Need help with my Core 2 Duo

[ochinchin]

My E6700 is giving me insanely high temperatures. When running Intel's TAT both my cores are at 51 C idle, and 69 C under full load. Temperature readings are the same with core temp. In BIOS and PC Probe II my temperatures are 35 C idle and 53 C under full load. I have a Zalman CNPS9500 LED HSF and processor is at stock speed. I used Arctic Silver 5 as my thermal compound. When under full load with TAT at 69 C I carefully touched the CPU heatsink but it was only barely warm to the touch. Are all the temperature readings off or do I have a serious heating problem? Help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

My system:

Asus P5W DH Deluxe
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 (stock speed)
Zalman CNPS9500 LED HSF
Thermaltake Armor VA8000BWS case
One 12cm (120mm) intake fan in the front, one 12cm and one 9cm (90mm) exhaust fan in the back, and one 9cm exhaust fan on the top of case.
Creative X-Fi Platinum
1x 74GB WD Raptor SATA I
2x 250GB WD Caviar SE16 SATA II
Sapphire Radeon X1900XTX GPU

Please help me!

[Mr.Ferrari]

1. Remount the heatsink, Insure proper contact
2. Did you apply as5 according to www.arcticsilver.com instructions?
3. Double check those values with speedfan.
4. Core 2 duo uses a new set of temperature sensors, there is still much conflict and debate on which of two on each core are correct. All the programs are referring to different temps. As long as everything is stable is ok.

[ochinchin]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ferrari 1. Remount the heatsink, Insure proper contact 2. Did you apply as5 according to www.arcticsilver.com instructions? 3. Double check those values with speedfan. 4. Core 2 duo uses a new set of temperature sensors, there is still much conflict and debate on which of two on each core are correct. All the programs are referring to different temps. As long as everything is stable is ok.

1. The heatsink is bolted down and is mounted correctly, I used zalman usa website for proper installation instructions as the instructions in the package were very vague. I watched the flash video and read the pdf manual.
2. I did apply as5 according to arctic silver instructions for dual core cpus. I put a thin line down the middle of the cpu on top of the heat spreader.
3. Ok, I'll try that.

Thanks for the advice!

[MaxRat]

if you have too many software temp programs they can conflict...trust the bios more...

How can you test idle and load temps while in the bios...thats a new one to me...

[Mr.Ferrari]

Originally Posted by MaxRat How can you test idle and load temps while in the bios...thats a new one to me...

Same here .

[Foosa]

take off the heatsink and clean it and the cpu off very well. Then reapply as5 but this time only a small rice sized spot in the middle of the cpu. Not on the heatsink.

And get rid of the TAT. Use the pc probe that came with your mobo.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Actually he did. For dual core cpu's it is better to more evenly spread it out.

TAT has been more accurate then pc probe, which has been crap at reporting proper temps. Once again, c2d's core sensors are a bit odd. I trust speedfan or TAT first.

[ochinchin]

Originally Posted by MaxRat How can you test idle and load temps while in the bios...thats a new one to me...

Sorry, I didn't mean that. I didn't run in full load in BIOS. That was a typo. I only pushed CPU to full load while running TAT and PC Probe. PC Probe temps are very close to BIOS temps. Maybe later I will reapply AS5. Any suggestions on how I should apply AS5 to my C2D? If there are better methods of applying AS5 than what the official site instructs then I would like to know them. Please be very specific in instructions because I don't want to mess up. Thanks for your feedback guys. It's been very helpful!

[MaxRat]

I think it depends more on how clean you get the surfaces before the application... you know like... the prep work is 75% of the job...

I have heard on the full IHS put a 1/2 pea sized spot in the middle and attach the heatsink and your good...but for me I still spread a even very thin layer over the top of the IHS...

I clean both surfaces with goof-off and then I use 100% alcohol on both surfaces to ensure a clean surface....

The I use a rubber glove (medical grade) and clean the thumb and fingers used in alcohol (to remove and glove resisdue)

Then I apply a little TIM to the base of the heatsink and proceed to rub it in...In a circular motion then reverse then up and down side to side then after about 1 minute I use a clean "Lint free" cloth to wipe off the extra...

Then I put a small spot on the IHS and with a flat spreader I put a very thin film over the surface... you need to do a thin layer and get it even...

when dont I put the heat sink on, hold it firm and attach it... after it's cliped or tighened I give a slight pushing twist...to squeeze out any excess... not pushing to hard or twisting too much....

This has netted the best temps for me...but the trick is to NOT put too much TIM on...too much is just as bad as not enough...

[telegramsam]

My C2D came with some sort of compound already applied to the heat sink. The instructions mentioned nothing about adding any compound.
In my bios, the temp is 52°c. Is this OK? The system is completely stable...

[MaxRat]

yep...heatsinks from the factory come pre-applied...The TIM not the heatsink....

I wouldnt worry about temps...it'll throttle back... I have seen some temps around 70c when overclocked but most around 48-52c...

[telegramsam]

Cool, thanks.
I LOVE this CPU, by the way. It seems to open programs before I even get the second mouse click completed....And that's the 6300 at standard clock speed. wow...

[chuck4456]

I would install Sensors View and monitor CPU Core Voltage. Multitask and see if it remains within parameters, or ends up going over. I had the same problem with temperature variations and increases, especially under a heavy load. Spent a lot of time with Intel Support. I ended up with a bigtime crash, as everyone already knows. I would do that, just to be on the safe side.