[iwantfatty]

Hello!, new to this forum, I recently built my first PC, with the following spec:

Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 2.4GHz
Zalman CNPS9500-LED CPU Cooler
BFG 680i SLI motherboard
2 GB OCZ PC2-8500 1066MHz DDR2 RAM
BFG 8800 GTS 640MB
Corsair 620W PSU

heres a link to the case:
http://www.xclio.com/product/Case_A380/a380.htm

The build went along with almost no problems, however once I started it up, I checked temp in BIOS it was 50 degees!!!! This seems a little high for a CPU. The lowest it has ever gone is 43, the highest is 74. I was wondering if my system is likely to soon explode?

Regards !!!!!!

[alex]

Quad core core2's run hotter than the dual core variety, quite a bit actually.

At 74 it will be stable (they're good for around 80) but that is rather high.

What hsf have you got fitted? If its the stock intel cooler, bin it and replace it with either a Tuniq Tower or an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 pro.

[evilfantasy]

You were talking to yourself Alex. lol, whats up mate?

[alex]

Originally Posted by evilfantasy You were talking to yourself Alex. lol, whats up mate?

Just finished watching Hot fuzz, had tears in my eyes.

[iwantfatty]

I got a Zalman CNPS9500-LED CPU Cooler which was like £30 so I hoped it would be better, would it really be worth looking into this tower one you mention?

[alex]

Originally Posted by iwantfatty I got a Zalman CNPS9500-LED CPU Cooler which was like £30 so I hoped it would be better, would it really be worth looking into this tower one you mention?

Oops, I read that. Apologies for making you post that info again.

The 9500 is a good looking, heavy hsf. Not bad for cooling dual cores.

But Quads are a whole different ball game. "Not bad" doesnt really cut it.

Whats the rest of your build cooling like? intake and exhaust fans?

As the 9500 pulls in air from the side of the case it might be an idea (if you can and if you haven't) to fit a 120mm or 80mm to the side panel the hsf points to. Set it as an intake and pull ambient temp'd air directly from outside the case.

The Tuniq is one of the best hsf's on the market today, huge (check case dimensions and that the area around the mount on the mobo is big enough) and very heavy and expensive.

The alternative is as quoted above; the AC freezer 7 pro. Very cheap (about 15 quid) very light (doesn't exceed weight tolerances for a motherboard) and is an awesome performer.

My X6800 never went over 40-45c oc'd at 3.6ghz using one of these.

[iwantfatty]

if you check the link to my case (dont think it works in firefox btw), you can see its got a huge fan at the front, and an even larger one on the side, it came with a spot to place a exsaust fan, but I just got a cheapo PC world one for that. I tried re-fitting the Zalman a couple of times, mabye I am just really bad at placeing them :(. The motherboard is pretty damn roomy, as is the huge case

[cyberspacegenie]

It does seem pretty hot. I have Q6600 running at 3Ghz it has never got that high, even with really high ambient temps.

Have you tried it with Intel stock cooler and compared temps? I would try it and if your temps go down then you'll know its the cooler. If not then its likley an airflow problem. Do you temps go down with the side of the case open? i would think if they do then you exhaust fan is not doing a good job - your exiting fans could just be circulating hot air around the case.

Also this may be a silly question but when you mounted the cooler did you use thermal paste? if you didnt then that could be another reason for high temps.

[iwantfatty]

I have re-fitted the CPU cooler several times, I have now got it so its stable at 40-44 & under load it goes 53-56. Is this a more acceptable level of heat?
regards

[alex]

Yup, those temps are fine for a quad. Nicely done.