QX9650 Heat/Load Issues

[Cerberus001]

A couple days ago I started having problems with my CPU overheating when I uninstalled, ran much of anything, or just adobe lightroom. The 4 core temps average around 50-53C when idle according to Core Temp and Real Temp and around 60C on SpeedFan. Also, the computer seems to be running slower in general lately. VID stays at 1.25V and runs between 2000 and 3000MHz. Any Help here would be amazing because I can't seem to figure it out.

[Fastmix]

Dust can do that, but I also want to ask..did you have speed step enabled and now is disabled maybe.

[Cerberus001]

I just reflashed the BIOS and it's running default right now. It actually helped a little. Before it was even worse, I couldn't run the internet without it "overheating" Also, I just cleaned the entire computer out again thinking that was the problem. That didn't fix it either.

[SystemViper]

what is your cooler?

[Cerberus001]

I'm just running the stock heat sink/fan. It's always kept it nice before...like I've said, it's just recently I've began having problems.

[SystemViper]

maybe one of hte push pins has poped out, i have always hated those push pin mounting,
try to move hte cooler, can you pull or twist it and feel it move signifently?

[Cerberus001]

Nah, I just pulled it off to re-apply the thermal paste yesterday and I made sure it was seated well when I re-mounted it, so that's good.

[SystemViper]

did you take the cooler off and clean the top of the cpu and clean the bottom of the cooler and re apply the thermal goop. that is a good thing to do.

[SystemViper]

lol too fast for me

[Cerberus001]

Yeah, I used a pencil eraser to get off all of the old crusty paste. Then re-applied the new stuff

[SystemViper]

bring up your task manager and look at yoru cpu usage, see if it's pegged for some reason

[Cerberus001]

Already checked that too. System Idle Process is at 98%. So I have plenty to spare. The only time that changes any is when I run Lightroom. That occasionally spikes to about 35% when I do heavy editing.

[Wile E]

Yeah, I used a pencil eraser to get off all of the old crusty paste. Then re-applied the new stuff
You need to clean it with alcohol or a similar solvent before you reapply your paste.

It sounds to me like you have a bad cooler installation/paste application.

Do it again, but this time clean both the cpu and the heatsink with alcohol, and when you apply the paste, just use a thin line stretching across the center of the cpu going from edge to edge (going the same direction as the lettering). Then take the heatsink, put it on top of the cpu, and move it around to spread the paste in a nice thin layer. Then attach the heatsink.

[SystemViper]

If your not pushing
major volts
or high cpu cycles

they either your cpu is fried or some problem with that cheap azz stock cooler.

I am amazed you have a major $$$ CPU and your running hte intel cooler,

you sould try the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 Heat-pipe Direct Touch Universal CPU Cooler and get the backplate mounting unit also, that will take any issue of cooling out of hte picture, is it is still high then your CPU is RMA material.

I have run the Q9650 at 1.56v with my Xigmatek HDT-S1283 and temps were better then your getting,.

Sorry couldn't solve it but that is wak, like you said.

[Cerberus001]

That's basically what I did to replace it. Granted I didn't have the alcohol handy but everything was definitely off. Not enough on there to cause this kind (and this many) of problems anyway.

[Cerberus001]

Yeah, I was planning on getting an aftermarket cooler but I was told that the stock cooler was a really good one by a family member who's at Intel. I'll try re-applying the paste again to see if that fixes this but I don't have the money to dump into a new cooler at this time.

[SystemViper]

yea, you coult tell by taking a look at the thermal past pattern when you take it off if you had good contact or not.

[Wile E]

The stock QX cooler is actually quite good. It even handles 1.4V relatively well. It's not nearly the same as the normal Intel coolers. Tho an aftermarket cooler would do better.

Did you do something silly like forget to plug in the cpu fan? I've done silly crap like that in the past.

[Cerberus001]

Nah, everything's working fine, I checked, double and triple checked all the connections and the retaining pins for the heat sink/fan. Besides the trouble started before I took it apart.

[hat]

I would just like to re-iterate what Wile E said before. When you clean thermal goop off you're supposed to use isopropyl rubbing alcohol. The higher the percentage, the better. Be absolutely sure that it is plain isopropyl, absolutely no wintergreen or anything else, just plain rubbing alcohol, as those extra substances like wintergreen leave a small film of residue behind which defeats the purpose of cleaning it anyway. I use 91% isopropyl for computers and 50% for everything else that's not computers.

