Keeping it Cool

Forevermore1337

Forevermore1337

New Member
Alright, so here's my dilemma. I've had a problem with keeping my system cool ever since i first built it.

At first, the CPU, AMD Phenom 9950, at no overclock (my temps are keeping me away from that), ran at about 47*c idle, which isn't very good. So i put some high CFM fans and a Zalman 9500 heatsink in. This was relatively successful, dropping the temp down to about 42-44*c at idle. Not what i was expecting, but tolerable.

So, eventually i decided it was my mid tower case not providing good airflow, so i read around, and finally purchased the Xclio Windtunnel Advanced after hearing great things about its cooling.

I get it set up and working, and check out me temps. My CPU was running at 40*c idle, which i liked, but the Motherboard temps went up from 31 idle to 34 idle, which i thought was really strange.

So, i get into a bit of Warcraft 3 for about 3 hours, jump out, check my temps, and was greeted with 40*c on the MB and 48 on the CPU.

This was NOT what i wanted to see.

I have no idea whats causing these cooling problems. The cable management in the case is perfect and i can think of nothing else other than my living in the south in the summer (yes, adequately air conditioned).

I'm using the Asus M3a79-T Deluxe motherboard, if that is of any service.

I really am out of ideas as how to keep things cool other than buying an ice chest and stinking the computer in there
 
I had this problem last week and change the thermal paste on my NB heatsink.
The factory had put some crap paste on it that had turned to plastic, and there were gaps as well. It was messy. If your comfortable with re-seating your NB heat sink I´d say give it a go. My MB temps dropped 7 degrees after cleaning and applying MX2.
 
I think you might be right about the motherboard.

I only noticed these strange temperatures once i transferred the board from the old case to the new case, which has about 3 times the airflow as the old one. It may have loosened the MB heatsink when moving it, although i really don't know how...

I have a tube of AS5 i used for my heatsink, would that work as a replacement for the stock thermal grease?

Are there any other things i should look out for when changing it, or is it basically like replacing a CPU heatsink.
 
You may want to heat it up with a hairdryer to soften the thermal compound. Then you've gotta clean all the stuff off, and reapply some AS5.
 
Yeh it´ll be fine .

You´ll have to take the MB out , it looks like your familiar with this already.
They should be push pins with like little arrow heads on the other side. It´s a good idea to use some small tweasers to pinch that arrow head clip,being careful not to scratch the board. Get yourself some cotton tips and alcohol. 86 or 99 pure, the highest you can get.
 
Another thing, for a 9950 which puts out alot of heat a Zalman 9500 was not a good pick. If you wanted a Zalman, one of the 9700 would have been better.
 
Zalmans are good if you have a low performance computer and want uninterrupted airflow throughout the case.
 
ScottALot said:
Zalmans are good if you have a low performance computer and want uninterrupted airflow throughout the case.
Click to expand...

Zalman makes good coolers. Dont know what you mean about a low performance computer or throughout airflow. That applies to any cooler for a high or low end computer.

He has a Phenom 9950, the Zalman 9500 is to small for it. It should have got atleast a Zalman 9700. If you want better than that, Zalman makes a 9900 - CPNS10X and a CPNS10X Extreme

9700
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118020
CPNS10X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118052
Extreme
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118051
9900
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118046
 
StrangleHold said:
Zalman makes good coolers. Dont know what you mean about a low performance computer or throughout airflow. That applies to any cooler for a high or low end computer.

He has a Phenom 9950, the Zalman 9500 is to small for it. It should have got atleast a Zalman 9700. If you want better than that, Zalman makes a 9900 - CPNS10X and a CPNS10X Extreme

9700
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118020
CPNS10X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118052
Extreme
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118051
9900
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118046
Click to expand...

I'm talking about the Zalman's with the heatsink around the fan. So, unlike other heatsinks that almost block airflow, this keeps the general case airflow.
 
I knew the cpu was a hot one, and, even though i love AMD's, i really wish i had waited until the newer and MUCH improved 45nm Phenom II's came.

However, i want to get every bit of performance out of this rig i can, and these high temperatures have kept me away from trying to overclock the 9950 any.

But, what this thread was really about was the higher than normal motherboard temperatures i was getting. The CPU seems to be cooling to an acceptable level when computer starts, but after a while of running, even on idle, the motherboard seems to steadily rise up to about 37*c at idle, and it has NEVER been that high before.

I really don't think it's the case, and the readout is seeing the ambient temp inside the case at about 25-26*c.

So, i am going to try to apply some new grease to the heatsink tomorrow, and see what that does.
 
Thats really not a bad temp for the Northbridge. Mine is pretty close to the same. Is this a AMD northbridge? If so I think they are safe up to 65/70c. But on the CPU, your just going to have to get a better cooler to keep the temps. down under load.
 
Yes, it's the 790FX chipset.

The thing is, i was getting better temperatures in my NZXT apollo than in this new Xclio, which is disappointing to say the least after hearing so many wonderful things about it's cooling. However, i do still have the stock 120mm fans in it, so i'm going to pop my old Thermaltake 110cfm fans in the extra slots and see if that helps any.
 
Actually, that was one of my choices when i was looking around for a full tower. It was between this Xclio, the Azza, or the ABS Diablo Advanced. But, in the end, the dual 25cm side fans intrigued me, so i went with the Xclio.

As of right now, it's a pretty good case, well made and has a ton of room (although it could have a few more cable management options), especially after i popped in that Thermaltake exhaust fan. The NB is actually sitting at a cool 33*c at the moment, so i guess quality fans really make a difference.
 
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