Speederlander
05-28-2007, 04:55 PM
If you have a high end heatsink (Enzo or TR ultra 120 extreme---I haven't tried it with other sinks so take your own chance) and you have tried these:
1. Lapping CPU
2. Lapping Heatsink (not needed with enzo, highly recommended with TR Ultra 120 E since many have raised center points or lines on the base)
3. Getting rid of all the standard mounting issues like cap interference, bad TIM application, etc.
...but still not so hot (or actually it IS still so hot :p: )
Seriously consider removing the frame around the CPU.
My Ultra 120 extreme dropped my CPU about 6 to 8C in temps (idle!!) when I removed the latching frame. Sometimes that thing just gets in the way and prevents ideal contact to the CPU. The Ultra 120 extreme lends itself well to this with its easily accessed screws (from the top, use a magnetic screwdriver...please) that clearly have a "final" hardstop position when screwed to full deflection. I also got nice improvement doing this when I was using the Enzo. Removing the frame is easy, just don't force it and bend something. Little bit of force with a light twist will do the deed.
You have to be careful, because the mobo CPU socket pins are DELICATE, so do this at your own risk. You need to align everything well when you set the heatsink down, don't drag it around when already touching the CPU in its socket trying to fix your alignment and don't lift it off again (you will bring your CPU with you). If you do lift it and bring your CPU, don't try to put it back into place with the CPU stuck to the bottom just because it seems easy and quick. You will bend pins. Take off your CPU and start over.
I am running a 48 hour Prime95 small fft stability test on my QX6700 with 1.5 vcore BIOS and 1.46 vcore actual at load (451 x 8) and my temps with Ultra 120 extreme are 65,65,60,60 degrees C (as measured by coretemp) with 22 C ambient (though my 76mm delta is running full out for this). I would like to see people on water get much better than that with this OC and volts after a half day or more of full-on prime, no matter what fans they stick on their rads. My 65 to 60 C spread on my cores is built in to the CPU. It's been that way with every heatsink and after every re-seat.
Also as a side note, use Liquid Metal Pro. It is clearly better than AS5 and doesn't "fuse" the CPU to the heatsink as many insist. I have used it several times with no problems removing after it had set. Just pop it off the heatsink with a razor blade. You will probably have to do a couple minutes of lapping to get off the "stain" of gallium that is bonded into the first few micro-inches of copper of the heatsink/CPU IHS.
Also, if you have a 120 extreme with that clear/white-ish plastic washer on the frame around the screw, just pull it off (it's not under the screw, it's glued on). It makes alignment a pain the a** otherwise.
1. Lapping CPU
2. Lapping Heatsink (not needed with enzo, highly recommended with TR Ultra 120 E since many have raised center points or lines on the base)
3. Getting rid of all the standard mounting issues like cap interference, bad TIM application, etc.
...but still not so hot (or actually it IS still so hot :p: )
Seriously consider removing the frame around the CPU.
My Ultra 120 extreme dropped my CPU about 6 to 8C in temps (idle!!) when I removed the latching frame. Sometimes that thing just gets in the way and prevents ideal contact to the CPU. The Ultra 120 extreme lends itself well to this with its easily accessed screws (from the top, use a magnetic screwdriver...please) that clearly have a "final" hardstop position when screwed to full deflection. I also got nice improvement doing this when I was using the Enzo. Removing the frame is easy, just don't force it and bend something. Little bit of force with a light twist will do the deed.
You have to be careful, because the mobo CPU socket pins are DELICATE, so do this at your own risk. You need to align everything well when you set the heatsink down, don't drag it around when already touching the CPU in its socket trying to fix your alignment and don't lift it off again (you will bring your CPU with you). If you do lift it and bring your CPU, don't try to put it back into place with the CPU stuck to the bottom just because it seems easy and quick. You will bend pins. Take off your CPU and start over.
I am running a 48 hour Prime95 small fft stability test on my QX6700 with 1.5 vcore BIOS and 1.46 vcore actual at load (451 x 8) and my temps with Ultra 120 extreme are 65,65,60,60 degrees C (as measured by coretemp) with 22 C ambient (though my 76mm delta is running full out for this). I would like to see people on water get much better than that with this OC and volts after a half day or more of full-on prime, no matter what fans they stick on their rads. My 65 to 60 C spread on my cores is built in to the CPU. It's been that way with every heatsink and after every re-seat.
Also as a side note, use Liquid Metal Pro. It is clearly better than AS5 and doesn't "fuse" the CPU to the heatsink as many insist. I have used it several times with no problems removing after it had set. Just pop it off the heatsink with a razor blade. You will probably have to do a couple minutes of lapping to get off the "stain" of gallium that is bonded into the first few micro-inches of copper of the heatsink/CPU IHS.
Also, if you have a 120 extreme with that clear/white-ish plastic washer on the frame around the screw, just pull it off (it's not under the screw, it's glued on). It makes alignment a pain the a** otherwise.