CPu Temp reading higher with new heatsink versus stock?

[JenniAMDCHP]

Thanks to klah to start off for directing me to the compatability specs in a former post - much appreciated!

I purchased the Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu heatsink/fan today, arctic silver 5 paste

So I took the entire motherboard out of the case so I could get the stock fan/sink off. I also removed the plastic back/board on the other side of the motherboard, as well as the little plastic retention square that came attached to the mobo to hold the stock fan and sink in place. What I was left with was the spot for the CPU and 2 screw holes. Followed the directions and put the new plate on the backside of the motherboard, screwed in the two little holding pins.

Now..I cleaned off all the stock grey paste stuff that came with the stock heat sink. Completely cleaned the metal surface of the cpu gently with rubbing alcohol(Pure). Put the paste on, placed the rather large and heavy Zalman on and screwed it into place.

Now I know it's no official test - but I made a mark of what my Seti @ home was running tempwise before the changes with the stock heat sink and fan - and it was hitting about 40-41 at maximum Seti load. Now it runs at about 48/49 C maximum Seti load. Idle used to be 34-35 and now idle is 38-49

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here? I didn't screw the screws in extremely tight on the zalman because I'm afraid of forcing stuff in that regard. I screwed the screws tight enough until I couldn't screw them anymore, was that not enough?

Also - on the Arctic silver 5 - I have heard of two methods. One is to get a thin layer covering the entire back of the chip (Fx-53 here - large metal surface) - or to put a small dab in the middle and just push the heat sink copper surface directly onto it - the force would spread the paste out over the most important(middle) areas while allowing lots of metal contact.

Having heard the horror stories of what happens when you run things without paste - I opted to cover the entire surface of the back of the processor chip. I tried to make it as thin a layer as possible - I used a powder/chemical free surgical glove to rub the stuff in as thin a layer as I could over the entire surface before putting the sink down and screwing the screws tight.

Could it be that I'm getting bad temps because I used too much? Would I be much better off just putting a small dab right in the middle (about the size of a Bb pellet almost, or a short-grain wild rice), and smoosh the heat sink down so that the middle portion is gauranteed protected?

I know that this isn't necessarily the 'best' heat sink out there - but I don't think it's something that should be getting worse read outs then the stock set up. This device is easy enough to simply unscrew (And hold gently so it doesn't fall right off) and just carefully remove it, the processor - clean both, then try the other method - putting a little dab in the middle.

I thought I put a thin enough layer on the back - but maybe I put too much? I put enough so that none of the chip showed through the gray, which I'm guessing may be too much. Do I need to do a round 2, guys? Going to keep programs at a minimum till I can get this fixed..
-Jen

 

[JenniAMDCHP]

That should read 'and now idles at 38-39. Not 38-49. Oi.

 

[Gnoad]

Your right on with the BB method. Thats what the AS 5 instructions say to do, not cover the whole chip. Just 1 small dab on the center of the chip.

 

[JenniAMDCHP]

Okay - took the fan/sink off and cleaned off the stuff and this time placed a small dab of Arctic 5 right square on the moddle of the cpu. Under the seti program I'm still getting a 47-48C readout

I mean, I guess that's not too bad for a load temp, but it seems sort of disheartening when I was getting about 5 or 6 degrees lower with the stock. I can't help but feel I'm still doing something wrong with the paste. I thoroughly cleaned the AS off of the cpu and copper heat sink bottom before placing a small dab on the cpu and pressing the heat sink base up tight against it before screwing it in. I'm not quite sure what the culprit might be..
-Jen

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

Are you using the Zalman Fanmate controller?

Do you have the speed full blast or are you limiting the speed of the fan?

Perhaps you are simply running the HSF fan slower than the stock one was running?

I have a Zalman 7000 on my AXP, and from what I recall, I tightened the screws as far as I could (until they bottomed out). On the AXP brackets, the clamp is basically a bent piece of metal that acts like a spring, so you would tighten down the screws all the way and the spring would then apply the correct pressure. I definitely had to make the screws pretty tight.

