How to cool down my CPU?

gunmetalTrevan

gunmetalTrevan

New Member
Basically just what the title says... My CPU I running too hot, I believe. I have an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 at stock clocks (2.4) that I bought used from my cousin. When really nothing is running on my computer, it is around 50°C according to CPUID. All the cores are at different temperatures, but it's usually something like #0: 54°C #1: 54°C #2: 49°C #3: 51°C. If I let my computer sit for around an hour, it'll drop down to about 46-48°C, while in BF3 and Crysis 2 for around 45 minutes, I've seen it go up to 78°C. CPUID also says the CPU VCORE's range is 1.21v - 1.32v. (Idle - gaming)

Online, I read the safe temperature for this CPU is 60°C, while mine idles around that! If it means anything, my cousin had some crazy cooling, and I believe he overclocked this CPU to 4 or 5GHz, but that may be inaccurate. I KNOW he had it on at least 3.2ish, but he said something about 5 (May have been his new i7.) Anyway, here are my specs:

Mobo: Asus p5kpl-cm
CPU: Q6600 Quad cpu @ 2.4GHz
RAM: 4GB DDR2 800mhz -I was told it's max for my mobo:(-
GPU: HIS HD7850 2GB (OC'd to core1050mhz & mem1400mhz)
PSU: TR2600 watt

I would give the link to my case, but my internet is horrible right now and I'll have to hold off on that for a bit. I can say nearly the whole left (when looking at the front) door is a vent, 75% of the top is a vent, almost all of the back and front are vents, and the bottom is a vent where the PSU fan is. I have 3 fans running (excluding PSU fan); Two 120mm fans on top-only one is running because my motherboard doesn't allow enough, one 120mm fan on the front, and an I believe 80mm on the CPU. CPUID only shows 2 fans; the CPU and the SYS fans. CPU is almost always around 2600rpm, sys is about 1500rpm. And apparently my CPU fan was running at 0rpm a minute ago, because the minimum says 0... I've NEVER seen that before.

Anyway, any help is appreciated.
OH- I DID put thermal paste on it (I'm not THAT clueless), so don't worry about that;)
 
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If you are using the stock cooler, get rid of it and get aftermarket cooling and some decent thermal paste to go with the new cooler. My Core 2 Quad Q8300 idles at about 45-50C and runs at 70C under load with the stock cooler, so your temperatures are probably quite normal. I'd also make sure your case has good airflow and generally give it a good dusting out! Get a can of compressed air and spray it inside the case and watch the dust fly out. :D

This cooler will work with a Q6600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099 be aware it's quite large though.
 
Did you use new thermal paste when putting the stock heatsink back on the processor? If not, you need to. Also it wouldn't hurt to get an aftermarket cooler like vistakid says. Just a warning that most decent aftermarket coolers require you to remove the motherboard to put on a special back plate.

Edit - just saw your edit on original post. How must paste did you use? How did you apply it?
 
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Thanks for the cooler... As for the thermal paste, I just got some at a local store and applied some to the back of it... enough to cover almost the whole side of the cpu when it is up against the heatsink.
 
pea sized amount in center spread evenly is all you need, did you apply too much? ive seen too many people apply too much
 
Sorry to reply late; I have been pretty busy with family.
Okay, so I put some paste and spread it around- a little larger than the size of a pea, and I spread it to cover the whole back side. It idles hot and my CPU usage when idling is usually around 5%. Occasionally it goes up to 9ish for a few seconds and then goes back down to 2%, and so on.
 
gunmetalTrevan said:
Sorry to reply late; I have been pretty busy with family.
Okay, so I put some paste and spread it around- a little larger than the size of a pea, and I spread it to cover the whole back side. It idles hot and my CPU usage when idling is usually around 5%. Occasionally it goes up to 9ish for a few seconds and then goes back down to 2%, and so on.
Click to expand...

you aren't supposed to spread it, you let the heatsink spread it to avoid air-bubbles, how hot does it get now? and did you get a cooler?
 
Have another look. I bet you haven't re-turned the little intel heatsink attachment mechanisms back to their 'lock' position prior to pushing them into the mobo.

It should make a ratchet sound and lock down tight. Notice the arrows on the top of the screws, the arrow points towards the 'unlock' position. Turn them the other way, replace thermal paste, and push each lug down firmly in a cross-directional way (e.g. top left, bottom left, top right, bottom right).

Ensure the fan is plugged in properly.

intele8000stockcooler01.jpg
 
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