PC question (VCORE voltage)

[HellasTechn]

Good day friends,

Today my question is not of traditional electronics nature.

I have a pc with an ASUS P5KPL-VM motherboard with amibios version 1003 and a Q6600 cpu. The cpu is running hot (about 55-60) deg idle with 30 deg ambient temprature. I tried a couple of heatsinks and compounds but still not much difference so i thought that maybe i could drop Vcore voltage a little somehow or underclock the cpu since i dont use it for games. The problem is that i cant change any values such as vcore or multiplier... Any ideas ?

 

[eetech00]

My overclocked Q6600 runs at 3Ghz and averages 70c and I've been using it this way for about 2 years without a problem.. I don't have any special cooling.
I don't think you have a problem.

Your MB has to support changing CPU core voltage or you won't be able to change it.

 

[HellasTechn]

Good Morning (norh east hemisphere)

I think for idle state not overclocked 60 deg is hot.

I found how to change the freq and multiplier but i didnt really notice much of a difference. I think that only with Vcore it might get a little cooler.

I dont know if my mb supports manual vcore setting.

 

[eetech00]

Good Morning (norh east hemisphere)

I think for idle state not overclocked 60 deg is hot.

I found how to change the freq and multiplier but i didnt really notice much of a difference. I think that only with Vcore it might get a little cooler.

I dont know if my mb supports manual vcore setting.

You could try replacing the CPU fan and/or apply fresh heat sink compund.

 

[Gryd3]

Please also note that too much paste is also a bad idea.
You want as little paste as possible, the only goal of this paste is to fill any small air gaps between the CPU and the heat-sink.
Also, some computers will dynamically adjust fan speed based on temperatures...
If this is the case, you can simply turn up the fan. (Please note that you can also use the OS to 'scale' down the CPU speed based on load, and can also turn off additional CPU cores)

 

[HellasTechn]

Good point Gryd3 and eetech00

This is the 3rd cooler i change and still the same. About the thermal paste i use Titan nano grease. I applied a tiny quantity and spreaded it useing an old credit card to create a thin layer. My motherboard has the Qcontrol function that allows the fan to run slower or faster depending on CPU temp. if i disable it temp drops 3-4 degrees but the fan sounds like a hair dryer at 4.200 rpm. Last thing is that the O.S. controls CPU freq depending on load.

Still idle state temprature is 60 while ambient temprature is 30.

I use realtemp to get the readings while bios indicates a temp of about 70 deg (probably 100% cpu load)

 

[Gryd3]

Good point Gryd3 and eetech00

This is the 3rd cooler i change and still the same. About the thermal paste i use Titan nano grease. I applied a tiny quantity and spreaded it useing an old credit card to create a thin layer. My motherboard has the Qcontrol function that allows the fan to run slower or faster depending on CPU temp. if i disable it temp drops 3-4 degrees but the fan sounds like a hair dryer at 4.200 rpm. Last thing is that the O.S. controls CPU freq depending on load.

Still idle state temprature is 60 while ambient temprature is 30.

I use realtemp to get the readings while bios indicates a temp of about 70 deg (probably 100% cpu load)

I would certainly sound like it's operating perfectly to me.
Processors are commonly in the 65Watt range to start. I realize that's their maximum output, but they still generate a lot of heat.
How is airflow throughout the case?
Intake and exhaust fan present?

 

[HellasTechn]

No there are no intake or exhaust fans because the tower i have was designed to cover the cpu hestsink with a tube and guide the air out. and it does not fit my current setup. (it is a mini tower) but i have the case open.

the tower i have is an HP compac and used to house a pentium 4 CPU. I know it is really small and badly designed specially for a 4core cpu but space in my desk is an issue.

This is the tower and the setup it used to have
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-Compaq-Internet-Tower-Computer/dp/B00IF7XP7U

 

[Martaine2005]

I have to agree with Gryd3 here.
It seems like the temperature is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.
A cpu idling is still working, and will generate a lot of heat.
What are your concerns?

Martin

 

[HellasTechn]

It is just that i think it should be around 40-50 deg at idle.

 

[Gryd3]

It is just that i think it should be around 40-50 deg at idle.

40-50 is certainly a good range, but your current idle temperature does not concern me in the slightest.
What is the CPU usage on your machine and what OS is it running? Just because 'you' are not using it does not mean it's completely idle

Network traffic, as well as USB and other accessories will generate work for the computer to handle. If you really want to get down to it, start removing things to establish a proper base-line.

 

[HellasTechn]

I use the PC for internet only and to be more specific i use this site, e-bay and my e-mail only.
I use Windows 7 ultimate. I know that even at idle state still cpu is in use. i use realtemp program to monitor CPU status and i have a real time reading of the CPU use percentage.

P.S. i dont think that a USB keyboard and mouse can raise cpu temprature.

Certainly a better case and maybe an even better quality heatsink would do the job but it is an expence that i cant afford that is why i asked if someone knows about vcore voltage.

 

[Gryd3]

I use the PC for internet only and to be more specific i use this site, e-bay and my e-mail only.
I use Windows 7 ultimate. I know that even at idle state still cpu is in use. i use realtemp program to monitor CPU status and i have a real time reading of the CPU use percentage.

I would encourage the following steps which may help:
-Open the 'Resource Monitor' in windows and check the CPU tab. It will not only show current CPU load, but also the current Frequency (As a %) . When your computer Idles, the CPU usage should be bouncing between 0-5% and the Frequency should be scaled down to less than 100% . If these numbers are higher, you may have software to blame for the heat.
-If the % for Maximum Frequency is not pinned at 100% and the CPU usage is regularly less than 10%, then you should open your computer case and monitor the temperature. Ensure the fan on the CPU is running smoothly, and that the fins on the heat-sink behind the fan are clean.
-If the temperature goes down with an open case, then you have an air flow issue.

In any case, it would be a good idea to check your power settings in windows. If it's set to performance, it will most certainly keep your CPU revved up and ready to go even when you are idle.

 

[HellasTechn]

CPU usage reading is 0-2% and max freq is 65-67% all that with the computer case open.

 

[Gryd3]

CPU usage reading is 0-2% and max freq is 65-67% all that with the computer case open.

Did temperature go down at all when the case was opened?

 

[HellasTechn]

No it did not.

If it wasnt for the cost i would have installed watercooling but since i can not i will just leave it like this.
I doubt there will be a problem specially when weather cools down a little.

 

[davenn]

Hio guys

OK The thread had me curious so I downloaded 2 different CPU temperature monitoring programs
( They actually do so much more than just that)

@HellasTech .... that temp of yours seems really high

I'm running an Intel i5 dual core ( each core is 3400MHz)

here is a screen shot of the system temp right now showing both programs
the listed temps are within a degree of each other




it winter time here at the moment .... room temperature is 21 deg C ( no heater on)
will be interesting to check the temps on a hot summer day when the room temp
is anywhere between 35 and 42 C

Dave

 

[HellasTechn]

Yes your this temp is perfect. Here room temprature is 30-32 deg.

If you google intel q6600 tempratures you will find many tpoics about this "problem" i have come to think that 50-60 deg is normal temprature for this cpu.

Though i would rather run the cpu at lower temp.

 

[HellasTechn]

Hello.
Today a friend of mine gave me an other heatsink, a really big one (almost as big as my psu). Temprature at idle state has droped to 45 deg. I beleave that if i use an other case with better air flow it will drop even more.

This is the one i now use :

http://www.quietpc.com/zt-nirvana

 

[chopnhack]

Good God, that is a huge heat sink!! I like the design, very smart to make it tall and integrate a fan with it. Have you no room for a case fan? Do you have a free bay to use something like this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/5-25-INCH-D...qid=1440729139&sr=1-1&keywords=bay+cooler+fan