Didn't see what CPU you were running, but perhaps you just need to tighten the screws down further (I used a full size screwdriver, not a little piddly 2-finger one). I also tightened the screws evenly, a couple turns at a time, to make sure I didn't put any significant side loading on the core (AXP has open core, so I was nervous about cracking it).

I'd check the fan speed first, then maybe double check the instructions about tightening the screws.

Good luck!

-D'oh!

 

[JenniAMDCHP]

Well - The controller is set to maximum..getting rpm's of around 2250-2350 or so - which I guess is within specs of the fan at max. I realize it's not one of the most powerful fans - but it oughta be getting more.. I mean it's much bigger then the older stock fan. Pretty sure it's not the RPm's - though I've yet to try tightening the screws more. I guess that could work. Going to be real careful with that, though.

 

[JenniAMDCHP]

Another thought. I noticed that the package I bought (Fry's electronics) was a returned model. For some reason - it was returned to the store. There was a sticker on the back stating as such that I didn't notice until later this evening. While I was looking at the bottom surface of the heat sink - I noticed what looked like little scritch marks. Nothing major, and nothing major covering the majority of the surface - but I can say with easy assurance that the base isn't 'totally smooth'. Each side of the bottom looks scratched - like someone screwed with it or something (I noticed the marks before I even messed with it on my system).

Does surface appearance of the bottom have anything to do with effectiveness? Could the irregularities on the bottom be contributing to the lack of performance that I had been expecting, maybe? I'm pondering taking this one back and getting a replacement - one of the ones that hasn't been returned. I try to avoid the items that have been returned but I somehow mixxed the sticker on this one until it was too late.

Think that could be the deal, here?

 

[Gnoad]

If it aint near mirror finish and has scratches, you just found out the problem. Mine was totally smooth on the bottom, though I gues it wasnt mirror finish. Scratches are bad because they limit the contact between the heatsink and heatspreader. I'd return it.

 

[PCHPlayer]

You don't mention the noise levels. Did the stock HSF run at 6K RPM and sound like a vacuum cleaner and your new zahlman runs nice and quiet? When it comes to cooling many times it's a balance of noise and temp. I personally prefer to run a little hotter if it means less noise.

 

[Nickel020]

Run your fingernail over the area that's in contact with the CPU. If you feel bumps and scratches you have probably found your problem. Return the heatsink.

 

[JenniAMDCHP]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Yeah, the stock Amd cooler fan ran at higher rpm, I think. I agree that this Zalman would probably be a great candidate if I returned it and got one without a messed up bottom - but the thing is - my case has 2 rear fans, 1 top, 1 front intake and 1 120 side fan. Using the Zalman is a bit pointless for quiet because even on Zalman's highest rpm the fan is still drowned out easily by the little fans on my case (Guess that's good PR for how quiet the zalman is). I could probably live with max load temps at around 49-51, but I have a feeling when I eventually try one of those newer video game cards - it will get a bit more hotter under load, since the Seti thing crunches numbers, not graphics.

I'd like to try the Thermalright XP-120 with a medium strength 120 fan - something in the 150 cfm range. That'll probably be loud - but the case is already loud - and I'm pretty much used to the constant hum of the fans. Newegg doesn't seem to have it in stock. For that matter - I can't seem to find it available anywhere online. I don't believe I saw it available at Fry's electronics, either. So uh..I'm not exactly sure where to go for it. Computer electronic stores in southern california (near LA) is a bit limited AFAIK. There's Frys, CompUSA. Haven't checked the second one yet though..

-Jen

 

[Nickel020]

The temp ist still fine, I would start worrying if you reach 65C anything below is perfect. I don't know what CPU you have but I know that a 2.53 GHz P4 (Thermal Design Power 61W) is stable with a passive heatsink at 84C under 100% load.
If you're not overclocking and the noise is allright with you, there's not really a need to return it or get a different heatsink.

 

[Gnoad]

But 65C is way too high for any A64. Its just not right.