E6600 + Zalman 9700 Temp Check Please (luv a newb - it's Christmas!)

[Hambone]

Hi, I'm totally new to Intel OK'ing & C2D temps.

This is a new system for me. It's an an upgrade from a AMD 2500 Barton @ 3200 with a 6800GT AGP. Even without overclocking I have a big fat smile. The old system I built three years ago and it's only upgrade since was the video card two years ago. I am so very very happy. :)

I have all the grunt work down with the rebuild (OS/Software installation, Images, etc). Everything has been 100% stable for 3 days now and I'm ready too start O'clocking.

I think I might have botched the thermal compound application by lifiting the HSF while mouting it (paranoid am I?). I just used the thermal goop that came with the 9700. I have a new tube of Artic Silver 5 but got too excited to put this new rig togather and the 9700 goop had that nice applicator brush. :p I'm just wondering if I should re-appy. The core temps at default clocks are higher than I expected.


From what I'ver read about the C2D:
60c - Max safe temp for no C2D damage risk
70c - Max safe temp


Rig
- Antec SOHO Fileserver Case
- PCP&C 750W Silencer
- x4 case fans. 27.8CFM / 21db
- Zalman 9700 HSF
- E6600
- EVGA 680i
- 2GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2-1000 @ Stock timings & 800
- EVGA 8800GTS


Room temp is cool ~ 70f


-TAT-
Windows Desktop:
Core 1: 34c
Core 2: 36c
note: during web browsing for 30m, I saw a couple of 42c spikes on Core2 for a single reading. But, only for one reading, then back down to 36c.

After Running Orthos for 30 minutes, the highest temps recorded by TAT were
Core 1: 48c
Core 2: 51c


If 60c is really the max temp for running a C2D without risk of damage... I only have 9c to play with (and it's winter - the room is cool).


Thanks for any help!
(xmassign)



edit: here's a (bad) pic of my box. I think I did OK at cleaning up the cables. I need to wipe it out though - it's 6 or 7 years old now. Anyway, It seems like it should have a good empty path for airflow. The 2nd front fan is in the bottom drive cage. I move all the drives out of there to give that fan an unrestricted line into the case.


http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/9781/image2jv4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[agentkay]

I think your temperatures are good! Mine are 55c at max load and at the lowest fan speed but I´m not worried. Sure the room is around 7c cooler instead during a hot summer day but thats still within the margin where no permanent damage occurs. You also have to remember the 55c were archieved by dual Prime95 with the max. heat tests, and I´m willing to bet there are no commerical games or programs that will heat up the CPU like dual Prime95 does (constant 100% load on both cores) for quite some time.

[kam03]

I got the NT version of Zalman 9700 with the auto fan speed.

CPU oc'ed to:

3456 Mhz
384 FSB x 9
V Core 1.475v

Max HSF fan speed = ~ 2700 rpm

Room temp 21 c

Idle

HSF @ 675 rpm i get:

EasyTune5 = 38 c
Core Temp, core 1 = 52 c
Core Temp, core 2 = 48 c

Orthos Full Load

HSF @ ~ 2400 rpm i get:

EasyTune5 = 56 c
Core Temp, core 1 = 64 c
Core Temp, core 2 = 64 c

Orthos Full Load

HSF @ ~ 2720 rpm

EasyTune5 = 54 c
Core Temp, core 1 = 63 c
Core Temp, core 2 = 63 c

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1526/251220065112ga5.jpg

[Hambone]

That makes me feel a bit better. I kept seeing things like "E6600 Max Temp = 60c" and "At idle I'm at 26c".

Thermal Past Redo:
I used some Artic Silver 5 as per the directions from their website for a C2D. I applied a single thin line directly over the chip area. This bought me about 2c better temps. Hopefully the temps will get a bit better when the AC breaks in (200hours their site says).

Zalman 9700 Problem?
-I mounted the bracket on where one side is pointing toward the RAM and the other side is pointing toward the rear of the case. I don't know if this is normal or not but while it seemed like it was on tight I could rotate it pretty freely.


I just did my first overclock:
-3.0Ghz
-Vcore: 1.40v

Under 100% load from a Prime95 instance on each core (1 hour into it) I'm getting temps that are bouncing around between 51c -to- 57c. The average seems to be about 54c on each core, although from looking at the TAT log they can stay around 52c for long periods. The 57c hit only happened once during the hour Prime95 has been on so far.


