New cooling / heatsync for Q6600

I am looking to get a decent cooling solution for my Q600 on a ASUS p5K SE/EPU motherboard.

Currently I am running a lot hotter than what I think is acceptable, and am using the stock heatsync and fan against my better judgment. It averages around 83-86 degrees F.

My goal for this unit is to over clock to between 3.4 and 4 GHz. From what I have found in research, not only is the factory heat sync junk, but also come most of the time in need of lapping since they are warped. The easiest solution is to just replace the heatsync in my opinion.

I have had a few brands and suggestions tossed out to me so far for other locations, but what do you guys think? I do not mind pulling the board out to install a decent solution for this, as I am looking at functionality here, not ease of install. Although liquid cooling has came a long way, I want to maintain my air cooling for now as I am a bit worried about leakages.

Also, can you guys give me an idea what the flow ratio should be on case fans? I added a Syther 3600 RPM 120 MM case fan and am running that wide open and it only made a difference of about a degree, when this product has been known to drop the temp up to 10 degrees when running full out. Currently, there is a 80 MM blowing in, a matching blowing out, and now the syther 120 MM that is also pushing out. I am probably pushing about 170-185 out, and probably about 30-40 in is this a good ratio? or perhaps I should switch one of the fans?

I am worried that this is gonna over heat my processor or drastically shorten its lifespan, and at the temp it is now, i cant even consider the overclocking which was originally intended for this CPU. I realize Quads run hotter, but this seems way to hot to me when people with 3.4 Ghz overclocks are running at way below my current temp, it makes me seriously think there is a problem. Would appreciate some help.

My case is a Apevia Black X-Dreamer Mid Tower ATX Case.

I am not sure. I am not the one that installed it. I had a friend that was certified as a B/R specialist do it encase of bad parts ruining the others since it was a complete custom build with parts from companies I had never used before. I do know how to install them, but let him encase a part was bad and needed to be replaced. That way his insurance would pick up the cost rather than me paying for new parts or fighting with the companies.

This time, I am planning to do it myself. I do not have thermal grease on hand to check and reseat it, but plan to pick up some Articfox thermal paste soon.

What I do know is that he said it started at running around 65 degrees F, but recently has been hotter. I am thinking thermal paste is part of the problem. The heat sync probably needs to be lapped as well if it is going to be reused. Something I don't plan on doing.

I spoke to intel and they are trying to tell me that the acceptable temp for this processor is anything under 159 degrees F... or 71 degrees C. In my experience, anything over 65 degrees F is bad for them. They are willing to RMA the processor for a new one to see if it helps solve the issue.

I am gonna ship that to them to get my new one, and then will will use the new heat sync on that. Apparently, it voids the warranty to use 3rd party (non-intel) heat syncs on these, which was news to me. Either way it has to be done. The OCing would void it anyways.

so in your experience anything over 65F is too hot, you do realise that 65F is about 18C, so anything over room temperature is too hot is it? what exactly is your experience...

I doubt you'll see much difference, my room swings from 15C to 25C and I only get a 5C swing in idle temp. I'd expect that a maintained 13C room temp would give you maybe 4C lower idle temp. Not the 15-20 from a normal idle that you seem to be expecting.

Different processors have had different thermal limits my old barton 3200+ XP idled in the high 50's my C2D idles in mid 30's. So a main

I had to make the assumption that he knew the difference between C and F, as he's used both and keeps his house at 55C otherwise.

[quotemsg=1907915,10,391609]Actually, the room temp is 55 degrees F not 55 degrees C which would be 12.7 degrees C.

55 degrees C =131 degrees Fquotemsg]

which is why i assumed (correctly) that you knew the difference.

the 'fact' that it is running a lot hotter than it should be is being disputed, 86F (your stated running temp from your first post, although not stated as idle or load) is a very good idle temp for stock cooling, and an amazing load temp for stock (or anything else for that matter)

my dual core on stock in a cool (17C) room, idling at 39-40C (104F) in a good case with a decent amount of air flow.

you state in a later post that intel (the manufacturer of said chip) say 71F to 131F is ok, but you declare that in your experience above 65F is bad.

By the way constantly changing units in a post is annoying and confuses the issue.

I would suggest to you that your chip is fine.