i5 2500k getting too hot, new cooling solution? H80 or more air?

[HollowRopes]

I've managed to get my i5 2500k to 5GHz on air with a Cooler Master 212 with a push-pull situation with the fans, but I'm starting to get really high temperatures when torture testing and it's worrying me.

Someone suggested that Corsair H80 water system, but I checked and to me it kinda seems like a toy (i.e. compare a cap gun to a real gun).

Another person told me I might get even high temperatures if I use a that Corsair H80, saying it's really no better than a good air cooler.

Does anyone have any information on this? I want to stay at 5GHz but the temperatures are getting a little too hot for my liking.

Idle:

Prime95:

Those two speed fan controls on the bottom left default all the time and they don't work anyway, so don't worry about the fact they're 100% on the top picture and 27% on the bottom.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Before you buy anything, I would suggest trying to mount the cooler all over again, that is to cancel out the fact that 212 is not enough to cool the CPU.
And, a suggestion, for temp monitoring, use HWmonitor, or RealTemp next time, as they are easier to read, and have recording capabilities.

 

[HollowRopes]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion, I'll remount the heatsink in a little while and see if I can get it better adjusted.

Also, thanks for telling me about better temperature monitoring software. I really appreciate it.

 

[pimpin-tl]

The H80 and H100 are some of the best coolers out in the market today. In tests it has come on top many times vs many other aftermarket systems.

 

[Binky]

...but I'm starting to get really high temperatures when torture testing and it's worrying me.

Um, just stop torturing it? What are the temps like in real world use?

 

[HollowRopes]

Heh.. The "just stop torturing it" really made me laugh because it's the truth, I really should, I just have this nack for wanting it to be completely stable.

Real world temperatures in games are about 74-78, most I've really seen is 85.

I'm pretty sure I'm okay with this cooler, I'm just a bit 'paranoid' now that I'm at 5Ghz.

Edit: I take that back, real world temperatures are even lower than I thought, more like 68-74.

Should I not worry about temperatures and just leave it alone?

 

[Fallen Kell]

Hard to say, the 93 is really up there, but not outside the thermal limit (at least I don't believe it is). So, you should be fine.

 

[HollowRopes]

I know that the limit is 100, but how safe is it for these chips to run at 70-80 C for hours at a time (let's say someone's playing a game).

I remember 'back in the day' when chips were running hot like, people would say they'd have a better chance of going out on you. That's sorta the reason I'm worried about this.

Even though the temperatures are fine and the system is stable when I'm not torture testing it, is it -really- as safe as it should be?

These are my idle temps:

 

[mmaestro]

I had thought the real worry with these processors is overvolting them? They'll clock themselves down automatically if the temp gets too high. I don't believe Intel actually publishes a maximum temperature for the cores: they have a maximum CPUTIN reading, which for the desktop 2nd gen core processors is 85, I believe. All of that said, I try to keep my core temps below 75, but I'm paranoid.

 

[HollowRopes]

I'm sure too much voltage would be a problem for any processor after a while.. How much voltage is too much for these? This is what I'm dealing with:

 

[Idontcare]

You got a golden sample to hit 5GHz stable on air with that kind of voltage.

I have an H100, its nice but spendy.

Consider you only spent $200 for your CPU though, do you really want to spend more than $100 to cool it? At some point it gets kinda ridiculous.

 

[mmaestro]

Wow. I wouldn't worry about it if you can OC to 5Ghz on 1.224. There are some folks putting 1.45V through their processors to get that fast (and they'll burn out in 6 months or less doing it, I'd wager). I think of somewhere between 1.3 and 1.35 as being the sweet spot, and less if your processor will support it.

 

[Lightflash]

That is one golden CPU. I would try to remount the heatsink to rule out just an unlucky mounting issue as was suggested. If that does not lower the temps. then you should look into better solutions.

 

[RussianSensation]

I'm sure too much voltage would be a problem for any processor after a while.. How much voltage is too much for these? This is what I'm dealing with:

Is that your voltage in LinX or Prime 95 on all cores loaded? Sounds too good to be true! Looks to me like that's your voltage in idle with all power saving features disabled sitting in Windows at 5.0ghz or CPU-z is reading your voltage wrong.

Try HWMonitor. Load up Prime95 on all 4 cores and take a screenshot with prime95/Task Manager next to the HWMonitor.

 

[blackened23]

Holy crap, 5GHz at 1.2? Wow. Anyway to answer the question, attempt 212+ remount. Take ambient temps and case quality into consideration - that can add temp as well, but you definitely shouldn't be getting THAT high with the 212.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Holy crap, 5GHz at 1.2? Wow. Anyway to answer the question, attempt 212+ remount. Take ambient temps and case quality into consideration - that can add temp as well, but you definitely shouldn't be getting THAT high with the 212.

Yes, remount first. The 212+ is tough to mount b/c even after you mount it, it's not a secure fit and has a lot of play.

 

[Lotheron]

Need confirmation that that's on load and not idle with speedstep disabled

 

[RussianSensation]

Need confirmation that that's on load and not idle with speedstep disabled

Ya, I know, I asked with no response / screenshot provided. My i7 860 @ 3.9ghz would easily idle at 1.186V on the desktop but needed 1.312V once all 8 threads were loaded at the same frequency.