Can't keep CPU temp down

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typeo

typeo

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Aug 9, 2008
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Hi all,

I have a asrock z68 extreme3 gen3 Mobo with a i5 2500k CPU. I am trying to overclock it to around 4.6, but am having some issues.

The main one being is that my temperature is pretty high when I run a stress testing software on the CPU. Normally it idle low to mid 30 Celsius, but when I run thew software (IntelBurnTest) is jumps it up to the high 80s.

I have an aftermarket CPU fan, a ZALMAN CNPS9500. Also since my PC is now around 5 years old, and I hadn't changed out the original thermal paste, I cleaned up it and put on a new batch of Arctic Silver 5.

This guy has the same motherboard and CPU as myself, so tweaked the settings very similar to his to start out. Any thoughts on why the CPU temp is still running so high?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfVwP_Cw6Gs

Thanks!
 
Solution
genthug
Same motherboard + CPU doesn't take into account your cooler, which by way of coolers, is a pretty cheap budget cooler, which gets beaten out by other pretty cheap budget coolers. You can likely do some light overclocking on the cooler, but you would want something better for heavier overclocking... like trying to push it to 4.6GHz. That's 1.3GHz over stock, nearly a GH over turbo. Not unobtainable, but you'll need a better cooling solution to get there, most likely.
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genthug

genthug

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Same motherboard + CPU doesn't take into account your cooler, which by way of coolers, is a pretty cheap budget cooler, which gets beaten out by other pretty cheap budget coolers. You can likely do some light overclocking on the cooler, but you would want something better for heavier overclocking... like trying to push it to 4.6GHz. That's 1.3GHz over stock, nearly a GH over turbo. Not unobtainable, but you'll need a better cooling solution to get there, most likely.
 
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Solution
typeo

typeo

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Would you all have a recommendation for a good cooler to look into?

Would it be worth it to get a self contained liquid cooling system such as the Corsair Hydro Series? or a regular heat sync and fan a better option to go with?
 
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W

weberdarren97

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AiO coolers don't usually outperform well built air coolers until you get to the 240mm and larger radiators. Although a cooler of that size will add a significant amount of weight to your system.
 
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genthug

genthug

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I would honestly go with a more budget-friendly air system like a cryorig H7 and save the rest of that money to upgrade to the newer gen stuff coming out. You're going on almost 6 year old architecture at this point, given that Sandy Bridge was released Q1 2011. Save for newer stuff instead of putting more and more money onto an older system trying to get it up to par.
 
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typeo

typeo

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Don't really have the cash to upgrade the entire system. Looking to replace a few parts (RAM, GPU) and then overclock my current CPU to bring my PC a bit more up to date. Taking the advice from the folks that helped me out in another thread.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/3243980/last-read

Just curious, but what makes the current CPU cooler I have a bad one? Seems like it should be a decent one, however, it is 5 years old now.

Thanks!
 
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genthug

genthug

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I'm not saying you should do it now, I'm simply saying that I think you should put the money that you were looking at in a decent aftermarket cooler and maybe halve that price down to a decent budget cooler, still overclock your CPU, and save the money for a future upgrade, not necessarily a right-now upgrade.

As weber said, small heatsink size comparatively to other coolers in this budget range like the h7, 212 evo, and gammaxx 400, and it has a smaller fan on it. This could manifest itself simply as more noise, but it could just as easily manifest itself as not cooling the entirety of the heatsink at once... which it is not, which many other CPU coolers do. The outer edges of the heatsink are not actively cooled, as they are in other configs.
 
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typeo

typeo

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Gotcha, I will check out the H7, as it seems to be a decent price. Also going to grab some RAM in the process, and then wait on a good deal around Christmas on a new GPU.

Thanks a bunch for the recommendations and help on the issue!
 
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