I have a Dual Core 2160 on Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L and I am trying to overclock it to 3.0g. I have successfully done that, but too much heat is the problem. I am running at 333 X 9 with core voltage at 1.30, PCI Express at 100. I installed a Cooler Master Gemini II with two 120mm fans on top. I put on Artic Silver according to the instructions on their web site (i.e. run small bead length wise). I run idle temps around 40, however within seconds of running Intel's Thermal Analysis Tool test, temps ramp up over 75. I am want to keep temps down below 65 because I have an L2 processor.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks,
Jim

reseat the heatsink and reapply the tmi

I still have the problem..now only worse. My idle temps are 45C.

I removed the heat sink and it's was obvious that the CPU and heat sink had not pressed together hard enough to distribute the Arctic Silver thermal paste well. So I removed it to start over. The Gemini II has 4 threaded screws that penetrate the MB and 4 nuts on the back. The unit comes with rubber bumpers for use on the threaded screws. I wondered if the one's on the front of the board were preventing the base of the heat sink from sitting firm on top of the CPU. So I removed them so it could sit down lower, but that obviously did not help. I tried the manufacturer's heat sink and that did not work much better. I think I am going to go back to the manufacturer's heat sink with some arctic silver. I just don't understand what's keeping the heat sink from making good contact. I don't see any obstructions. If this does not work, I am probably going to have to live with a lower overclock.

Any other thoughts?

Jim

I'm thinking your cpu isn't flat so there isn't much contact. You can always try lapping it.

What is lapping? I don't believe I have ever heard that term.

Thanks,
Jim

Here's what lapping is: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] cs-results

There's another one for the heatsink.

Okay...I have made a little progress, but I am not where I need to be. I went back to the Intel heat sink using Arctic Silver and using some extra effort I was able to get a better seating for the heat sink and CPU. I installed a 120mm case fan exhausting out the back and a 80mm fan in the side pushing air in through a cone to just in front of the heat sink fan. So I am trying to provide forced air flow to the heat sink the exhaust out the back.

At 333 X 9 (3.0 G) my idle temp is now around 37. I ran the Intel Thermal Analysis Tool to test my temps at various work loads. Below are my temps after running 15 minutes each test.

60% = 51C
75% = 59C
90% = 67C

This is not where I want to be but it's better. I think now I need to tweak my bios a little more, maybe lowering the core voltage? Below is a screen shot of my Bios settings. Please let me know if you see anything I should tweak, especially if it will help lower CPU temps. One question I do have is my bios says I am running core voltage at 1.3125 but CPUZ reports it as 1.28? Any ideas why the discrepancy?

I appreciate the help....

Try using coretemp and see if the temps are the same.

I have been running Core Temp and it's a degree or two less than the Intel Thermal Analysis Tool.

Any suggested changes to my Bios? Should I go for the lowest core voltage that's stable?

Thanks,
Jim

Going for the lowest voltage possible without instabilities is always the best idea.