Abnormally high idle temperatures

[aznxk3vi17]

The (overheating) parts in question:

i7 920 @ 3.6 GHz
2x Gigabyte GTX 460 1 GB SLI @ 815/2050

My CPU is idling at 50 C, and the GPUs are idling at 60/52 respectively. After 30 seconds of Furmark, my 1st GPU hits 77 C and steadily rises. After 10 seconds of Prime95 Small FFTs, my CPU's 1st core hits 77. Here's a bad picture of the inside of my case:

As seen, there's a TRUE 120 with a Noctua fan, and sufficient cabling to say that my cabling cannot possibly be restricting airflow that badly. I can't figure out why my temps are so high. The CPU temps might be fixed by reseating, but I ordered a Prolimatech anyway to replace the aging TRUE. In any case, I never got below 40C idle temps, even when I first installed this TRUE, despite reports everywhere of people getting insane low temperatures.

The GPU though, I can't fathom. I see people posting idle temps in the 40s for SLI 460s, but I'm 20 degrees above this.

What's going on?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I would say that would be because the 470s are in SLI, and the cards are dumping all their thermal energy into the case. See how it is when the case cover is removed, or if you can get some more airflow through the case.

 

[aznxk3vi17]

I would say that would be because the 470s are in SLI, and the cards are dumping all their thermal energy into the case. See how it is when the case cover is removed, or if you can get some more airflow through the case.

Well, I have a HAF 932, so if there's any more airflow to be had in this case, I don't know where to get it. There's 2 240mm intake fans, 2 240mm exhaust. Also, I know SLI causes more heat than usual, but everywhere I read people with idle temps at 40-50, and definitely not 60C.

 

[Petey!]

whats ur ambient temps? And maybe your cooler isnt seated properly? What TIM are you using?

 

[Petey!]

Oh and are you running dual monitors? That could explain the high idle temps in the video cards

 

[aznxk3vi17]

Oh and are you running dual monitors? That could explain the high idle temps in the video cards

Ambient temperatures were higher yesterday, as the A/C wasn't on. Today, it's on, but my i7 is still idling at 44-45 C. That wouldn't be a problem by itself, but when I run Prime95, I get temperatures getting close to 90 C. I reseated my heatsink earlier to see if that was the problem, but no dice - the temperatures were about the same, even with fresh AS5 that hasn't had a chance to set.

I'm not running dual monitors, just 1 on the SLI setup. My GPU temps have gone down - I think something was keeping my GPUs in 3D mode at the desktop, not letting the GPUs idle down and lower power consumption. I think those aren't a concern anymore.

The CPU still bothers me - the TRUE 120 is supposed to be one of the best heatsinks on the market, and I've never gotten load temperatures below 80 on this thing. Did I just get one with an exceptionally badly machined base or something?

 

[Zap]

Enable EIST in BIOS so that your CPU can clock down and volt down during idle.

 

[aznxk3vi17]

Enable EIST in BIOS so that your CPU can clock down and volt down during idle.

Already enabled.

I'm more worried about my load temperatures now. I've never seen anybody with a TRUE having load temperatures above 80C like I'm getting. I've reseated this thing 3 times already and it's all the same. The thermal paste application method I'm using is a small lump in the middle of the heat spreader, followed by placing the heatsink right on top of it. This method has served me well in the past and I see no reason why it wouldn't work with this one.

Why is my TRUE getting such high load temperatures?

 

[Rifter]

Already enabled.

I'm more worried about my load temperatures now. I've never seen anybody with a TRUE having load temperatures above 80C like I'm getting. I've reseated this thing 3 times already and it's all the same. The thermal paste application method I'm using is a small lump in the middle of the heat spreader, followed by placing the heatsink right on top of it. This method has served me well in the past and I see no reason why it wouldn't work with this one.

Why is my TRUE getting such high load temperatures?

Assuming you are not a moron and are installing it correctly which by the sounds of it you are then it might not be flat, lap it and the CPU heatspreader and see if it helps, it cant hurt.

 

[Petey!]

Yeah, definitely sounds like something wrong with your CPU cooler. With a CM Hyper 212+ in an antec 900, my idle temps @ 3.8 (i7 930) are 38-40 with an ambient of 25. Should def be lower.

 

[aznxk3vi17]

All right, a few updates:

I just installed the Prolimatech Megahalem. I disabled Hyperthreading, because I read somewhere that it increases heat output and doesn't increase performance unless I really use all those cores (I don't).

Upon booting, my idle temperatures are almost exactly the same (43-45). I'm running Prime95 (which is now only running on 4 cores instead of 8), and my temps are better than before. After running for a minute, my temps are at 70, rather than 80+.

