i7 4790k + Noctua NH-D15: normal temps or too high??

lenny23 · Feb 4, 2016

Hello everybody.
I recently bought a Noctua NH-D15 for my i4790k (normal settings with 4.4Ghz. Turbo)
I did Small FFTs test with Prime95 v26.6. The results: 86-89ºC (after 10 minutes).
Vcore: 1.312 (automatically managed by the motherboard).
BIOS settings: everything on auto except for the ram frequency.
Idle temps: 36-37ºC.
Room temp: mid-high, late 20s (it's all I can say since it's summer and I don't have anything to measure it with)

Rest of my system:
Thermal Paste: Artic MX-4 (small pea size method)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VII Ranger (latest bios)
RAM: Kingston Hyper X Savage 1866 Mhz. 16 GB
PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 800W.

I tried reapplying the thermal paste and reseating the cooler twice.
I'm dissapointed, this cooler is huge and expensive but so far I don't see much difference in performance with my old 212 EVO. I thought I'd get lower temps.

So, are this normal results?? Or should I try again with the thermal paste???

Tradesman1 · Feb 4, 2016

There's not going to be a lot of difference may 3-5 degrees, the 212 EVO is one of the best out there. Might try the D15 again with less thermal compound, but don't expect a big drop

lenny23 · Feb 4, 2016

Tradesman1 :

I'll try again tomorrow.
But I don't get it. The Noctua is like twice as big and has 2 140mm fans. I was expecting like 10 degrees less at least.
I saw some reviews that in some processors they get 20ºC less with the Noctua. And every review says this cooler is just as good as some of the best AIO Water Cooling solutions, but the people that runs the 4790k on water never get temps this high, right??. So it's all bullsh*t.

Tradesman1 · Feb 4, 2016

Size can play in, but good design is far preferable, I tried the 212 Plus back when it came out (2009 I think), and knew I found a winner, then they came out with the EVO a couple years later and it was even better. I've used over a hundred of the EVOs and all have loved it, theres another newer similar, the Cryorig H&, about the same price as the EVO, they are hard to beat and can't really be beat for the price. Both of those are better than the lower end AIO, you need like a H100 to top them for cooling

Lars01 · Feb 5, 2016

Hey, i have the same problem, but with a i7 6700k. i have built a new skylake gaming pc but the cpu temps are too high.

With prime95 small fft i am getting a max of 78 degrees on the package. It is usually around 75-77 degrees. On the cores, i got around 70-76 degrees.

With aida64 with only cpu test, i got stable 45 degrees on the package. and a little bit lower on the cores.

When testing cpu and fpu at the same time on aida64, i am getting max 68/69 degrees on the package. average around 64-67 degrees. On the cores i am getting max 67/68 degrees and around 58-67 degrees average.

The noctua NH-D15 is one of the best air cpu coolers out there, and the i7 6700k is stock. What can cause the high temps. Shouldn't it be max 60 degrees or something?

I need some experts that can help me with this, but i can not try to solve the problem before monday, because i am on a trip. But yeah, need advice

Tradesman1 · Feb 5, 2016

There is no 'normal' - it depends on the individual CPU - i.e. not all 6700K are exactly the same, depends on the rig in general (components, case, air flow), and the ambient room temp all play in

ProficientInMath · Feb 5, 2016

Cooling your CPU depends on many other factors than the cooler you are using. For air cooling adequate airflow through your case is a must and can improve temps significantly. Also as Trademan1 said don't expect a huge improvement from air cooler to air cooler since they are all limited by the surrounding ambient temperature in your case.

As far as the temps go I get around those same temps with my noctua nh-d14 which has basically the same cooling capacity as the nh-d15. However, I have a 5820k at 4.0 GHz which is a more power hungry CPU.

The Haswell processors do run hot so as long as your system is stable and you are not approaching the junction temperature then I would be ok with those temps on and air cooled system. Besides its not often that you will be running your entire system at full load like what the stress tests do unless you are doing some serious compute tasks or rendering.

Cheers,
Mike

sportsfanboy · Feb 5, 2016

You main problem is your voltage is way too high for stock settings. Try lowering it to 1.25, enable c-states, and set win power management to balanced.

Lars01 · Feb 5, 2016

sportsfanboy :

Ok, i will try when i come home. But how to you know my voltage is too high?

ProficientInMath · Feb 5, 2016

Lars01 :

Probably from experience with overclocking and what not. Each CPU is different though so changing the voltage might cause some instability for your system. Try reducing the voltage by 0.01V increments and test each reduction for stability until you can reduce it no further and still maintain stability.

sportsfanboy · Feb 5, 2016

1.25 is a baseline where just about every chip should be stable at stock frequency. Sure more testing is in order, but I'm willing to bet 1.25 is too much for stock turbo.