If 62c is OK I'll keep going. I just want to make it up to 3.4Ghz. :)

[buffbiff21]

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1526/251220065112ga5.jpg

You are actually using the crappy thermaltake PCI holders? :eek:

That is quite a nice Christmas gift BTW.

And my Conroe loads at 65-70. Idles at 40-45. Vcore is 1.485 sumthin, i cant remember. But i have a few fan mods on my Armor... 5 thunderblades total. Purposely popped the LEDs sine the pic in my sig was taken, to rid my room of damn flourescent blue light...

[Blacklash]

If you really want to heat up your CPU more so than Orthos, try loading both cores with TAT as another test. It's brutal.

[kam03]

Zalman 9700 Problem?
-I mounted the bracket on where one side is pointing toward the RAM and the other side is pointing toward the rear of the case. I don't know if this is normal or not but while it seemed like it was on tight I could rotate it pretty freely.




Yes, same with mine. It's the HSF.

[nippyjun]

Is it normal for each core to have a different temperature at full load?

[kam03]

Is it normal for each core to have a different temperature at full load?

I'm not sure but if that's the case with your system then i guess the heat spreader on your CPU is uneven.

Try to tighten your HSF more and make sure the thermal paste is applied properly.

[nippyjun]

I'm not sure but if that's the case with your system then i guess the heat spreader on your CPU is uneven.

Try to tighten your HSF more and make sure the thermal paste is applied properly.


I've been searching around some more and it looks like it's pretty common for a few degree difference. I don't know why that would be though.

[Hambone]

I ran this for 8 hours dual-Prime95 last night, no errors or warnings, I'm going to try and get down as low as I can in Vcore and overnight run again. I'm hoping to get down to 1.35v. Even a little off the top should make me feel better about the temps.

CPU: E6600
CPU SPEED: 3.46Ghz (3460.4)
CPU MULTIPLIER: 9
FSB SPEED: 1538
CPU vCore: 1.42v (BIOS set) 1.40v (BIOS Dispaly) 1.41v (SpeedFan - Idle desktop)
CPU FSB Voltage: [DEFAULT]
NFORCE SPP: DEFAULT]
PSU: PC POWER AND COOLING 750W SILENCER
COOLING: Zalman 9700 / x4 Case Fans (21db, 27.8 CFM)
CPU TEMP: w/ TAT .... 45C (desktop idel) 55C (gaming) 61C (Prime95 Average) 66C (Prime95 Peak)

[kam03]

I ran this for 8 hours dual-Prime95 last night, no errors or warnings, I'm going to try and get down as low as I can in Vcore and overnight run again. I'm hoping to get down to 1.35v. Even a little off the top should make me feel better about the temps.

CPU: E6600
CPU SPEED: 3.46Ghz (3460.4)
CPU MULTIPLIER: 9
FSB SPEED: 1538
CPU vCore: 1.42v (BIOS set) 1.40v (BIOS Dispaly) 1.41v (SpeedFan - Idle desktop)
CPU FSB Voltage: [DEFAULT]
NFORCE SPP: DEFAULT]
PSU: PC POWER AND COOLING 750W SILENCER
COOLING: Zalman 9700 / x4 Case Fans (21db, 27.8 CFM)
CPU TEMP: w/ TAT .... 45C (desktop idel) 55C (gaming) 61C (Prime95 Average) 66C (Prime95 Peak)

Have you tried running it on orthos? i got errors with orthos on 1.42v

[Hambone]

Have you tried running it on orthos? i got errors with orthos on 1.42v

Orthos is just Prime95 (an older version of Prime95 I believe) with a GUI and the ability to run dual instances off the single instance.

I just run Prime95 in dual instances with each dedicated to it's own core (affinity). I don't need a fancy-fied GUI. Everything I've seen about Orthos on the Net would also indicate there is a possiblity that Orthos is not as stable as Prime95.

I changed mine up last night by going down to 3.75. Because:
-3.75Ghz is a hair away from a 1.0Ghz overclock on air cooling, which is still super-sweet.
-At 3.75Ghz, the memory is linked (1:1)
-Temps are much lower: Prime95 never caused a peak temp above 60C

I'm happy with that.

[cucit]

I just built a similar system--E6600/GA965P-DQ6. Starting to OC. Your results are nice. I'm cooling with a Zalman 9500. My first go with intel proc as well--previously AMD loyalist--until C2D came on scene. Confused by some of the Gigabyte bios stuff--flashed to F7. Did you lock your Vcore and keep upping CPU FSB until it needed more juice? I noticed that if you set voltages to auto, the bios begins upping Vcore early in the game. When did you first have to start upping the Vcore? I locked the PCI-E at 100. Don't see a spot to lock PCI at 33 though. Memory is 1GB x2 Patriot DDR@ 800 EPP. With 1:1 ratio, there is a huge amount of CPU FSB room available before you get close to 800 MHz on the RAM. Would you mind posting your bios settings from the MIB section for me to review. I'd like to make sure I get it right the first time.

[Hambone]

Oppsss I lied - or wasn't thinking I guess.

My Overclock is not 3.775 (the one I'm sticking with). It's:
3.375 Ghz (pretty much still a 1Ghz overclock - FREAKY!)
1500Mhz FSB

That gives the 1:1 memory ratio that you don't see again until about 3.66Ghz.


At that overclock so far my temps are 42-46C with mild desktop work. Maybe 55C max in games from what I've seen over the last few days.


You have to go "unlinked" in the BIOS for memory.
Then if I was you, I'd go for what I did or around 3.4Ghz with the Vcore set at 1.45v

Then, I'd boot and see if SuperPI 32M runs (dual run to take both cores to 100%). That should take about ~25 minutes to finish.

If that has no errors then turn down your Vcore a couple of notches and try it again.... You're goal would be to get down to 1.35v or a little less with no SuperPI errors. When you get to the bottom Vcore - start Prime95. If it doesn't crash within 2 hours, you have a 90% chance it will go on for 24 hours with no errors. If Prime95/Orthos does crash, take the Vcore back up two notches. At that point you really should have a stable overclock and a 99% chance of Prime95/Orthos running for 24 hours. I just go 12 hours myself. 24 hours is a little bit overkill if you ask me. I have *never* seen Prime95 go past 2 hours and then have an error later on. I think the only reason that would happen is if you were right on the edge of a stable overlock. 99% of the time you're going to be a little over or a little under a stable overclock.


That's the fastest method I think... start high on the Vcore, get your desired overclock and then go down a couple of Vcore notches at a time. A lot of people are running 3.4Ghz at 1.35Vcore. The odds are anyone can with good cooling and 1.35V to 1.40V.

good luck!

[nippyjun]

Oppsss I lied - or wasn't thinking I guess.

My Overclock is not 3.775 (the one I'm sticking with). It's:
3.375 Ghz (pretty much still a 1Ghz overclock - FREAKY!)
1500Mhz FSB

That gives the 1:1 memory ratio that you don't see again until about 3.66Ghz.


At that overclock so far my temps are 42-46C with mild desktop work. Maybe 55C max in games from what I've seen over the last few days.


You have to go "unlinked" in the BIOS for memory.
Then if I was you, I'd go for what I did or around 3.4Ghz with the Vcore set at 1.45v

Then, I'd boot and see if SuperPI 32M runs (dual run to take both cores to 100%). That should take about ~25 minutes to finish.

If that has no errors then turn down your Vcore a couple of notches and try it again.... You're goal would be to get down to 1.35v or a little less with no SuperPI errors. When you get to the bottom Vcore - start Prime95. If it doesn't crash within 2 hours, you have a 90% chance it will go on for 24 hours with no errors. If Prime95/Orthos does crash, take the Vcore back up two notches. At that point you really should have a stable overclock and a 99% chance of Prime95/Orthos running for 24 hours. I just go 12 hours myself. 24 hours is a little bit overkill if you ask me. I have *never* seen Prime95 go past 2 hours and then have an error later on. I think the only reason that would happen is if you were right on the edge of a stable overlock. 99% of the time you're going to be a little over or a little under a stable overclock.


That's the fastest method I think... start high on the Vcore, get your desired overclock and then go down a couple of Vcore notches at a time. A lot of people are running 3.4Ghz at 1.35Vcore. The odds are anyone can with good cooling and 1.35V to 1.40V.

good luck!


Is the 3.4 overclock with increased voltages on the CPU FSB, and the nforce spp? Or are those at the default voltages?

[nippyjun]

Core 2 Duo Processor: e6600
Overclocked to: 3.3
IDLE TAT temperature:52
Orthos LOAD TAT temperature: 64
TAT Load temperature: low 70's
CPU Cooling Solution Name: zalman 9700
Voltage: 1.4
Ambient room temperature 75 farenheit
Case temp 30 centigrade.


