Disappointing Corsair H50 Performance

[TheShad0W]

Hi there,
I built a new i5 rig a couple of weeks ago, decided to get a corsair H50 into it as I'd heard the cooling was pretty decent and I didn't fancy having a cooler the size of mars crammed into my case (NZXT Lexa Blackline - not that roomy inside plus I have a non-modular power supply, so space is at a premium)

Aaanyway I've been busily turning the clocks up and I'm a bit disappointed in the performance of the H50:

It's a shame, because I can take it past 4.2Ghz without going over 1.4Vcore, it just runs far too hot.

Is this par for the course or is it more likely I've done something wrong? I'm thinking from the difference in core temps across the 4 cores that it may need reseating, but it is only 4 degrees... hmmm...

Either way, my first approach will be to stick two high CFM fans on its radiator in push-pull and see what happens, just ordered two of these:
http://www.candccentral.co.uk/Scythe-Kaze-Jyuni-1900RPM-Slip-Stream-120mm-Fan.html

Any advice?

 

[Reefer86]

i have read that using better fans on a push and pull combo works best. pushing air from out side the case and pulling into the case.

 

[RejZoR]

Still, this isn't much better than my Thermalright AXP-140 running with 120mm Noiseblocker fan at low RPM in pull position. It should perform far better. But it doesn't seem to in this case. Strange.

 

[Homeless]

Turn the rad upside down and have a push / pull setup. Also having the air blow out of the case instead of into it may help also.

 

[TheShad0W]

Turn the rad upside down and have a push / pull setup. Also having the air blow out of the case instead of into it may help also.

Out of curiosity, why turn the rad upside down?

Also, Decided to give superpi a blast at 4.2Ghz (Turbo Mode on)
The weird temperatures are due to me starting IBT in single-threaded mode just a few seconds beforehand to get the multiplier back up to 21x, I don't really have a 22 degree difference in core temperatures, I just wanted a more impressive screenshot

 

[Zehnsucht]

Seriously, what did you expect? It's a single radiator setup, i.e. very similar to a standard 120mm tower cooler.
Also, you want to have coldest possible air over the radiator, use fresh air drawn from outside of your case. If you can lower the air intake temperature for the radiator with 1 degree you will lower the CPU temp with one degree. Roughly.

 

[TheShad0W]

Seriously, what did you expect? It's a single radiator setup, i.e. very similar to a standard 120mm tower cooler.

Well... for £60, I wanted it to perform better than my old scythe ninja... it's debateable whether it does or not...

Also, you want to have coldest possible air over the radiator, use fresh air drawn from outside of your case.

^Already using this setup, however neither of the fans I have on it (using push/pull) shift very much air (the one I added shifts air at 37.5CFM and the corsair one feels fairly similar), hence the move to the two 110CFM Scythe fans I've got planned...

 

[Reefer86]

the corsair h50 is only as good a a good air cooler tbh.

 

[3volvedcombat]

Somethings wrong with your H50. Right now im pushing loads of below 49-50c on a hot high vid e5200 with 1.45 volts pumping threw it. >.>

 

[Bo$$]

Somethings wrong with your H50. Right now im pushing loads of below 49-50c on a hot high vid e5200 with 1.45 volts pumping threw it. >.>

A E5200 at any insane clocks cannot even match the heat given out by any Quad core CPU especially an i5

 

[3volvedcombat]

A E5200 at any insane clocks cannot even match the heat given out by any Quad core CPU especially an i5

I know but still a 1.38 volted i5 with 45nm tech shouldnt push 80c on that cooler. Or its really bad setup or something i can probably get loads of 65c with that processor with voltage, but hopefully i get a i5 that can clock so well Also this cooler seems to withstand high voltages because i can only get loads of 60c with 1.58-1.6volts in my e5200 which i dont care what it is, a high vid e5200 at 1.6 volts IS HOT.

 

[Bo$$]

I know but still a 1.38 volted i5 with 45nm tech shouldnt push 80c on that cooler. Or its really bad setup or something i can probably get loads of 65c with that processor with voltage, but hopefully i get a i5 that can clock so well Also this cooler seems to withstand high voltages because i can only get loads of 60c with 1.58-1.6volts in my e5200 which i dont care what it is, a high vid e5200 at 1.6 volts IS HOT.

you really dont see that even though it is 45nm it's still can double the heat output of an E5200 with real ease

 

[Wile E]

Somethings wrong with your H50. Right now im pushing loads of below 49-50c on a hot high vid e5200 with 1.45 volts pumping threw it. >.>

I know but still a 1.38 volted i5 with 45nm tech shouldnt push 80c on that cooler. Or its really bad setup or something i can probably get loads of 65c with that processor with voltage, but hopefully i get a i5 that can clock so well Also this cooler seems to withstand high voltages because i can only get loads of 60c with 1.58-1.6volts in my e5200 which i dont care what it is, a high vid e5200 at 1.6 volts IS HOT.

The i5 is WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY Hotter than even pushing 1.8v thru your e5200.

The H50 is not a good water cooler. To put things into perspective, my proper loop sees a max in the mid 50s at 1.65V on my QX with silent fans. My e6750 sees around 40C at the same voltages.

The H50 isn't any better than a good tower cooler, like the Megahalems or TRUE.

 

[3volvedcombat]

The i5 is WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY Hotter than even pushing 1.8v thru your e5200.

The H50 is not a good water cooler. To put things into perspective, my proper loop sees a max in the mid 50s at 1.65V on my QX with silent fans. My e6750 sees around 40C at the same voltages.

