High temperature concern with CPU - 3930k

[junglee]

I've recently purchased a refurbished alienware with 3930k chip for bargain with brand new mobo and cpu cooler.

It's got a alienware brand (I think) liquid CPU cooler and I've monitored constant 85~90 degree at the CPU when I'm pushing with renderings.

 

Dell has come out and replaced a cooler and re-applied a heat sink paste and it helped to cool it down a bit. (It used to go up to 95)

 

I've read that intel's recommeneded temperature for the 3930k is below 73 degrees and I'm concerned that there's something wrong with the machine.

If I leave the case open while rendering, temperature goes down to 80~85 range.

 

Should I return this machine or is this fairly normal?

Or should I just replace case fans to improve air traffic?

I only paid $1350 (3930k/16GB Ram/2TB HDD/660GTX GPU) for this system and would like to hold on to it if I can improve the situation.

Edited September 3, 2013 by junglee

[numerobis]

Which tool are you using to messure the temps? Coretemp? Realtemp? or something else? Maybe it's just a software error.

Is the system overclocked or stock?

If it is not overclocked this is way to high for a 3930K. Load temps should be around 50°C if the cooler isn't too bad (depending on your air temp maybe 55-60° - If i remember correctly i had one running on air at 45°C). And if it is overclocked i wouldn't keep it at those temps...

If you have these temps when the machine is "only" rendering, i wouldn't like to see what happens under real stress testing like with prime95 or Intel Burn Test. Under IBT the chip normally runs at least 10°C hotter than while rendering.

 

Where is the radiator placed? Fan speed? How is the airflow in the case?

Edited September 3, 2013 by numerobis

[junglee]

Which tool are you using to messure the temps? Coretemp? Realtemp? or something else? Maybe it's just a software error.

Is the system overclocked or stock?

If it is not overclocked this is way to high for a 3930K. Load temps should be around 50°C if the cooler isn't too bad (depending on your air temp maybe 55-60° - If i remember correctly i had one running on air at 45°C). And if it is overclocked i wouldn't keep it at those temps...

If you have these temps when the machine is "only" rendering, i wouldn't like to see what happens under real stress testing like with prime95 or Intel Burn Test. Under IBT the chip normally runs at least 10°C hotter than while rendering.

 

Where is the radiator placed? Fan speed? How is the airflow in the case?

 

Thanks for your reply.

I used CPUID to check the temp and normal CPU temp (basic windows running) is at 40~45 degrees.

Room temperature is around 70~75, but where computer is could be slightly higher.

Fan speed is at 3500RPM with air flowing from front of the case to the rear and top.

CPU cooling radiator is placed on the back next to the CPU.

Lastly, CPU is factory overclocked upto 3.9Ghz.

[Dimitris Tolios]

I don't know of any official guideline stating that there is a limit @ 73oC

Not even 75? w/e you read those oddly chosen "limits", it is probably a fake that tries to conseal the facts, like all those TV adds that say "56.7% of those tested" - makes it sound too specific for simple people to believe that they could have faked it!

 

The SB-E CPUs are designed to throttle down to prevent overheating past 100oC. The rest are arbitrary "limits" and preferences - not factory guidelines.

 

Guess you have a R4 Aurora Alienware, a PC that tries to push a 3930K using a closed loop (CLC), thin rad 120mm cooler - build by Akasa from what it looks like, equivalent or identical with the 2011 version of the Corsair H60.

 

Long story short, this is a cooler barely able to keep up with the 3930K @ stock speeds. You shouldn't be surprised that even a mild overclock is pushing it above 80-85oC.

 

Doesn't seem to be something wrong with the performance you get in my eyes, you need a better cooler if you want to lower your temps.

 

The H100i and its equivalents from other companies like the CM Seidon 240 do fit in the top of the R4, but I think you need to drill new mounting holes for it. Direct replacement would be the H80i or the Seidon 120XL. Those are still 120mm rads, but have double the thickness, and are using 2x fans by comparison to the "stock" Alienware liquid cooler. Performance of most double-width 120mm CLCs is pretty decent, on par with the H100 within a degree or two.

 

As long as you are in the high 70s / low 80s with a better cooler, I think you are fine.

Alienware (Dell) didn't worry about temps when choosing the CLC they had, as when gaming hardly ever you use all 12 threads (and that is only for 2-3 games currently). Their temps during stress testing the system for their intented market should be in the 60s.

 

Rendering is another animal.

Edited September 3, 2013 by dtolios

[junglee]

I don't know of any official guideline stating that there is a limit @ 73oC

Not even 75? w/e you read those oddly chosen "limits", it is probably a fake that tries to conseal the facts, like all those TV adds that say "56.7% of those tested" - makes it sound too specific for simple people to believe that they could have faked it!

 

The SB-E CPUs are designed to throttle down to prevent overheating past 100oC. The rest are arbitrary "limits" and preferences - not factory guidelines.