Given my voltage, overclock, case and ambient temps, do my cpu temps seem too high.
I would have thought that with the zalman 9700 that my temps would be lower. I reaplied the arctic silver 5 too see if it would help but it has not.
Maybe since my room temp and case temps are pretty warm this is the best the zalman can do.

[Hambone]

Core 2 Duo Processor: e6600
Overclocked to: 3.3
IDLE TAT temperature:52
Orthos LOAD TAT temperature: 64
TAT Load temperature: low 70's
CPU Cooling Solution Name: zalman 9700
Voltage: 1.4
Ambient room temperature 75 farenheit
Case temp 30 centigrade.


Given my voltage, overclock, case and ambient temps, do my cpu temps seem too high.
I would have thought that with the zalman 9700 that my temps would be lower. I reaplied the arctic silver 5 too see if it would help but it has not.
Maybe since my room temp and case temps are pretty warm this is the best the zalman can do.


You're Idle temp is about 7C hotter than mine. That could simple be a difference in case air flow. I have 4 case fans...

Otherwise, the only thing that would make a difference is thermal goo installation. I did it exactly the way the Artic Silver website says to do it:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appinstruct/as5/ins_as5_intel_dual_wcap.pdf

[nippyjun]

You're Idle temp is about 7C hotter than mine. That could simple be a difference in case air flow. I have 4 case fans...

Otherwise, the only thing that would make a difference is thermal goo installation. I did it exactly the way the Artic Silver website says to do it:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appinstruct/as5/ins_as5_intel_dual_wcap.pdf


What is your ambient room temp and case temp. And what are your temps at full orthos or tat?

Thanks.

[Kasparov]

Hi Guys

My system is as follows:

E6600
Zalman CNPS9700 cooler
Gigabyte DQ6
2gb Corsair 6400 c4 800mhz
Leadtek 7600gt 256 mb video card
antec 900 gaming case
antec trupower 550 watt power supply

I just got my PC back from the store as I tried to overclock it and the system kept on crashing.

I just want to get the e6600 to around 3.2GHZ, does any one have any easy and safe steps I can follow to achieve this?

Maybe just the FSB and possibly other small settings I can make without risking damage to the hardware.

thanks for your help...:)

[nippyjun]

Hi Guys

My system is as follows:

E6600
Zalman CNPS9700 cooler
Gigabyte DQ6
2gb Corsair 6400 c4 800mhz
Leadtek 7600gt 256 mb video card
antec 900 gaming case
antec trupower 550 watt power supply

I just got my PC back from the store as I tried to overclock it and the system kept on crashing.

I just want to get the e6600 to around 3.2GHZ, does any one have any easy and safe steps I can follow to achieve this?

Maybe just the FSB and possibly other small settings I can make without risking damage to the hardware.

thanks for your help...:)

What did the store do with the system.

[SlieTheSecond]

After a lot of researching I wouldn't go past 55c overclocked myself. With an E6400. This cpu is rated by Intel at 61c on the IHS when not overclocked. The IHS is usually very close (maby a degree or two different) from the cores.

Now I haven't personally tested it, but I have read a forum post where a user tested the temperature of the IHS. The temperatures comming off the IHS and the Cores, both idle and under load. Where almost identical.

So running cores at 70c. Means your running the IHS at 70c. Which is way over the rated limit by intel.

Does this mean anything? I don't know. Lots of people seem content at running at those temperatures. But I am going to play it safe and assume Intel knows what they are doing. And running past this rated limit is going to stunt the cpu's life :)


To Kasparov:
If I understand this correctly, you overclocked and got lock ups. So you bring it to the computer store to fix your overclock?
If you don't know how to recover from a bad overclock, I think you should be doing a lot of research before trying again.

[Kasparov]

The store replaced the motherboard which they thought was stuffed.

I have researched a little into overclocking, it's just that the bios appears very fragile, and I wanted safe steps to take to avoid ruing my system again.

If I increase the FSB to say 333*9 = 2997, do I also need to alter the Memory ratio? so that it's 1:1?

I'm just knew to overclocking and any help would be greatly appreciated, cheers....:)

[SlieTheSecond]

Welp, take your FSB and times it by 2. That will be your ram speed at a 1:1 ratio. So 200fsb = 400mhz ram.

If your fsb is say 333. If your ram is slower than 666mhz and your using a 1:1 you will be overclocking your ram and would have to either increase voltages and/or relax the timings or use a ratio to get it back down to normal speed. If it is causing your computer to be unstable.