New Gaming Rig i7-6700K question

[xpender]

Hi All,
Just built my new gaming system (replacing my i7-860) with the following specs:
CPU - i7-6700K
CPU Cooler - Hyper 212 EVO
MB - Gigabyte Gaming G1 Z170
Mem - G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 Series 16GB DDR4 3000 (PC4 24000)
PS - Corsair 750W
Case - Nine Hundred
HD#1 - Samsung SSD 1TB 850 evo
HD#2 - Intel SSD 530 512GB
Graphic - Gigabyte HD 7950 Windforce (re-used)
Display - 3x Asus VE248Q (maybe I should have gone with 28")
KB - Corsair K90
Mouse - Logitech Proteus Core
OS - Windows 10 Pro

Mostly gaming: FO4, D3, SC2, NFS

Now, I might have a small problem (which I did not have with my previous rig). The CPU fan seems to go up and down quite often, just by simply opening IE. It will spin up for 2-3 seconds and go back down. I was thinking that maybe there was not enough paste between the CPU and the cooler. So I redid it, and nothing changed. I monitored the CPU temperature, and it does seem to gu up fast (80-90) and coming down fast (36). Which I don't understand why.

To me, it is pointing to a cooling problem, but everything looks good.
Any ideas what I should be looking for?

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

So, just opening an application can cause a short spike in CPU work, causing a single core to spike in temperature 10-20 degrees. I wouldn't consider it an issue with cooling unless you monitor your CPU temps (with hwinfo or coretemp) and see them getting unreasonably high.

More likely the issue is that your motherboard has a default fan profile that happens to have the fan spinning slowly at idle but with a small peak in temps it spins up. You should be able to fix it by monitoring your temps, seeing where it peaks during that kind of usage, and modifying the profile (either in the UEFI or if you have a utility installed for it) to begin spinning up after it gets above that temperature, like with gaming or other CPU intensive tasks.

I haven't had a default fan profile that didn't do this. I always go and modify them to my liking.


Edit: I don't know if you ninja edited or if I just didn't read the part about temp monitoring. Whoops.

How did the paste look when you took the heatsink off to repaste? Was it thin and even? It's possible there's something wrong with your mounting bracket and its not placing even pressure on the heatspreader.

You might also check and see if your MB overclocked by default. Some of them will clock straight to maximum turbo on all cores if you're not careful setting up the bios.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm thinking auto overclock and/or overvolt?

 

[xpender]

I did find that the cooler was easy to twist around. But I think it is because the paste makes it slippery.

I am wondering if I should try a new cooler (different make). Any suggestions?

I haven't played too much with the BIOS yet. No OC happend either. I will check the cooler again (easy to remove) and check the BIOS for any temperature settings. Will get back with results soon with actual temperature numbers for each core.

 

[Ketchup]

A 212 EVO should not twist around (without decent effort) when installed properly. Are the screws tightened to where they won't twist anymore? There is a stop on these, so if the screws can still be tightened from where they are now, that may be your problem.

 

[Charlie98]

A 212 EVO should not twist around (without decent effort) when installed properly. Are the screws tightened to where they won't twist anymore? There is a stop on these, so if the screws can still be tightened from where they are now, that may be your problem.

I'm kind of wondering the same thing... For the OP's temps to shoot up to 80-90C by opening a browser, that's not right.

My 212's wiggle/twist ever so slightly (I use this to get new TIM to spread, but otherwise leave it alone) but otherwise are quite stable. Hmmm...

 

[xpender]

The screws of the cooler are all the way in. All the way to the stop. All 4 of them. So a bad fit for this mobo?

 

[Ketchup]

The screws of the cooler are all the way in. All the way to the stop. All 4 of them. So a bad fit for this mobo?

I would try removing an re-installing the heatsink first then.

 

[LTC8K6]

What about the spring screw in the center that adds pressure? Is it tight?

 

[xpender]

Hi LTC8K6, A spring screw? I just have a pin in the center. Am I missing something?

I did some temp testing. I ran Prime 95 for about 2 minutes. The temperature jumped to 85, then climbing by 1 degree slowly. I stopped it at 90. The fan was running full speed the whole time.

