VRMs reaching 95C under load... is it normal?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
johnx125

johnx125

Honorable
Oct 10, 2017
117
0
10,690
Yesterday, while I was compressing a video using Handbrake, I checked the temps and noticed that the VRMs had reached 95C! Now I know VRMs run quite hot anyways but... 95C sounds too much. The motherboard I'm using is a Gigabyte 970A-UD3P (rev: 2.0) with an FX-8350 at stock speeds. Are these temps normal? If not, what should I do about it?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
ingtar33

ingtar33

Glorious
Dec 17, 2012
9,017
198
45,840
those temps are hot enough to cook eggs. no they're not good

now the bigger question is "is this normal?", for an 8 cored FX cpu and THAT motherboard? no, that's not normal. I would check the airflow over your motherboard. might need some. FX cpus nuke the VRMS it's just what they do. and you can pop boards if you don't keep an eye on temps. I would also check to make sure the VRM heatsink is secure. those are the types of temps i'd expect with a poor 4+1 phase designed board with no heatsink, not a more robust 8+2 system with a heatsink. Either you have little to no airflow in your case or your vrm heatsink is not making good contact with them.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
johnx125

johnx125

Honorable
Oct 10, 2017
117
0
10,690

There is airflow in the case, I have two 140mm intake fans in the front one 120mm exhaust at the top above the RAM and one 120mm radiator fan at the back pulling air out, so there's definitely air going through the heatsink. Also I'm pretty sure the heatsink makes good contact with the VRMs since I've never unscrewed it or something. By the way I'm using HWInfo64 for monitoring temps so maybe this could be just a false reading?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ingtar33

ingtar33

Glorious
Dec 17, 2012
9,017
198
45,840


easy way to tell is to simply touch the heatsink and see if it's absurdly hot. though it won't be warm if its not working, so make sure to touch the MB close to the heatsink as well if it feels room temp. if the motherboard is too hot to touch then the heatsink isn't making contact with the VRMs.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
johnx125

johnx125

Honorable
Oct 10, 2017
117
0
10,690

I've already done that. I can only touch the heatsink though because there is not enough clearance. The heatsink is warm when idling and doesn't hurt when touching it. When under load it gets pretty hot, I can still touch it but only for a few seconds because it kinda hurts. I'm sure it works. Also if it really was 95C yesterday I don't think I would be able to touch it at all. I don't know... maybe HWiNFO64 doesn't read VRM temps right.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ingtar33

ingtar33

Glorious
Dec 17, 2012
9,017
198
45,840
the heatsink won't be 95C, but the heat your describing is a reasonable temp for a VERY hot part. I'd say you're probably not getting the airflow you think you're getting.

Try this

Get yourself a boxfan (or a room fan) put it on high, take the side of the case off and blow air directly on the motherboard. if the temps drop drastically (like 20C-40C) then you have a massive airflow issue. Don't panic, it's really not that hard (or expensive) to fix. just takes a little creativity and a spare fan or two.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
johnx125

johnx125

Honorable
Oct 10, 2017
117
0
10,690


Like I said, it runs at stock speeds and voltages are around 1.35V.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
johnx125

johnx125

Honorable
Oct 10, 2017
117
0
10,690


I got an 80mm case fan because boxfan... on my desk.... no :p

Anyway, I held the fan in front of the VRMs area, while the system was idling. After 7 minutes temps had been reduced by 9 degrees, went from 44C to 33C. I also checked the screws that hold the heatsink in place and they are fully secure.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
johnx125

johnx125

Honorable
Oct 10, 2017
117
0
10,690


I use a liquid cooler, the Corsair H60. I think that is why the VRMs run so hot... there is no fan next to their heatsink! So in this case I guess 95C under heavy load is normal, compared to that massive 105C with the Thermalright Macho Rev.B cooler.. right?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
johnx125

johnx125

Honorable
Oct 10, 2017
117
0
10,690


Ok I'll do that, thank you guys for helping! :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom