Worth getting a better heatsink?

[jackshiels]

Hey all,

Just finished building my new PC. Got an i7 with the stock heatsink installed and was wondering if my temperatures are poor enough to warrant buying some new thermal paste and a better heatsink.

Idle (5%): 35c
Running Battlefield 4 (45-50%): 55-65c
Full load (100%): Around 70-75c

I want to make sure this lasts a decent lifetime and want to know if these sort of temps are abnormal...?
Should I change anything? One core seems to be one or two degrees higher than the others a lot of the time. Perhaps the thermal paste didn't spread nicely? If this is OK I don't mind leaving it, I don't want to spend R500 for something superfluous.

Cheers!

 

[Pho3nix]

Full load looks a tad high for me but nothing strange. Anything higher than 80c on any component is a problem for me.
Which i7 do you have exactly?

 

[PsyWulf]

Doesn't look abhorrent,might be able to get it a few degrees lower with some adjustments. Best measurement method would include a temperature for the inside of the case and outside,you can then work out the difference between ambient and the system. It's all relative

 

[jackshiels]

My i7 is a 4770K.

It has also been a bit hot here in CT for the past few days, so maybe it will stabilise... I have another case fan, but it is flipping loud. Lowers the temp by a few degrees, however.

So I'm OK to just forget about the new heatsink?

 

[HavocXphere]

Most of the newer Intel's have a bit of headroom so if you don't overclock it then you can undervolt it. Meaning you score a couple of degrees for free.

It'll take a bit of trial & error but its worthwhile. I'm in a similar position - undervolted it by like 10% (0.150V) & stuck to the std fan.

Its very much a question of preference - others will tell you its a waste not to stick a big fan on it & overclock it. meh.

 

[CataclysmZA]

Just finished building my new PC. Got an i7 with the stock heatsink installed and was wondering if my temperatures are poor

Idle (5%): 35c
Running Battlefield 4 (45-50%): 55-65c
Full load (100%): Around 70-75c

My i7 is a 4770K.

Yep, it's completely normal for a Haswell processor. It begins to throttle on 95 degrees at full load with Prime95, so you're well within the thermal limits.

One core seems to be one or two degrees higher than the others a lot of the time.

It's probably the one closest to the integrated voltage regulator module, which does get a bit hot under moderate load, but it's nothing to worry about.

If you want to see better temps in future and perhaps a small overclock, you can replace the stock fan with the Cooler Master Hyper T4 or the slightly more expensive Seidon 120M, although neither are immediately necessary if you're not going to be overclocking anytime soon.

 

[Rickster]

Hey all,

Just finished building my new PC. Got an i7 with the stock heatsink installed and was wondering if my temperatures are poor enough to warrant buying some new thermal paste and a better heatsink.

Idle (5%): 35c
Running Battlefield 4 (45-50%): 55-65c
Full load (100%): Around 70-75c

I want to make sure this lasts a decent lifetime and want to know if these sort of temps are abnormal...?
Should I change anything? One core seems to be one or two degrees higher than the others a lot of the time. Perhaps the thermal paste didn't spread nicely? If this is OK I don't mind leaving it, I don't want to spend R500 for something superfluous.

Cheers!

1. Did you use the pre applied thermal paste that can with your heatsink or your own.
2. What method did you use to spread it and how much. (if you used your own)
3. The 3rd and 4th gen processors use thermal paste under the heat spreader compared to solder in previous gens, thats why its hotter.

 

[Rickster]

Running P95 for 15 min.

Stock cooling and AM paste with 0% OC

 

[Charm]

Never had heat problems with the standard heatsinks.

make sure your case has good airflow - front fan blowing air into the case and any back fans sucking air out the case.

 

[jackshiels]

1. Did you use the pre applied thermal paste that can with your heatsink or your own.
2. What method did you use to spread it and how much. (if you used your own)
3. The 3rd and 4th gen processors use thermal paste under the heat spreader compared to solder in previous gens, thats why its hotter.

1. Used the pre applied, so I didn't spread it or anything. The manual just said push it onto the CPU... rookie error? First time building a pc...
2. Above.
3. Cool, so everything is hunky dory... aweh.

 

[cerebus]

You should really always plump out for a better heatsink, especially as you already paid top dollar for one of the most expensive overclockable CPUs on the market. Temp control is one thing but noise output is another. You need good quality 120mm fans on preferably a tower sink to get your noise levels down adequately, especially in scenarios where your CPU is being stressed like gaming or encoding.

 

[Rickster]

rookie error?

Yes, never use the stock thermal paste.

 

[jackshiels]

So could you guys advise me on a cost effective plan of action from here?

 

[HavocXphere]

So could you guys advise me on a cost effective plan of action from here?

Undervolt & see if that gets you results. Failing that accept temps or spend $$$.

 

[Rickster]

So could you guys advise me on a cost effective plan of action from here?

You have two options:

1. If the CPU isnt throttling itself or shutting down leave it. (if it does exceed 89C then there is a problem)

2. If you are worried that 70-75c is too hot (which it isnt) then get a aftermarket cooler.

 

[cerebus]

So could you guys advise me on a cost effective plan of action from here?

Just buy a half decent aftermarket cooler. As Wesley suggests a T4 will be fine. I don't know why you'd spend r3500 on a CPU then get all cheapskate on the cooling.

 

[Razor88]

I recommend the Cooler Master Hyper 212 evo, if it can fit your case.

 

[jackshiels]

You have two options:

1. If the CPU isnt throttling itself or shutting down leave it. (if it does exceed 89C then there is a problem)

2. If you are worried that 70-75c is too hot (which it isnt) then get a aftermarket cooler.

Thanks for the advice (and everyone else)... helps a lot!