 

Guess you have a R4 Aurora Alienware, a PC that tries to push a 3930K using a closed loop (CLC), thin rad 120mm cooler - build by Akasa from what it looks like, equivalent or identical with the 2011 version of the Corsair H60.

 

Long story short, this is a cooler barely able to keep up with the 3930K @ stock speeds. You shouldn't be surprised that even a mild overclock is pushing it above 80-85oC.

 

Doesn't seem to be something wrong with the performance you get in my eyes, you need a better cooler if you want to lower your temps.

 

The H100i and its equivalents from other companies like the CM Seidon 240 do fit in the top of the R4, but I think you need to drill new mounting holes for it. Direct replacement would be the H80i or the Seidon 120XL. Those are still 120mm rads, but have double the thickness, and are using 2x fans by comparison to the "stock" Alienware liquid cooler. Performance of most double-width 120mm CLCs is pretty decent, on par with the H100 within a degree or two.

 

As long as you are in the high 70s / low 80s with a better cooler, I think you are fine.

Alienware (Dell) didn't worry about temps when choosing the CLC they had, as when gaming hardly ever you use all 12 threads (and that is only for 2-3 games currently). Their temps during stress testing the system for their intented market should be in the 60s.

 

Rendering is another animal.

 

Dimitris,

 

Thanks for your reply, I'm amused of your knowledge!

 

Yes, I do have Aurora R4, and I got that 73 degree wording from intel website.

I'm going to give a try on H80i as you recommened and see if this helps lowering the temp at full throttle.

 

Thanks as always.

 

Jung

[junglee]

Also,

 

Do you have any recommendation on upgrading case fans for Aurora R4?

It has 1 front fan and 1 fan between HDD drives and 1 small fan above CPU which I don't know whether it's return or supply. I can barely feel what is doing.

[numerobis]

So you're using CPUID HWMonitor right? http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

I'm not sure if it is reading the temps correctly. I have seen on other forums that people had problems with it. I would check the temps with CoreTemp http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/ (but if you install it use custom install and skip all these shitty free offers...)

Here is a review of the 4,1GHz version of the Aurora R4 http://www.hardwareluxx.de/index.php/artikel/hardware/komplettsysteme/21288-test-alienware-aurora-r4.html?start=4

They are getting max load temps of 67°C under prime95!

 

 

So i think there is definitely something wrong when you get higher temps at 3,9GHz without prime.

 

Is this the CPU cooler you are using?

 

Edited September 4, 2013 by numerobis

[junglee]

So you're using CPUID HWMonitor right? http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

I'm not sure if it is reading the temps correctly. I have seen on other forums that people had problems with it. I would check the temps with CoreTemp http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/ (but if you install it use custom install and skip all these shitty free offers...)

Here is a review of the 4,1GHz version of the Aurora R4 http://www.hardwareluxx.de/index.php/artikel/hardware/komplettsysteme/21288-test-alienware-aurora-r4.html?start=4

They are getting max load temps of 67°C und prime95!

 

 

So i think there is definitely something wrong when you get higher temps at 3,9GHz without prime.

 

Is this the CPU cooler you are using?

 

 

 

Yes, that is the exact picture of the my computer.

Holy cow, 67 only????????????? I get that as soon as I open 3dmax.

I'm going to measure with Coretemp and report back...

[Dimitris Tolios]

Also,

 

Do you have any recommendation on upgrading case fans for Aurora R4?

It has 1 front fan and 1 fan between HDD drives and 1 small fan above CPU which I don't know whether it's return or supply. I can barely feel what is doing.

 

The small fan above the CPU is forcing some air on the motherboards VRMs (voltage regulators supplying the power to the CPU).

 

You might have some air-flow issues with this case...it appears to be ok for the GPU(s) with all these ducts and shrouds, but the CPU area is kinda isolated. Maybe a 120mm fan pushing some air down close to the CPU that when would exhaust through the CLC in the back?

 

Think the top panel has 2x places for fans, I would use the one closer to the front of the case, so that the air-flow won't short-circuit its way out but work its way through ram chips and VRMs etc a few inches longer.

 

Fan recomendations? Look @ the bearing type and dont' go for sleeve (although those are dirt cheap, sleeve bearings tend to wear faster when mounted horizontally and make noises). Some hydralic or ball bearing "silent" fan (don't go for 3000rpm "high performanceones, 1500~1800rpm is fine).

 

Yes 69oC is a lot for "launching" 3DS = only one core is working pretty much.

 

Are you sure they did a good job mounting the cooler again?

[numerobis]

Are you sure they did a good job mounting the cooler again?

Yes, i thought the same... either it is a read-out error or there is a problem with the cooler (contact, pressure, thermal paste)

Or with the flow of the water loop.

 

@Jung Lee: Could you check if there is a noticeable temperature difference between the cooler and the radiator? Normally the temp should be almost the same. If the cooler is much warmer there could be some problem with the flow.