I7 930 temps check for a first time build

[green_tea]

I have a NZXT M59 case with the following fan setup:

Intake:
Front 74CFM
Side 74CFM

Exhaust:
Top 2x74CFM
Rear 42CFM(came with the case and didn't think it was worth changing)

I have the i7 930 processor with a Noctua NH-D14 cooler and IC diamond TIM. The cooler is oriented to blow from front to back with both 120mm and 140mm fans.

I am running everything at stock settings(HT&TB enabled so 8 threads 2.93GHz) (will OC once I work out a few other issues)

Ambient: 20C

Under 100% load with Prime95 cores are at
min:
55 49 52 46

max:
58 52 56 49

I have reseated the Noctua twice and this third instillation was my best (~3C lower than the others. I think I dialed in the right amount of TIM) Each time Cores 0 and 2 have been way hotter than cores 1 and 3. I know that all chips (and cores) are different, but these values seem to me to be in the just barely acceptable range(particularly with regard to a 9 degree spread)

Am I doing something wrong?
Should I/Would you be OK with this?
Sorry for the Noob question, and thanks for your help.
-Trevor

 

[RJR]

Thermal Tcase spec 68c, so core temps 70c-75c

Your well under that, OC away.

 

[Conumdrum]

Temps are good, you got a small amount of OC room.

9C is kinda high for core temp differences.

What paste and what method of applying paste?

 

[green_tea]

I am using IC diamond. I applied it three times as follows:

1)Blob in the middle pressed down with cooler, used to little. when I removed the cooler the coverage was poor. Hottest Core: 63 Coolest Core:53

2)Bigger Blob in the middle pressed down with cooler, used to much. When I removed the cooler it had pressed over the edges (not a huge deal, its non conductive) but also not good because it was on to thick. Also, the corners of the CPU were not completely covered. Hottest Core:61 Coolest Core: 52

3)Medium amount in a small x (hoping to reach corners) pressed down with cooler. I have not removed the cooler to check coverage. Hottest Core:58 Coolest Core:49

I am out of Diamond, If I take it off again I will have to order more or use the Noctua TIM. The fact that I have seen a 9-10C spread each time probably means that is just how my chip will run right? Also, do these temps seem like close to what you would expect? If I turn off TB and run at 2.8GHz It knocks ~4C off each core (voltage on auto runs lower)

Thanks,
Trevor

 

[Conumdrum]

Yea, your an experianced TIM applicator. You done the best you can. I'd say its the chip. Welcome to Toms, nice to have a non-noob here for a change.

I use MX-2, almost as good.
The paste with the cooler isn't bad I bet, it's a good cooler, they won't scrimp too much.

Try doing the kechup on a piece of glass with the HS on it, looking from the underside test. Same with the chip.

Or the straight razor blade and a flashlight from the backside, what kind of gap?

You might get a few C by lapping both. Expect 2-7 hours of careful lapping.

Dunno. As long as real world temps are within specs, I wouldn't worry about it a lot. Prime 95 is more than gaming or normal loads.

My rig:
http://www.overclockers.com/annual-water-cooling-cleaning-rebuild-journal/

Great Forum BTW, you should visit.

 

[green_tea]

Thanks Conumdrum,
Very nice rig you have.
I have moved some fans around(put the Noctuas on my case and moved the higher CFM fans to the cooler) and am now down to Max 53C on core 0 and 45C on Core 3. That gives me ~20C to overclock with. I may lap it if Im not happy with my final overclock, but I probably won't need to. I am not planing anything to extreme. I guess Ill have to deal with the spread. I should still be able to achieve a respectable overclock.
Thanks again,
Trevor