ProficientInMath · Feb 5, 2016

sportsfanboy :

Yeah, 1.25v sounds high for stock. My 5820k is at 4.0 GHz stable at 1.11v. I know this is an apples and oranges comparison but the quad core Haswell CPUs have lower TDP so the minimum required stable voltage should be less unless the quad cores have a greater overall electrical resistance than the six core Haswell-E models.

Lars01 · Feb 5, 2016

Ok, i am going to try this. But first i am going to reapply the thermal paste and check if that was the problem

sportsfanboy · Feb 5, 2016

I'm telling ya voltage is the issue but go for it

Lars01 · Feb 5, 2016

Yeah okay

I have checked that you should not use a later version of prime95 than prime95 version 26.6. The version i used was version 28.7. The reason why you should not use version 28.7 is because it makes the cpu heat too much. An intel thermal expert here on the forum said that using a newer version than 26.6 would make the cpu heat 10-20 degrees more.

Lars01 · Feb 5, 2016

Yeah okay

I have checked that you should not use a later version of prime95 than prime95 version 26.6. The version i used was version 28.7. The reason why you should not use version 28.7 is because it makes the cpu heat too much. An intel thermal expert here on the forum said that using a newer version than 26.6 would make the cpu heat 10-20 degrees more.

sportsfanboy · Feb 5, 2016

right, sure, but ur voltage is still too high for stock settings

Lars01 · Feb 5, 2016

Wow, sorry for have two posts that are similar. Ok, but how do i set the voltage down? I cant do stuff before sunday because i am on a mountain skiing until sunday. Is it easy to set the voltage down?

sportsfanboy · Feb 5, 2016

very easy, just enjoy the mountain, no need to worry about computer related issues while on a ski trip.

Lars01 · Feb 5, 2016

Do you think the high voltage makes the cpu that hot though? You know, my computer is my life, and i get very fast worried. Okay, so lets say that my cpu is 80 degrees at prime95 with a noctua nh-d15. I know that it didn't go further than 78, but lets say 80. When i set down the voltage to 1.25 as you said. How much less temperatures am i going to see do you think. 5 degrees? 10 degrees? more?

sportsfanboy · Feb 5, 2016

it's hard to say exactly, but heat increase is directly related to increased vcore. lowering the voltage to 1.25 will absolutely lower temps. After 1.3ish even high end cooling like what you have becomes a limiting factor. Only deliding and or going custom water cooling will keep thermals in check.

my guess is 5c or more if you drop vcore .6 or so from where you are

ProficientInMath · Feb 5, 2016

Lars01 :

Joule's law tells us that the heat output of a circuit is proportional to the square of the current and Ohm's law tells us that current is proportional to to the electrical potential (voltage). Thus the heat output of a circuit is proportional to the square of the voltage. Relating this back to temperature it means that a small change in voltage will yield a proportionally large change in the steady state temperature. So a reduction of of even just a few millivolts can yield a several degree reduction in load temps.

For your specific case the exact numbers may vary but this is the general rule that applies to all electrical circuits.

Lars01 · Feb 5, 2016

Are you guy's sure that i do not have a faulty chip? I mean, fantastic idle temps, but Very bad 100% load temperatures. I saw another thread here on the forum, where "Gingerbread" that is an expert here on the forum said that a stock i7 6700k with high end cooling should be around 50-55 degrees at 100% load. If then, i need 20-30 degrees down in temperature

And sorry guys, i know i am a noob

ProficientInMath · Feb 5, 2016

Lars01 :

The load temps also depend on the power delivery system of your motherboard. Sometimes if your mobo is automatically adjusting the cpu voltage it can give the cpu too much voltage. "Too much" meaning that it is more voltage than is required to power the chip with stability, but will not actually harm the chip itself. If you set your own voltages you can tune it so that the cpu is only getting the voltage that it needs at any given moment to run with stability. This usually means reducing the voltage somewhat from the automatic setting. Any reduction in voltage in any circuit will yield lower operating temps. Also when your processor is at idle it is usually only being fed around 0.8-1.0 volts, not the full 1.3 that it gets under load. This is why your load temps are high and your idle temps are normal. If you are not overclocking it then you could maybe go down to around 1.1 V for the load voltage but always start by lowering 0.01V at a time until the system is no longer stable and then use the last stable increment that you tested and congrats you have just optimized you CPU's power delivery.

sportsfanboy · Feb 5, 2016

idle temps mean almost nothing honestly, even an overclocked chip on a oem cooler can have reasonable idle temps

i7 4790k + Noctua NH-D15: normal temps or too high??

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