The H50 isn't any better than a good tower cooler, like the Megahalems or TRUE.

Lets put it this way, will a megahalems or TRUE perform so badly with the i5 at 1.38 volts?

 

[dir_d]

Your doing something wrong h50 and Mega are equal heres a link to a test.
http://www.overclock.net/air-cooling/609119-updated-official-megahalem-vs-h50-battle.html

 

[Binge]

the corsair h50 is only as good a a good air cooler tbh.

By all reviews it should be better, but that's worse than any air cooler I own.

 

[Wile E]

Lets put it this way, will a megahalems or TRUE perform so badly with the i5 at 1.38 volts?

Your doing something wrong h50 and Mega are equal heres a link to a test.
http://www.overclock.net/air-cooling/609119-updated-official-megahalem-vs-h50-battle.html

Actually, his results look exactly on par with the results in the link. His cpu is exactly at the temp it should be with the H50, especially if you consider that review had 2 Ultra Kazes in push pull on the coolers.

 

[mlee49]

Time to upgrade to a custom watercooling loop. Return the H50 and get your 60 back and put in another 100 and you've got a killer watercooling system that will handle these temps.

 

[dir_d]

Actually, his results look exactly on par with the results in the link. His cpu is exactly at the temp it should be with the H50, especially if you consider that review had 2 Ultra Kazes in push pull on the coolers.

Yea you are right his temps are right inline...He needs a real H20 setup to go any further.

 

[3volvedcombat]

I got my H50 free, thanks to my dads company gift of 300 bucks on a bestbuy card for free

I was damed surprised to actually see corsair products and a H50 over at my bestbuy, they have started stocking more computer components on the online stores and stores around the U.S. now. You can actually build a computer at best buy now. Amazing.

 

[TheShad0W]

The H50 is not a good water cooler. To put things into perspective, my proper loop sees a max in the mid 50s at 1.65V on my QX with silent fans. My e6750 sees around 40C at the same voltages.

I did consider putting together some decent water cooling but was put off by the cost and the wince-inducing-ness of the potential for leaks having never done it before.

Out of curiosity how much did yours cost?

I think my next cooler/build is likely to be Custom water or some sort of water or air kit with TECs in it (coolermaster V10 or something similar...).

I may also wait a while til I have some spare cash and try to get my hands on something mad like a vapochill LS, was considering the possibility of trying out my old E6600 with one to see what I could get out of it at sub-zero temperatures

 

[Wile E]

I did consider putting together some decent water cooling but was put off by the cost and the wince-inducing-ness of the potential for leaks having never done it before.

Out of curiosity how much did yours cost?

I think my next cooler/build is likely to be Custom water or some sort of water or air kit with TECs in it (coolermaster V10 or something similar...).

I may also wait a while til I have some spare cash and try to get my hands on something mad like a vapochill LS, was considering the possibility of trying out my old E6600 with one to see what I could get out of it at sub-zero temperatures

My cpu loop was around $150, with a used rad. Add a little more for all new stuff. Great thing about it tho, is you can improve it piece by piece as better things come out, or add to it as needed.

 

[pantherx12]

Turn the fan round so it blows through the rad instead.

That will knock a big ol chunk off those temps.

Other then that have you tried cleaning up and reaplying thermal paste? using as little as possible so it just about covers the CPU.

Also, touch the main block area, is it vibrating ?

 

[Binge]

I did consider putting together some decent water cooling but was put off by the cost and the wince-inducing-ness of the potential for leaks having never done it before.

Out of curiosity how much did yours cost?

I think my next cooler/build is likely to be Custom water or some sort of water or air kit with TECs in it (coolermaster V10 or something similar...).

I may also wait a while til I have some spare cash and try to get my hands on something mad like a vapochill LS, was considering the possibility of trying out my old E6600 with one to see what I could get out of it at sub-zero temperatures

This makes my head hurt. If you didn't forsee the H50 being like this I doubt you know what's in store for you with a tec cooler or phase change.

 

[TheShad0W]

Turn the fan round so it blows through the rad instead.

That will knock a big ol chunk off those temps.

They're already both sucking air in through it from outside, should be as good as I can make it, but they're relatively low CFM, so I'm getting better ones and the adjustable thermaltake streetfighter as a new top fan (only an 80mm slot on top of my case).

Other then that have you tried cleaning up and reaplying thermal paste? using as little as possible so it just about covers the CPU.

Also, touch the main block area, is it vibrating ?

Main block is vibrating, and warm in fact, it's plugged into the CPU fan pins on the motherboard which should be okay really... Also no I haven't tried cleaning up and reapplying yet, but I'm a student with december exams Also that bracket was a bitch to get in (had to modify it very slightly to fit flat onto the back of the motherboard due to some other stuff on the back - MSI P55 GD65) and I don't want to have to take it off again

This makes my head hurt. If you didn't forsee the H50 being like this I doubt you know what's in store for you with a tec cooler or phase change.

I expected it to outperform a £25 air cooler, shoot me.
I wouldn't describe the coolermaster V10 as a serious tec cooler (in fact to be honest I doubt it'd be vastly better than the H50 so it may not even be worth trying).
And the phase-change would take some getting used to on my part, but it's just something I want to try. I said earlier I wasn't planning on using it with my main rig even if I could afford one, frankly it wouldn't be a tremendous loss to me if I messed up and blew up something dramatic on my old E6600 machine...