Hello

I apologize as this post may seem a bit pedestrian among a sea of posters who have achieved low temperature, stable and high speed OC systems. Unfortunately I have been stuck at stock speeds due to the high temperatures of Q9550.

I have sought advise on other forums and a few kind folks (Hi Java ) have offered a few hints and tips. Unfortunately none has remedied the situation.

System information along with the BIOS settings are displayed at the end of this post. Thank you coral11 for making your BIOS template available.

Several cooling configurations were tried and here are the results:

[2.83 GHz]

1) Zalman CNPS 9700 LED in 'bread board'/no case configuration:
Ambient temperature: 26 C
idle: 39,40, 46,46
Load (Prime 95): 59,53,60,60
BIOS Settings: All default values with the exception of VCORE being set to 1.1

2) XIGMATEK HDT-S1293 in ThermalTake Tsunami Dream:
Ambient temperature: 26 C
idle: 39,36,45,45
Load (IBT): 67,65,67,67
BIOS Settings: All default values with the exception of VCORE being set to 1.1

As Prime 95 tests take too long to run, IBT was used instead. Although it is understood that the comparisons become somewhat skewed due to the usage of two different load testing programs, it is safe to assume that Prime95 results for this current configuration would be 5-7 cooler than what was obtained with IBT.

Unfortunately due to time and work constraints, the testing of the heatsinks were carried out in an ad-hoc and
non-scientific manner. However regardless of configuration, it is clear for whatever the reason the observed
temperatures are excessively high even for OC let alone stock speeds!

I have varied the VCORE anywhere from 1.1 to 1.2375 to no avail. I have also disabled LLC. Once again there was no difference. Per suggestions, northbridge voltage was changed to 1.35 which yielded no difference.

The AS5 was applied to the XIGMATEK in the manner that is described here:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...1&limitstart=5

[Scroll down to the last two pictures]

A single line of AS5 was also applied to the middle of the CPU as suggested by AS.

This method of applying AS5 to the Xigie and the CPU was tried by a few members of the HardForum. These folks experienced quite a bit of drop in temperatures.

Uninstalling and re-installing the cooler is quite an ordeal. If it will make a difference, this process can be repeated but at this point I see no value in it.

Currently all BIOS settings with the exception of VCORE, C1E Support, DRAM Frequency and DRAM Voltage are set to Auto or default values.

Any help or hint is greatly appreciated.

Regards.


CPU Type: Q9550 (2.83 GHz)
Cooling: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283
Bios version: 0501
OS: Windows 2008 Server X64
Graphics card(s): ASUS EAH4850
Memory Brand and speed: OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333
Case: ThermalTake Tsunami Dream

Tweaker Menu (Bios version 0501)
Ai Overclock Tuner: Auto
OC From CPU Level Up: Auto
OC From Memory Level Up: Auto
FSB Frequency: 333
CPU Ratio Setting: 8.5
>> = sub menu
>>CPU Configuration
>>CPU Ratio Setting: 8.5
>>C1E Support: Enabled
>>CPU TM Function: Enabled
>>Max CPUID Value Limit: Disabled
>> Vanderpool Technology: Disabled
>> Execute Disable Bit: Enabled
>> Core Multi-Processing: Enabled
CPU Clock Skew: Auto
NB Clock Skew Auto
FSB Strap to North Bridge: Auto
PCIE Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR3-1333MHZ
DRAM Command Rate: 1N
DRAM Timing Control: Auto
1st Information: 8-9-9-20-4-48-8-4
2nd Information: 9-4-5-4-7-4-7
3rd Information: 18-6-1-10-10
DRAM Static Read Control: Auto
DRAM Dynamic Write Control: Auto
Ai Clock Twister: Auto
Ai Transaction Booster: Auto
EPU II Phase Control: Auto
CPU Voltage: 1.10000
Load-Line Calibration: Auto
CPU PPL Voltage: Auto
FSB Termination Voltage: Auto
CPU GTLVerf (0): Auto
CPU GTLVerf (1): Auto
CPU GTLVerf (2): Auto
CPU GTLVerf (3): Auto
NB GTLVerf: Auto
North Bridge Voltage: Auto
DRAM Voltage: 1.8
NB DDRVref: Auto
DDR3 ChannelA Vref: Auto
DDR3 ChannelB Vref: Auto
South Bridge 1.5 Voltage: Auto
South Bridge 1.05 Voltage: Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled

Under advanced menu:
North Bridge Chipset Configuration
Memory Remap Feature: Enabled
Initiate Graphic Adapter: PEG/PCI
PEG Port Control: Auto