[Cerberus001]

I know about electronics. I'm an avionics technician and have been for a few years. If there's one thing I know it's how to clean electronics. So trust me when I say that it was good after I cleaned it. It was good. There's no way that that small thing would effect the computer the way it is right now.

[hat]

alrighty then, hope it works out for you

[Wile E]

I know about electronics. I'm an avionics technician and have been for a few years. If there's one thing I know it's how to clean electronics. So trust me when I say that it was good after I cleaned it. It was good. There's no way that that small thing would effect the computer the way it is right now.

You'd be surprised how bad temps can get without proper cleaning of the heatsink. This has little to do with the fact that it's electronics, and more to do with thermodynamics.

But at any rate, the temps still do seem a little too high for the lack of cleaning the heatsink properly, and considering you had the problems before your reseat, I don't think that's the problem (at least entirely).

Tbh, I'm a bit stumped here.

[The_Real_DeaL31]

have u tried your cpu with a different motherboard, or go pickup up a aftermarket cooler, everything your saying doesn't make sense

[Cerberus001]

I agree it doesn't make sense. And I don't have the money to dump into a new/different motherboard or aftermarket cooler. I'm lost as is Intel so it would seem.

[The_Real_DeaL31]

what motherboard u using.....

[Cerberus001]

asus p5k premium

[The_Real_DeaL31]

huh good mobo, i don't know what to say, if u can afford a 9650 cpu, and a p5k mobo, iam sure u can afford a better hsf cooler

[Cerberus001]

not at the moment i can't. i got this when i got back from deployment...has a bunch of extra cash so i invested in the comp. i've been told that the 9650's stock cooler is actually really good though. for now it SHOULD hold up. but i want an aftermarket one eventually.

[The_Real_DeaL31]

arctic freezer pro are decent i have 3 of them, cheap too

[Cerberus001]

thanks, i'll look into that on payday.

[The_Real_DeaL31]

u know anyone else's system to test your cpu on

[Cerberus001]

not at the moment...most people i know with desktops run amd...they haven't been enlightened to intel yet haha.

[Wile E]

thanks, i'll look into that on payday.

Instead of the Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, look to grab a Xigmatek HDT series. Also cheap, but a newer, more efficient design. Stick with the 3 pipe models on an Intel Quad.

And, you don't happen to be in the Pittsburgh area, do you?

[Cerberus001]

no not even close to that area. thanks for the input on the heatsink as well

[Wile E]

lol. I would've offered for you to bring it over and toss it in my rig if you were close by, and compared it to the temps of my QX.

[Cerberus001]

thanks for the offer

[Hayder_Master]

You need to clean it with alcohol or a similar solvent before you reapply your paste.

It sounds to me like you have a bad cooler installation/paste application.

Do it again, but this time clean both the cpu and the heatsink with alcohol.

agree with you , you need alcohol to complete remove old one

[Cerberus001]

Hey, just cleaned and re-applied the thermal paste. I think I had too much on there the time before. It's running at idle around 35-40C now. I'm having a little trouble with the fan mount though. The clamps don't seem to want to stay tight without a lot of trouble. Got it tight after about 20 minutes of "fun" I'm still planning on a new cooler but I should be good for now. Any more advice or help would be appreciated.

[Wile E]

Hey, just cleaned and re-applied the thermal paste. I think I had too much on there the time before. It's running at idle around 35-40C now. I'm having a little trouble with the fan mount though. The clamps don't seem to want to stay tight without a lot of trouble. Got it tight after about 20 minutes of "fun" I'm still planning on a new cooler but I should be good for now. Any more advice or help would be appreciated.

You could always pop the push pins out, and go spend $2 at the hardware store and replace them with screws and wing nuts. Would likely have to remove your mobo to install it the first time tho.

[Cerberus001]

Yeah I thought about that. Just too much of a hassle to me right now. The push pins are holding fine for now. Next time I have to do work on the comp I'll probably do that. Thanks.

[The_Real_DeaL31]

hey man, good job on getting your cpu running a little better, i know its off topic but i was thinking about getting the Q9550 Q9450 Q9400, or the e8600, what do u think is better buy, and in terms of overclocking head room

[Cerberus001]

Not really sure which to go with. I don't OC. I don't run anything that would need/benefit from me doing so. You'd have to ask someone else...sorry.

[95Viper]

Depending on the eraser you used, it is possible it left a residue and that could cause a thermal barrier.

What type of thermal paste did you use?

If you don't have any alcohol available, try a little lighter fluid on a lint free cloth or try a cleaning cloth from you brass kit.

[The_Real_DeaL31]

go with ac5, i recently tried mx-2 is wasn't that much of a difference