CPU cooling solutions?

faraway · Jul 24, 2014

So i'm looking for advice on how to go with improving cpu cooling, as the temperature doesn't go down from 70C (157F) on idle. When i try to play a game it goes up to 100C (212F).

Anyway, i got a Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 on ASUS P5KSE. Still got the stock fan on it. What should i get, a new fan, thermal paste? Which brand should i get? What would be compatible with my CPU? Also my current fans are extremely loud so if i get a new fan i want it to be quiet too.

Agera One · Jul 24, 2014

Do you already have a CPU cooler or it's running on the stock cooler?

Karsten75 · Jul 24, 2014

If your idle temps are so high, then the first thing to do is to check whether the current heatsink is seated properly. To do that you will have to remove it. To do that, you will also have to remove the old thermal paste and apply new paste.

Be careful, small quantities of thermal paste is required - there are many tutorials and videos.

faraway · Jul 24, 2014

Agera One :

Got the stock one.

faraway · Jul 24, 2014

Karsten75 :

Thanks. I'm pretty sure it's well seated. I just got it open today to clean up the dust on it. Bought the CPU about 5 years ago and never worked on it so thermal paste could've become ineffective by now? Also what to use to remove residues of old one and which brand works best?

Agera One · Jul 24, 2014

Refer this http://www.quietpc.com/lga775-coolers or another option to replace the heat sink with any one of tthese:
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm
scythe, xigmatek and cooler master are among the best n the cheapest, but be more careful as karsten said..

Karsten75 · Jul 24, 2014

I don't really get into different brands of thermal paste - I just get Arctic cooler in a package with some stuff that also removes thermal paste.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4DA1GN6641

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100010

faraway · Jul 25, 2014

Karsten75 :

Since i can't find Arctic paste gonna buy either this;
http://

or this;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118010

now apparently there's always a debate about how to apply the paste. Coat the surface evenly by spreading it, or drop some in the middle and seal it. I'm a little eery about air bubbles with the spreading method and if i buy zalman that's the only way i can use it since it has a brush. So which one to buy, would like some advice on this.

Karsten75 · Jul 25, 2014

I put on Artic Silver like this. I put about a rice grain-size on the CPU chip. I then use a credit card to smooth that over the entire chip, taking care not to spill any over the edge. I can clearly still see the metal of the CPU case. Then I mount the cooler. THe only time I have posted here about CPU temps was to ask "is this temp too low or am I doing OK?"

space55 · Jul 25, 2014

So, in my opinion, I went from 82° under load to about 60° under load with an i7 4770K @ 4.5GHz with the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO. The only problem:
1. It may not be able to fit
2. It will completely obscure your side window

Still, it is an excellent cooler, and you should probably get it. Also, I know people who build computers for a living, and they say to just put something tiny the size of a grain of rice on the CPU after cleaning it, then just stick the cooler on and secure it. Also, temps of over 80° or so are pretty dangerous. Your load temp is about 232°+ F. Pretty darn hot.

Also, go on to PCPartPicker, to System Build, then in CPU Cooler look for the CM Hyper 212 EVO. You'll find it cheapest from where it recommends. The cooler comes with some good thermal paste. I made the mistake of emptying half the bottle on my CPU and it still runs very cool. 28° under gaming loads. (2-10% load, except Far Cry 3 for some reason)

Help it helped!

faraway · Jul 25, 2014

Karsten75 :

Ok, that sounds cool! Then i should get the Zalman paste since it would be more convenient for spreading method. The only thing is, with the tube paste i'll know just exactly how much i've used(size of a pea or something) but with brush i have to dip it in the bottle before every spread which seems tricky to get the right amount on the surface. What dou you think? Should i just pick up the brush one?

faraway · Jul 25, 2014

space55 :

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll hold the heatsink for now since the system is getting old and don't want to waste more money on it. Running only browser now and it's 80C!

Karsten75 · Jul 25, 2014

faraway :

"Size of a pea" varies greatly. I suggest you have less. Bear in mind that the thermal paste is there to fill the tiny irregularities in both surfaces, without obstructing the metal parts to contact directly. By all means use the brush - then scrape off all the excess.

space55 · Jul 25, 2014

faraway :

space55 :

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll hold the heatsink for now since the system is getting old and don't want to waste more money on it. Running only browser now and it's 80C!

Actually the heatsink is $30 and almost universal. You'd be able to use it for later, but if you don't want to spend lots of money on a new comp then I'd suggest getting the heatsink. Also, it will save you a few bucks later.

faraway · Jul 26, 2014

Karsten75 :

Alright now i gotta clean the old, dried one but i can't find any alcohol. Can i use something else or should i just rub it off with paper towel? I see that you get a cleaning kit with the paste and sleep well but since i can't find that too :/ Got anything to offer?

Karsten75 · Jul 26, 2014

No, you cannot just "rub it off with a towel, since that does not clean the paste out of the grooves where the new paste will really be needed. YOU must find some form of solvent that you can use and that will not damage your chip or motherboard.

If you cannot find rubbing alcohol where you live and you can't order the right products on-line, then I suggest you can Google this and see if any other "good" solution works.

https://www.google.com/webhp?q=how%20to%20remove%20thermal%20paste

faraway · Jul 26, 2014

Thanks for the answers, i'll go with denaturated alcohol.

CPU cooling solutions?

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