 

[Ketchup]

Hi LTC8K6, A spring screw? I just have a pin in the center. Am I missing something?...

The screw in the middle in this pic is most likely what he is referring to.

 

[LTC8K6]

There is a spring loaded screw in the center of the X on the mount, I believe.

 

[LTC8K6]

The screw in the middle in this pic is most likely what he is referring to.

Yes, that's what my 212evo looks like. That screw adds pressure in the center, I think.

 

[xpender]

Mine did not have that spring. Weird. I will return it.
I took my other 212 from my other rig and put it on this one. Now the readings are steady at about 80 degrees running Prime95 for 5 minutes. Do you guys think it might still be running too hot?

 

[Charlie98]

Mine did not have that spring. Weird. I will return it.
I took my other 212 from my other rig and put it on this one. Now the readings are steady at about 80 degrees running Prime95 for 5 minutes. Do you guys think it might still be running too hot?

Does the other one have the screw/spring?

 

[xpender]

Yes it does. It is screwed to the max.

 

[Charlie98]

Yes it does. It is screwed to the max.

OK. I don't think 80C on Prime is too bad. Do the active temps seem more stable... i.e. not bouncing around or going from idle temp to 90C and back again?

 

[xpender]

It does not seem that extreme anymore. As an example: running at idle I get about 27 degrees (80F), and when opening Google Chrome, the processor on all 8 cores goes up to about 29% utilization and the temp jumps (in a fraction of second) to about 55 degrees (131F). Would you expect the temp to go up slowly?

 

[radeson]

80 degrees in prime 95 on air is just fine. I have read that prime 95 (specifically "small fft's") can potentially be hazardous to overclocked CPU's. I think I read this somewhere on ASUS's ROG website.

Also I have heard that when you first install a new CPU cooler it might take awhile for the thermal paste to get spread around and settle and the heatsink to make proper contact with the CPU. If I were you I would continue to monitor the temps, and enjoy your new rig... Also no offense but a 7950 is seriously a bottleneck with that rig lol. I would've gotten only 1 monitor and a 980 ti.. But that's just me..

 

[xpender]

I wish I was able to get a 980 ti. In Canada the cheapest one on Newegg.ca is the Gigabyte for a whopping $951 (taxes included).

 

[radeson]

I wish I was able to get a 980 ti. In Canada the cheapest one on Newegg.ca is the Gigabyte for a whopping $951 (taxes included).

Cant you order from the US?? or no... I guess I dont know about these things... I just got a few 980ti Kingpins from EVGA.com but those are expensive as ever also..

 

[Charlie98]

Also I have heard that when you first install a new CPU cooler it might take awhile for the thermal paste to get spread around and settle and the heatsink to make proper contact with the CPU.

...also, make sure you didn't use too much paste. Too much paste acts as an insulator and prohibits correct contact with the actual heatsink. The 212 EVO (not the 212+) has a fairly flat and uniform contact surface... you should only need a very thin skim of TIM (say that fast 3 times...)

 

[xpender]

Hi Charlie98, I did put less this time. I put a bit too much last time.

Redeson: I just purchase a new graphic card: Zotac GTX 980 Ti AMP! Extreme 6GB. With that, I should be good for at least a year!

Now, I just need a 2K monitor...

 

[radeson]

Hi Charlie98, I did put less this time. I put a bit too much last time.

Redeson: I just purchase a new graphic card: Zotac GTX 980 Ti AMP! Extreme 6GB. With that, I should be good for at least a year!

Now, I just need a 2K monitor...

Hey Xpender,

Thats awesome,

This card will be alot better in that system. It matches your new system much better. You should be good for much more than a year unless you get an impulse to buy a restricted pascal next year. Glad things worked out for you.

 

[xpender]

Alright, received my graphic card yesterday. But guess what! It does not fit in my Antec Nine Hundred!! It is too long by about 0.75 inch.

I guess it is time to replace the case too. Any suggestions on cases that will fit this beast? And while at it, I was thinking to go liquid cooled with a Kraken 61x. But again, I need a case that will fit this too.

Thanks!