Help the newbie with his build!!

[Talonman]

I am going to keep my 3.8GHz forever I think. I noted that at 3.9GHz my temps rose from 3.8's 40°C, to 3.9's 53°C on all 4 cores in 45 minutes run time. I still want to throw a monster GPU in the same loop too. I don't think the 3.9 vs 3.8 will actually buy me much in real world feel, but will in fact cost me 13°C higher temps on each core. This is also the coldest time of year so I pritty much should plan on some higher temps come summer.

I think it wise to leave some slush room on core temps, for my future GPU to still not surpass my RAD's ability to cool.

I am extremely pleased with my system, and just feel like a stable cool running 3.8GHz is the correct choice for me.

If I were to ask my Q6600 about it, I'm sure he would say that a setting of:
CPU Voltage : 1.5120v (BIOS)
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.58v (BIOS)
was more than plenty for him!

Siginature Froze!

I now am only intreasted in tuning my 3.8GHz system. I hear the next BIOS update is giving us better memory control...

Could be some performance for me to find there withought adding extra heat into my loop, or voltage to my CPU!

Trivia: With the exact same BIOS settings that produces my 3.8GHz and 40°C max core temps, was run at a higher room temp. We fired up the wood/coal burner today (Trying coal), and ran the basement temp up to 71.4°F. I thought it was a good time for a temp run on my water cooling rig to see how it would do.

At 3.8GHz and 55°F room temp, Cores maxed out at right about 40°C.
At 3.8GHz and 71.4°F room temp, Cores maxed out at 50°C.

My room temp went up 16.4°F, and my cores max temp went up 10°C or 18°F.

Possible water cooling lesson for me: Lowering my room temp 16.4°F, will take 10C off my cores max temps... ?

I also noted that 16.4°F of a warmer air temp, made 18°F extra core heat! It's a cruel world isn't it!!

My temp reading equipment is far from professional quality, so my ambient to core relationship may very well be a direct and linear one at that?
It could be on my system, that 17°F higher air temp, produces exactly 17°F more heat on my cores.

This just serves to reaffirm that you could buy the best water cooling equipment in the world, but if you set it up in a hot room, your temps are going to be disappointing.

It may also serve to show the importance of not feeding your RAD warm air that your case had preheated. You probably would be paying with higher temps throughout your entire loop.
To the RAD, warm air is a performance killer!

Note: My Motherboard sensor is always 15°F above ambient on my rig.

Update: I am actually amazed how consistant my mobo sensor -vs- ambient difference is. My new number is 14.2°F for MOBO hovering above ambient, and still held true even at 71°F too.