I recently bought this for socket AM2, 65W. I suppose I was a fool to think the stock HSF could be trusted. It's a small, aluminium piece of junk with a 2900 RPM fan. I don't even think the fins are skived. Anyway...
I used the default thermal pad/tape that was already on the HSF, and to my alarm, I saw the temp approach 80 C while under stress. And this is at normal speed. I only let it run like this briefly once I discovered it (probably 10 mins gross, at max). But even while idle on my desktop, it could reach 70 or more.
I quickly decided something needed to be done about this. So I ordered an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, and Arctic Silver 5 grease. Now starting temp is around 50 C, with sustained idle temp between 55 and 65 C Under full load, I've seen it climb to 71 C
I looked up AMD's PDF on these, and they list a max temp between 68 and 70 generally. If I let it run at 71ish long term, am I at risk for damage? Also, is there any way to determine if there has been physical damage, short of a complete burnout, or frequent crashing/lockups? Example : could previously absent frame rate loss in games be an indication?
I guess the only other thing... could the temp monitor on my motherboard be providing inaccurate readings? I have a Biostar based on Via K8M800 chipset, with a 20 pin power connector. I'm getting my readings from ITE Smart Guardian software (and the BIOS reading are usually similar).
I'm not too fond of the Arctic for a couple of other reasons... the sink doesn't touch the entire core (it leaves about 1 or so milimeter of space on at least one side). It's very big and heavy, and the fan RPM is only 2300 max. I'm considering getting either a ZeroTherm BTF90, or a Zalman CNPS7700. Any advice on either of these 2? I'm pretty sure the ZeroTherm will fit in my case.
Someone asked me how my case ventilation was, so I'll post this info with something else that may be pertinent too. Remaining system specs:
EnerMax Noisetaker EG475P-VE (additional 12 volt, 4 pin connector plugged in)
4000 RPM system exhaust blower in PCI back panel
Vantec 80mm case fan under PSU
Honestly, most of the air being blown out of the case isn't that hot - in fact it's barely warm.
What's going on here? Do other people's 4800's get this hot?
I used the default thermal pad/tape that was already on the HSF, and to my alarm, I saw the temp approach 80 C while under stress. And this is at normal speed. I only let it run like this briefly once I discovered it (probably 10 mins gross, at max). But even while idle on my desktop, it could reach 70 or more.
I quickly decided something needed to be done about this. So I ordered an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, and Arctic Silver 5 grease. Now starting temp is around 50 C, with sustained idle temp between 55 and 65 C Under full load, I've seen it climb to 71 C
I looked up AMD's PDF on these, and they list a max temp between 68 and 70 generally. If I let it run at 71ish long term, am I at risk for damage? Also, is there any way to determine if there has been physical damage, short of a complete burnout, or frequent crashing/lockups? Example : could previously absent frame rate loss in games be an indication?
I guess the only other thing... could the temp monitor on my motherboard be providing inaccurate readings? I have a Biostar based on Via K8M800 chipset, with a 20 pin power connector. I'm getting my readings from ITE Smart Guardian software (and the BIOS reading are usually similar).
I'm not too fond of the Arctic for a couple of other reasons... the sink doesn't touch the entire core (it leaves about 1 or so milimeter of space on at least one side). It's very big and heavy, and the fan RPM is only 2300 max. I'm considering getting either a ZeroTherm BTF90, or a Zalman CNPS7700. Any advice on either of these 2? I'm pretty sure the ZeroTherm will fit in my case.
Someone asked me how my case ventilation was, so I'll post this info with something else that may be pertinent too. Remaining system specs:
EnerMax Noisetaker EG475P-VE (additional 12 volt, 4 pin connector plugged in)
4000 RPM system exhaust blower in PCI back panel
Vantec 80mm case fan under PSU
Honestly, most of the air being blown out of the case isn't that hot - in fact it's barely warm.
What's going on here? Do other people's 4800's get this hot?