CPU Cooler Issue!?

[S1lv3r H4wK]

So I got myself a new CoolerMaster Hyper N520 CPU cooler and it does not seem to be doing very well. My temps are 2-3 degrees higher than the stock Intel 1366 cooler. I used the thermal compound supplied by CoolerMaster which can't be that bad, smeared it on with a nice even layer to the cpu then installed the cooler. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Archer]

So I got myself a new CoolerMaster Hyper N520 CPU cooler and it does not seem to be doing very well. My temps are 2-3 degrees higher than the stock Intel 1366 cooler. I used the thermal compound supplied by CoolerMaster which can't be that bad, smeared it on with a nice even layer to the cpu then installed the cooler. What am I doing wrong?

How thick is this layer? Sounds like you put way too much on. Ideally you put on a small blob, approx a quarter the size of a pea, in the middle of the CPU and then allow the pressure from the heatsink spread it as you tighten it. Otherwise you could also check the orientation of the fans. Are they blowing air in the same direction as your case fans? Cant think of anything else based on what you have said...

 

[nakedpeanut]

From what i've learnt by putting paste on, I always put to much on! I try keep the blob as small as possible but it's always to much lol..

I'd take it off clean your cpu and cooler of the paste using rubbing (pure) alcohol (you can get it from any chemist really). Then seat the CPU in the socket put a tiny blob like max 2x2x2mm then put the heatsink on top letting it weight pushdown and spread the paste then do the screws in an x fashion turn by turn. 1,3,4,2 then repeat till it's securely down. Ensure your fans are plugged in as well we never know

 

[Pada]

If you have a poor airflow through your case, then even a decent CPU cooler would under perform, because the air CPU coolers can only work if the ambient temperature is much lower than the CPU's temperature.

Also ensure that the heatsink is properly secured to the CPU. I've had it a couple of times with the stock Intel coolers that I incorrectly attached the heatsinks.
Lastly, like many users said before: don't put on a thick layer of thermal paste.

When you've applied a thick layer, then you'll be able to easily remove the heatsink from the CPU, where as if your layer is thin (and correct) it should feel like a vacuum / magnets that you're trying to pull from each other - where you can only separate them by moving them horizontally apart.

 

[Gnome]

Should have gone with Thermalright

Even if it where bad airflow it still doesn't make sense that the Cooler Master should perform worse than the stock Intel cooler. Probably a seating or thermal grease problem. Also was the thermal pad from the stock Intel cooler properly cleaned off (one of the reasons I never fit stock coolers, once that thermal pad has been on there it's a hell of a mission to get it cleaned off properly).

Then again are those temps @ load/idle, what kind of speed do the fans move at, etc. Anyone else here using that Heatsink?

 

[S1lv3r H4wK]

How thick is this layer? Sounds like you put way too much on. Ideally you put on a small blob, approx a quarter the size of a pea, in the middle of the CPU and then allow the pressure from the heatsink spread it as you tighten it. Otherwise you could also check the orientation of the fans. Are they blowing air in the same direction as your case fans? Cant think of anything else based on what you have said...

This might be right will check this tomorrow, put a blob about the size of a pea then spreaded it out with a piece of plastic.

Should have gone with Thermalright

Even if it where bad airflow it still doesn't make sense that the Cooler Master should perform worse than the stock Intel cooler. Probably a seating or thermal grease problem. Also was the thermal pad from the stock Intel cooler properly cleaned off (one of the reasons I never fit stock coolers, once that thermal pad has been on there it's a hell of a mission to get it cleaned off properly).

Then again are those temps @ load/idle, what kind of speed do the fans move at, etc. Anyone else here using that Heatsink?

I get about 46C on idle and 60C under full load. This on a i7 950 cpu.

 

[Pada]

60'C at full load is fine, but 46'C is quite hot for the idle temperature, unless you've disabled stuff like speedstep and manually configured/fixed the CPU voltage.

When overclocking my i7 940 to like 3.4GHz, my temps barely exceeds 60'C using my ThermalRight Ultra 120 Extreme CPU cooler, where as the idle temperatures are around 32'C.

 

[Terumo]

I am using the same cooler, my idle is low 30's and load doesnt break 50C. And bear in mind this cooler is not a high end cooler like the the one Pada is using Still your temps seems a bit off.

 

[Pada]

Yeah, my temperatures are quite high, but thats because I'm running a CM Sickleflow fan at low RPM (7V instead of 12V).
I actually want to run a push/pull setup, but I don't have another holding bracket and I don't know where to get one.

My temperatures might also be higher due to my CPU being an Engineering Sample, so my voltages are fairly high compared to yours I suppose.

 

[Fuma]

If you have a poor airflow through your case, then even a decent CPU cooler would under perform, because the air CPU coolers can only work if the ambient temperature is much lower than the CPU's temperature.

Speaking of of airflow, how is your fan setup on your CM 690 II?

The case comes with:

Front: 140 x 25 mm Blue LED fan x 1 / 1200 RPM / 19 dBA
Rear: 120 mm fan x 1 / 1200 RPM / 17 dBA
Top: 140 x 25 mm fan x 1 / 1200 RPM / 19 dBA (supports 120 / 140 mm fan x 2)

..and still has space for:

Bottom: 120 mm fan x 2 (optional)
Left side: 120 / 140 mm fan x 2 (optional)
Right side: 80 x 15 mm x 1 (optional)
HDD cage: 120 mm fan x 1 (optional)
VGA holder: 80 x 15 mm fan x 1 (optional)

Did you add more fans and where? I understand the positioning of your fans influences your airflow.

 

[techead]

Should have gone with Thermalright

+1

hehehe

 

[Pada]

Hieta_Hola:
I have only added 1 fan (SickleFlow) in total, and that is connected to my TRUE CPU cooler.
AFAIK the front fan is an intake fan and the top and rear ones are exhaust fans on the CM 690 II.

My temperatures topped like 80'C when I OC'd to 3.92GHz, but the 2x GTX 460's OC'd to 878/4460 probably had an effect on that as well.

 

[dudewotevr]

Yeah, my temperatures are quite high, but thats because I'm running a CM Sickleflow fan at low RPM (7V instead of 12V).
I actually want to run a push/pull setup, but I don't have another holding bracket and I don't know where to get one.

My temperatures might also be higher due to my CPU being an Engineering Sample, so my voltages are fairly high compared to yours I suppose.

3M Double sided tape!! Make triangles for each corner, doesn't fall off. Do it right and you can hardly see there is anything holding the fan on.