Do you think Hyperthreading is what caused the heat issues, or the combination of a badly manufactured TRUE + the HT? In any case, I'm going to try pushing my overclock now that I've got the temps under control.

 

[balane]

I can't comment on that particular cooler but the surface of my last Thermalright heatsink looked like a wavy ocean. My temps dropped 15 degrees after I milled and sanded it to a perfectly level surface. I know they are a great company but this kind of put me off on them a little. I mean, that's one of the most important aspects of a heatsink right? The contact surface has to be good or it doesn't matter how good the unit will dissipate what little heat it's pulling from the processor. I've read so much about Thermalright heatsinks doing this that I'd be stunned if they weren't aware of the problem. It was a great cooler after it was lapped, really good actually.

 

[aznxk3vi17]

I can't comment on that particular cooler but the surface of my last Thermalright heatsink looked like a wavy ocean. My temps dropped 15 degrees after I milled and sanded it to a perfectly level surface. I know they are a great company but this kind of put me off on them a little. I mean, that's one of the most important aspects of a heatsink right? The contact surface has to be good or it doesn't matter how good the unit will dissipate what little heat it's pulling from the processor. I've read so much about Thermalright heatsinks doing this that I'd be stunned if they weren't aware of the problem. It was a great cooler after it was lapped, really good actually.

Yeah, if I didn't have this new cooler, I was going to lap the TRUE.

What concerns me now is that I've been running Prime95 on these 4 cores now with the Prolimatech, and my temps just hit 74 (and I imagine it will continue to rise slowly). Isn't this too high for a cooler as highly rated as the Megahalem? I read people saying "I never get load temperatures above 71 C on this thing." I reseated it once already (I put too much thermal paste the first time), and while that improved temperatures a bit, I'm still worried. Should I stop worrying so much?

Edit: After a few reboots and lockups, I'm currently at 78C load with Small FFTs in Prime95. This is unacceptably high. I can't for the life of me figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've reseated this new heatsink at least 5 times now, each time using a different thermal application method, and all the results have been about the same. Could it be that I just have a terrible i7 920 that runs extremely hot?

 

[Rifter]

Yeah, if I didn't have this new cooler, I was going to lap the TRUE.

What concerns me now is that I've been running Prime95 on these 4 cores now with the Prolimatech, and my temps just hit 74 (and I imagine it will continue to rise slowly). Isn't this too high for a cooler as highly rated as the Megahalem? I read people saying "I never get load temperatures above 71 C on this thing." I reseated it once already (I put too much thermal paste the first time), and while that improved temperatures a bit, I'm still worried. Should I stop worrying so much?

Edit: After a few reboots and lockups, I'm currently at 78C load with Small FFTs in Prime95. This is unacceptably high. I can't for the life of me figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've reseated this new heatsink at least 5 times now, each time using a different thermal application method, and all the results have been about the same. Could it be that I just have a terrible i7 920 that runs extremely hot?

It might not be the heatsink, my i7 930 heatspreader was far from flat. Took me over a hour of lapping to get it flat.

 

[aznxk3vi17]

It might not be the heatsink, my i7 930 heatspreader was far from flat. Took me over a hour of lapping to get it flat.

I've considered that route, though I've never lapped a CPU before, and I'm worried I'd damage it. I can't imagine that even the most misshapen CPU would cause temperatures to be this bad - or am I incorrect with that assumption? I mean, I'm getting worse temperatures than what other people get with a stock HSF.

 

[Rifter]

dependning on how out of flat it is it might cause the temps to be that far out of wack.

Ive lapped every CPU and GPU i have ever owned, back to my original K6-2 and Nvidia TNT so ive been doing it a while lol. And some of them saw a 10-15c change in temps after, thats extrem cases though. Most of the time if heatsink and heatspreader are already pretty good you get around a 5c lower load temp after lapping.

I just brought it up because my only experiance with intel since my celeron 300A was with my new i7 and it was not flat at all.

 

[aznxk3vi17]

dependning on how out of flat it is it might cause the temps to be that far out of wack.

Ive lapped every CPU and GPU i have ever owned, back to my original K6-2 and Nvidia TNT so ive been doing it a while lol. And some of them saw a 10-15c change in temps after, thats extrem cases though. Most of the time if heatsink and heatspreader are already pretty good you get around a 5c lower load temp after lapping.

I just brought it up because my only experiance with intel since my celeron 300A was with my new i7 and it was not flat at all.

It's definitely something to consider.

I've been thinking about it since last night, and I'm now wondering: I've been cleaning the leftover thermal paste from the heatsink and CPU with paper towels and 90% alcohol - would the possible leftover lint from the paper towels be able to cause such an overheating issue? I have a couple of microfiber towels I'll use today after work to clean with, but I can't imagine that it would cause such a drastic decrease in cooling efficiency.