CPU temp too high w/ Thermalright SI-97

[alex1122]

I am running an Athlon XP-M 2500+ at 2.3ghz @ 1.75v with a Thermalright SI-97 heatsink and the cpu temp seems a bit high for this heatsink. I have a Panaflo 92mm H1A fan on it right now, and I am at 51C under full load. I would like to run this cpu at 2.4 @ 1.9v but the heat is immense, I have hit 62C under load this way before. This cpu was given to me by a friend that was running it at 2.4 @ 1.9 at more reasonable temps with a Thermaltake Volcano 12 with the fan set a little less than halfway. I don't understand why my temp is so high as I have replaced the AS5 I have under there and reseated the heatsink multiple times. In terms of case airflow (I have a Chieftec Dragon aluminum case), I have two 80mm Panaflo H1A's in the back, two Coolermaster 30cfm led fans in the front, and my TTGI 550w power supply has a 140mm fan on the bottom always set on high. Motherboard is an Epox EP-8RDA3+

 

[Fern]

How much AS5 did you put on it, and what method? (i.e., put a little blob and let the HS "spread it" or did you spread it yourself). Is the HS tight/making good contact?

EDIT: How about ambient temps? If his were cooler, his cpu w/b too. What's the delta between reported system temps and cpu temps. The closer the better.

 

[alex1122]

well, since I have replaced the AS5 multiple times thinking that was the problem, I tried both putting a thin line down the center of the core lengthwise and letting the HS spread it like it says on Arctic Silver's site, and putting a small blob in the middle and spreading it very thinly myself with the edge of a razor. Both methods were no different in terms of temps. As far as my case temps go, right now I am at 29C which is about 84F and my cpu is under full load at 50C. This is at 2.3ghz @ 1.75v. If I do 2.4ghz @ 1.9v, my case temp goes up to about 32-33C.

 

[Toro 45]

Are you using the shim? If so you can remove it for a 3-4c drop in cpu temp(so they say)
Also do you have the fan blowing down?

 

[alex1122]

I did read that the shim actually decreases this heatsink's performance by a few degrees and right now I am not using it. I also have the fan blowing down. I have tried reversing it to blow up but it resulted in a 1C increase so i switched it back.

 

[Toro 45]

Ok, so you have good air flow in your case, a good cpu cooler, a good fan, is it possible your mobo reads temps a bit high? Can you try a different cpu cooler and compare the temps. I'm running an SI-97 and so far it works great, fan at 2400rpm 1.85volts with temps in the low 40s on load.

 

[alex1122]

The only thing that leads me to believe that the mobo isn't reading temps too high is that the other night, I was running at 2.4 @ 1.9 and it got to 64C when my computer then became really unstable and crashed. Also, prior to buying the SI-97, I was using a Vantec Aeroflow hsf which gave me slightly better temps at 1.9v, 58C as opposed to 60-63C. Granted the Aeroflow wasn't by any means an overclockers hsf. As far as the fitment goes, is it normal for it to be able to twist a little left and right when attached to the cpu due to the clip only applying pressure in one spot?

Toro, your temps at that voltage seem to be about on par with a couple friends I have that run their XP-M's the same except they have SP-97's. I do realize that my cpu is a bit weird, it wants tons of voltage to run at 2.4 compared to 2.3 and seems to take the heat except when it gets a little out of hand such as 64C. Other people's XP mobile's that I know of aren't as tolerant to heat with some becoming unstable as low as 46-50C.

 

[Toro 45]

Do you have access to another board cpu to try your cooler on. I had read on another forum(I'll try to find the link) that one or two guys who bought the SI-97 were getting poor results with this cooler, while several others got about the same as reviewers. As far as twisting, I can twist mine while clipped on with a little pressure.

I'm sure this is not the case but is it possible you have the clip on wrong the screwdriver end should be on the up side (by the power supply), placing your heatsink dead square, just inside the four pads.

 

[alex1122]

Since I don't have access to another board/cpu to try it on, I borrowed a friend's Thermalright SLK-800 he wasn't using paired with an 80mm Y.S. Tech speed adjustable fan set on highest and blowing up. I got about 55-57C at 1.9v and about 44-46C at 1.75v. So as it turns out, I got better temps with a lesser cooler than I have now. I don't know what else to do now, since I didn't really like the SLK-800 that much or I would buy it from my friend right now. It was much heavier and only takes 80mm fans which are generally loud when pushing a good amount of air. Not sure what to do. I tried looking for any info on people getting poor results with this cooler and everyone seems to get awesome temps except me. I have double-checked many times making sure I have the clip on the right way so thats not the case either

 

[xbassman]

Make sure you have the HS clip oriented in the proper direction.
With the SI-97 and ALX-800, you can install the clip backwards which will result in higher than normal temps.
Make sure the pressure point is directly over the CPU.