i5-2500k temps too high?

[neocpp]

Just as an update, I installed my new CPU and now my temps are around 33-35 deg C at idle and around 52-56 deg C under load (stock cooler). As far as I can tell, I didn't do anything differently when I installed this one. I think the previous CPU might have just run hot... can't wait to start OC'ing this one! I've put in an order for the CM Hyper212+, so hopefully my temps will stay reasonable when I start overclocking.

Edit: The bios does appear to read a little higher temperature than windows (when I go in there, it starts out around 38 deg C and goes up to 42 in a few minutes). After I boot into windows though my temps drop to the normal idle temps of 33-35 deg C.

 

[Diogenes2]

BIOS Temp monitors are notoriously inaccurate because they are not usually calibrated correctly, and of little use except to make sure you don't have some kind of dramatic rise when you first power on.
OS monitors like RealTemp get the readings from the circuits , and read the registers in the CPU that record temp data.
I'm using the CM 212 - getting low to mid 20's idle and mid 70's running P95 at 4.9G .. (2600K - Asus P8P67 Pro )

 

[coffeejunkee]

Second and third time, took off heatsink, cleaned cpu and heatsink mount with isopropyl (90&#37, waited for it dry, then put a rice grain sized amount of arctic silver 5 in the center, spread it around with some plastic thing I had. Remounted cooler the same as the first time. I did notice that one of the pins didn't seem to lock as well as the others (didn't give a strong clicking feel), but I couldn't move the cooler after everything was in place.

One of the push-pins not completely secure could explain the high temps. There has to be real good contact.

As an aside, are some of the pads on the cpu significant different colors? I haven't had an LGA cpu before, so I didn't know what to expect, but I noticed that with the specific processor I bought there appeared to be 'burn marks' on some of the pads. I figured it was a side effect of the testing/binning process, but I'm beginning to think it may be consistent with increased current draw (and correspondingly higher temps). The system runs stable, just hot as far as I can tell (so maybe testing would put it within parameters?). I bought the CPU new, so I'm not sure how else the 'burns' could happen.

But this is really strange. I've heard about burnmarks on the socket but not on the cpu. It's almost as if someone had some fun with this cpu before you.

Your new cpu temps are obviously normal. Bios temps are always a bit higher than Windows temps because cpu energy saving features aren't active in bios.

 

[TBoyd]

I found it interesting that your issue appeared to be the CPU. I'm glad your issue is solved!

Intel makes excellent CPUs, but their plastic/nylon pushpin mounting system is very poor. I had the same temp issue with my QX9650 - temps began increasing after a few weeks (no dust issue) - even after several re-mounts & reapplication of thermal compound. I finally bought a stock-sized heatsink that mounted with real metal screws (imagine that!) - which screwed into an x-shaped bracket that mounts on the backside of the motherboard. My temps dropped about 10 degrees C on all 4 cores.

I'm thoroughly convinced that a tight bond between CPU & heatsink is more important than the size of these elaborate heatsinks I've seen (and used before).

My theory is that the sheer weight of some heatsinks being held in place - in a horizontal position - place too much strain on the cheap plastic pushpins after a period of time. I hope Intel will change this mounting system in the future. I've read plenty of complaints in various forums about their poor cpu mounting design.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Personally I never had problems with the push-pins. Place the cooler, push till you hear 4 clicks and done.

The cooler itself is a different story. Obviously it's a complete piece of crap but yeah, it suffices for running stock temp wise (barely).

Now Intel could include a good cooler, but I don't really see the benefit. A good cooler is about 30$ at least, so that would be added to the cpu price. And it would probably kill the 3rd party cooler market, so we wouldn't have the wide range of choice we have now.

 

[SlitheryDee]

That's very strange. I would think a truly defective cpu would simply not run at all. Perhaps the problem was something to do with improper bonding between the cpu die and the heatspreader?

 

[atomjuice]

I've used many different heatsinks...some exotic..expensive...on and on...both with amd and intel...the largest heatsinks are not always the best...particularly I would like to point out a propblem with many copper-pipe heatsinks: some of the 'direct contact' copper pipes will bend (they are hollow in many..or too thinly made..so the copper pipes bend inward on the surface when pressed against the cpu die)...this bent area in the copper pipes cause an area of depression which makes little or no contact with the die surface at all...even on expensive heatsinks that look amazing, this can be the case. I have found a few aftermarket heatsinks which have very solidly built copper pipes...the temps drop dramatically with these well made heatsinks....CHECK the strength and weight of the copper piping before buying that georgous heatsink (which is really a glossy piece of junk)...the heavier the piping, the better the contact..no depression from pressure...and excellent conductive quality...something I learned the hard way to check for!