my cpu cooling setup ok?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
C

carpdad

Honorable
Sep 6, 2013
15
0
10,510
I have alienware pc, about 2006, core2duo 2.13ghz, allendale. Nvidia north and south bridge, and it has geforce 7950 gt. I am waiting for geforce gt520 1gb. One reason for gpu change is recently discovered Warthunder game and trying to reduce the small fan noise. I am fine trying the game with the limits of my hardware. I am going to hang extra 120mm fan for the new gpu and replacing factory exhaust fan, both with Gentle Typhoon. These will run 100%. I am not a gamer and have no plan for new computer.
The cpu fan (small and noisy) is inside or under the heatsink radiator fins. There is no way I can remove/change the fan unless the heatsink is removed and I don't want to do that. The fan is also 4 pin, PWM controlled. The computer will not start or work right with PWM fan unplugged. In BIOS, I think I can manual set this fan to 1%, effectively disabling it without BIOS thinking the cpu has no cooling.
I ganged 2 120mm fans blowing into the heatsink radiator. This probably has increased the noise, but better than the small fan at high rpm.
Is this setup safe for cpu? My computer did not come with heatsink block fan (one that attaches to radiator fin block from outside). My heatsink radiator has a fan inside/under it. Is it vital for the factory fan to be right near heatsink plate/cpu?
I plan to monitor the core temps with Coretemp program.
Thank you all in advance.
 
Solution
inzone
Usually the temp program will break it down by core and then give a CPU temp but you do not add the cores together for the CPU temp. If your temp for each core is 52c then your temp for the CPU may be 53c or 54c. If there are only two readings then the first or #0 will be the CPU temp but either way the temps are all pretty much around the same numbers so if your seeing 52c then your fine.

The CPU will have a temp sensor for each core and all of the readings both temp and voltages are readable in the bios, there should be a Monitor tab or Hardware tab or similar named tab where you can see all the sensor readings including any fan rpms as well.
Sort by date Sort by votes
inzone

inzone

Champion
Mar 12, 2011
14,971
1
51,960
There are many types of CPU heat sinks and I would either have to know the model number or see a picture of it o know if it needs the fan close to the block. Usually the fan is there to blow onto the fins of the heat sink because the fins are where the heat is getting dissipated through.

The fans that you added can be plugged into the CPU_fan port instead of the heat sink fan and that way you can leave the noisy heat sink fan unplugged. Even though the connector is a four pin it will accept a three pin connector from a fan, you just have to line up the flat plastic piece with the fan plugs two rails that are on one side of it. The two 120mm fans will cool the heat sink.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
C

carpdad

Honorable
Sep 6, 2013
15
0
10,510


 
Upvote 0 Downvote
C

carpdad

Honorable
Sep 6, 2013
15
0
10,510
Hello. Some more questions. I was mistaken about the cpu fan. The fan is 100 mm fan sandwiched between front and rear blocks of radiator fins. Whole sandwich is about 100 mm cube. It looks like the fan might slide out, but it is stuck there.
I tried this. 2 120mm fans generally facing the cpu radiator and running prime95. The Coretemp shows each core temperature topping out at 52 celcius with 100% load. Tjmax temp is 85 celcius. I only ran the test for about 5 minutes. I know that tjmax number in more like a suggestion. I also read some people advise that approaching 100 celcius isn't the end of the cpu.
My question is: is the tjmax of 85 for each core, or is it combined number of 2 cores? For example, if 85 is optimum number for combined cores, then I was risking my cpu by going as high as 52 degrees for each core? Sorry for such newbie question, but vital for me, lol. Thank you in advance.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
inzone

inzone

Champion
Mar 12, 2011
14,971
1
51,960
There are different ways to make things work and you could actually wire tie the 120mm fans to the heat sink how ever you would have to make sure that all the fans are blowing in the right direction. The fan in the middle got there some how so it should be able to be removed.
The TJ max is a total CPU temp and in the bios the thermal shut down is set to a certain temp and that is when the CPU reaches that temp it will shut down.
You do not want to run the CPU above 80c for any extended amount of time as heat is the enemy of the CPU. Consistently high temps will cause damage to the CPU and shorten it's life span. Yes the CPU can function at high temps and high voltage when overclocking but it's the long term use of these high temps and volts that cause damage which then cuts the normal life of the CPU short.

One thing to remember is that the temps that you see when stressing the CPU 100% will not be seen in normal everyday usage and you will only see them again when you run the stress test , so they represent the high water mark.

52c under full stress is not a high temp and will cause the CPU no damage, when you run a stress test you do want to run it for a few hours to see if the temps will climb and by how much.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
C

carpdad

Honorable
Sep 6, 2013
15
0
10,510
Inzone, thank you for patiently answering all my newbie questions. Being such, I made many wrong guesses about my computer. I am still little confused and hope you can clarify somethings.
I have core2duo 2.13 ghz allendale. I am confused by what you said, especially having picked up limited information about my cpu.
You said "TJ max is total cpu temp...You do not want to run the cpu above 80c."
Also, "52c under full stress is not a high temp."
The Coretemp program I ran shows 52c for EACH core (0 and 1) when under 100% load with prime95. When you say "total cpu temp", do you mean the added temperatures of 2 cores? Then 52c each core (combined 104c) was too high? Coretemp TJ max says 85c.
Here are 2 more flies in the ointment.
1. The core temp numbers shown on the Coretemp: are these actual temperatures or "away" numbers? That is, I have 52 degrees (for each core) to go before I reach TJ max of 85c? I got the Coretemp from Cnet download and assume it is up to date.
2. Since Coretemp shows temp for each core (0 and 1), can I assume my cpu has dedicated temp sensor for each core? The cpu is intel core2 duo E6400. Around 2006, I think. Is this info in the BIOS?
Again, thank you for all your answers.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
inzone

inzone

Champion
Mar 12, 2011
14,971
1
51,960
Usually the temp program will break it down by core and then give a CPU temp but you do not add the cores together for the CPU temp. If your temp for each core is 52c then your temp for the CPU may be 53c or 54c. If there are only two readings then the first or #0 will be the CPU temp but either way the temps are all pretty much around the same numbers so if your seeing 52c then your fine.

The CPU will have a temp sensor for each core and all of the readings both temp and voltages are readable in the bios, there should be a Monitor tab or Hardware tab or similar named tab where you can see all the sensor readings including any fan rpms as well.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom