Core i7 920 and Noctua NHU12-P SE1366 Results and Questions

[undetermined]

I put my Core i7 rig together a few weeks ago, and it doesn't seem to be as cool as I think it should. I'm running a Core i7 920 at stock everything in a Foxconn Bloodrage motherboard. The ambient temp in my room is a pretty constant 22C.

When I load Prime 95 after about an hour my temps are 62-61-58-56. I tried it for about an hour at 3.33ghz (after moving from 133 to 166) and my temps were in the low 70s (I don't remember off hand). Idle my temps are in the low to mid 30s (except one core that's almost always below 30). I took all the temps using Real Temp 3.00.

The Noctua is set up in the push-pull configuration. Are these temps good? I was expecting it to run a little cooler. I can't seem to get any sort of good baseline data on this cooler and stock Core i7 performance. Some people seem to be around where I'm at, others seem A LOT lower.

Should I consider lapping the cooler? Anyone here tried that? What were the results like?

Ideally I'd like to run at 3.33 all the time, with HT and turbo mode enabled. I have a D0, so I don't think I'll have to bump the Vcore up (and for that matter I can't seem to move it down). I was hoping to keep the temps in the mid 60s or so. I fold all the time, so I'm just trying to get a bit more performance without wearing anything out.


Thanks for any input.

 

[deathmore]

i run my DO with the same cooler with two fans at 3.25 ghz and idle i get 40 celcius in an ambient temp room of 25 and i dont know about prime 95 but with crunching i generally get mid to high 50s with 100% cpu load with my v core at .992volts

 

[undetermined]

Wow, how did you set your vcore so low? I don't have the option to go backwards on my board.

 

[deathmore]

im using i gigabyte EX58-ud5 in advanced cpu settings i can adjust the vcore to go very low

 

[deathmore]

personally i think mine needs to be lapped as the bottom of the heatsink feels like a metal file dont know if its the same for you tho.

 

[undetermined]

personally i think mine needs to be lapped as the bottom of the heatsink feels like a metal file dont know if its the same for you tho.

Honestly mine is "rough" too. I've read a lot of places that it's supposed to be that way because their thermal paste supposedly works better on that surface. I started with their included paste, then switched to Arctic Silver 5. I did not notice ANY difference whatsoever in performance. I'm testing it to see if the AS5 will even perform better after it's set in period.

Honestly, I have reservations about lapping it, but I'm really considering it. I just haven't been able to find someone who has done it, or seen what sort of results it gets on an i7. It seems to work wonders for the TRUE 120, but it's a completely different brand. If I do lap it, I don't think I'll need any sort of pressure mod though, considering the included "spring screws".

 

[deathmore]

well if you do lap it good luck and post your results so maybe ill get around to doing mine.

 

[undetermined]

Ok, I raised the clock to 166 and so far I'm running with HT on, Turbo enabled at 3.33ghz (well 3491.25 with turbo) prime95 stable for 24 hours. I did not have to raise my voltage at all. I can't lower it anyway. My max temps have been 74/73/70/69. Does this seem fairly normal? Anything I can do to improve these temps?

Also Deathmore, did you test your system for stability? Outside of BSODs your processor might not be operating properly at that voltage/clock speed. Run Prime 95 for 24 hours and if you don't get any errors you're more than likely safe.

I'm going to give it a few days then order some sandpaper and lap I think, I'll post my results if I decide to actually lap.