Q9300 Temp

Hi all,

I am new here, so I apologize if this question has been asked many times already.

I have a Q9300 processor and I wish to overclock it to 3Ghz. I currently have it overclocked to 2.62Ghz and before I go further with it, I prefer to test it at the current state.

However, when I am running a stress test on it, I am noticing that while the temperature for the main processor go to and stay at about 55-60 C, the individual cores are at about 70 C.

As the maximum temperature for this model processor is about 71 C, before going any further I just need to check, does this refer to the processor temp, or does this also include the individual core temps?

Many thanks in advance for your help with this.

If you dont have an after market heatsink I would not recommend you to OC a quadcore, but If you already have one and got those temps @70C. with that low OC then reseat the heatsink because those temps are too high.

Just to give you an idea for your OC, I have a Q8200 (not a good OC'er), set the fsb @430mhz and that gives me 3.0Ghz, no vcore Changes, just a minor RAM OC, from 800mhz to 860mhz Vram @1.91, set at 1:1 ratio with cpu.

temps are 45C. idle, 60-65C. underload using an aftermarket heatsink (Tuniq tower 120)

With that stock heatsink fan you won't be able to OC too much, I, again, recommend you a $50 or so aftermarket heatsink fan, I would say it is a must have for any overclocker.

after that, if you have a 800mhz ram already, just set the FSB to 400mhz and set it at 1:1 ratio with the ram. That way you can hit 3.0Ghz easily, no voltage tweaking or anything else required (I think in your cpu will look like 7.5x400mhz=3.0ghz)

*Cough* core contact freezer*cough cough*

Ahh, overshocked and his "Sunbeam CCF" suggestions

Thanks all.

The thermal compound I was (and until I can get to a computer shop still am) using was very cheap so I will go for a more expensive one. I had used too much of it before so I cleaned it off (except without any alcohol based remover, since I dont have any) and re-applied. Unfortunately it is running hotter now... so in this case, more was better...

As for the ram, I have 4x1gb Corsair DDR2-6400 which is clocked at 800Mhz (oh yeah thats what the 6400 means lol). My motherboard can change the FSB without any problem. (its the GA-EP45C-DS3R).

What type of removal fluid should I be using to remove the thermal compound properly when I am going to reapply?

Brilliant. Hopefully I can find artic silver 5 somewhere here

The Katana won't lower your temperatures much from the stock (don't get me wrong, it's much better than the stock HSF). I would suggest:

Scythe Ninja 2
Scythe Infinity 2
Xigmatek S1283
Xigmatek S963
...just to name a few that aren't really expensive like TRUE. Also, AS5, Tuniq TX-2 or Innovation Cooling Diamond 7 Carat are the TIMs I trust (have used all with success, currently have found TX-2 to be the best).

Hmmm, I have no idea what a TRUE is... Cooling was never a problem for me before...

TRUE = ThermalRight Ultra 120 Extrem

One of the best. But theres lots of good cooler. any 120mm CPU heatsink can be silent if you need it too. I had a TT ( ThermalTake ) mini typhoon that had a 92mm fan and i was able to run my E6850 to 3.6ghz ( 1.45vcore ) while having temps in the mid 50. I jumped to WC ater this ......

I will have to take out the motherboard to properly install these, wont I

Not that I have a problem with that. Just assumed they would fit in when the board is in the case.

Good luck with it, the Scythe Mugen 2 is a great cooler.

+1 on Mugen 2.

I have finally found a site where I can get the heatsink and thermal compound for combined 55 euro. (Postage on top of that).

Just to check, my 580W power supply should be able to handle a Q9300 and 2 Saphire 2GB ATI 4870 cards right? even with slight overclocking?

Thanks. Looks like the PSU will have to wait till the next month. I have an X-Power GTX Light (Blue). Can you recommend one that's as shiny which runs at 750W?

Actually, I forgot the 4870 had 2 6-pin connectors each, so you'll want at least 4 6-pin or 6+2-pin connectors. If any of these are available in your area, they would fit the bill:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 81%3A37630

It will likely work, as similar HEC units have 50A+ on the 12V combined. The X Power does not list a combined power, nor have I been able to find a picture from which the rail rating could be calculated. It does make me a little nervous that you'll have to use 2 PCIe to molex connectors, if that's the best you have been able to find it'll probably work well.

So at this point, I have gotten some better thermal compound which was better than the one I was using originally. I will use it until the Arctic Silver 5 arrives. I reapplied to the CPU (after cleaning of course), and when idle, my processor gives the temp of about 25-30 degrees C with individual cores at about 45-50 and when at 100% stress, I am getting a CPU reading of about 50 and individual cores at about 70.

Just to see how it was getting on at a higher clockspeed, I over clocked to 3Ghz (ensuring RAM stays at 800Mhz), and the only difference I can see in temp at idle was the CPU temp was about 35 degress C, and at stress, the reading was 55-60 ish with individual cores leveling at about 78 degrees.

This is still a little too high for my tastes but I think its okay until better cooling arrives. Actually with these results I will be tempted to OC up to about 3.2Ghz once I get the better heatsink. And who knows, maybe later I will play around with the voltages if that stays low.

Thanks all for your help!

Manual EVERYTHING that you can .... i have no volts on AUTO

Sorry, I forgot to put the figures in. Also I know the the Gigabyte board seem to have different terms that probably mean the same thing. For example, I dont know which of the voltage settings refer to the northbridge, etc.

DRAM Voltage 1.8V
DRAM Termination 0.9V
Channel A / Channel B Reference 0.9V (Both)

MCH Core 1.1V
MCH/DRAM Reference 0.85V
MCH Reference (yes its a different value) 0.76V
ICH I/O 1.5V

Right, so the Mugen 2 arrived and its great so far.

Its keeping the CPU at 22C when Idle and not more than 30C when stressed.

However, my system case is much hotter than before. I just installed the 2 4870 cards and have them in crossfire.

Does anyone know why the controls for the fan speed (actually all the controls) under the ATI Overdrive page of Catalyst are greyed out?

Hi . lemem recommend a cooler that will beat almost any other air cooler..........
the thermalright IFX-14, it will run even 4c cooler compared to a TRUE. Also i believe they are on sale right now, make sure your case has enough room, they are huge!!!!!



check websites they have the reviews, the best air cooler for any processor, if you have the space. see the little TRUE on the other side.