. At least the yellow slots are ok since I put my sticks in dual channel mode as said.