Cooling for VRM/Socket

[Mrblack761]

Im trying to push my fx 8320 (currently at 4.4ghz) even further but Im experiencing throttling down to 1.3ghz~ when stress testing because of the socket getting up to 70c~. I've searched online and it seems to be a possible solution is to point a fan at the VRM and or Socket, my only issue with that is mounting and clearance. Any solutions?

Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (No window)
CPU: AMD FX 8320 @ 4.4ghz
CPU cooler: Corsair H100i
Mobo: Asus M5A99FX Pro R2.0
GPU: R9 390X
PSU: Corsair CX750M

attached pictures for reference:

 

[Caring1]

Dump the AIO cooling and get a decent downward facing air cooler, or, move the rear fan down towards the slots and turn it around so it blows in.

 

[Mrblack761]

Dump the AIO cooling and get a decent downward facing air cooler, or, move the rear fan down towards the slots and turn it around so it blows in.

Youre saying that something like this will work? (for the second option)

 

[micropage7]

Youre saying that something like this will work? (for the second option)

View attachment 73034

could be or you may consider full water block on vrm

but before that please check the thermal pads, you may replace them with the better pad and test it again

 

[vega22]

better contact and mount can help lots, but just a fan would help too.

 

[redundantslurs]

Since your case have no windows, I assume you don't really care for aesthetics. Why not just attach a fan right next to them with zip ties?

 

[Mrblack761]

Since your case have no windows, I assume you don't really care for aesthetics. Why not just attach a fan right next to them with zip ties?

I just don't know what to attach the zip ties to?

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Use a screw with a point on it, you may only need one.

You only need a tiny "bite" with the screw, this h/s is aluminium and it hasnt moved at all.

Here you can see it "in action"

 

[Mrblack761]

Use a screw with a point on it, you may only need one.

View attachment 73038

You only need a tiny "bite" with the screw, this h/s is aluminium and it hasnt moved at all.

View attachment 73039

Here you can see it "in action"

View attachment 73040

I mean as long as it doesn't short my board I guess I'll try it. Might be kinda difficult seeing how my h/s is at an angle. Will report back as soon as I can.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

You wont short your board, the h/s merely a piece of metal, no current passes through it. I have also used matchsticks to solve the same problem. Just jam them in, you wont break anything.

 

[newtekie1]

Well, I'd flip the back fan around so that it is blowing cool air into the case. I'd also move it down a little on the mounting rails so it lines up better with the VRM area. Then it might be as simple as constructing a duct to divert a portion of the air from the back 120mm down onto the motherboard. You can make the duct out of cardboard and duct tape.

 

[eidairaman1]

Im Air Cooled on a Scythe Ashura at 5.1GHz. At 5.2GHz i hit the thermal barrier

 

[overclocking101]

yeah some of theese boards that have insufficient heatsinks for the amount of heat the vrms throw need a fans its just that simple. but with the pics you posted you could easily attach a ziptie to the cooling pipe or the screw idea would work

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

If they are hot, improving airflow in the case will do very little, you need a fan. Attaching a fan to either of the heatsinks will cool the other as they are both connected via the pipe.

 

[Mrblack761]

It took a few days but I managed to aquire a small fan from my IT professor. I tried mounting the fan on the rear of the motherboard pointing at the back of the socket, and on the vrm's on the front side of the motherboard. The results were very odd.

For the rear mounting temperatures rose slower, but my cpu socket began to throttle at 68c. This is strange for me cause it would usually throttle at 70c.



[I forgot to save a picture of the results of the temps for the rear mounting]

The vrm mounting on the front side gave the oddest results. Temperatures rose quickly on the socket to a maximum of 74c, but there was little to no throttling? I have no idea what to say, I could be reading the temps wrong?

 

[Caring1]

Your Motherboard temp is fine, it's the CPU that is hot, is the AIO mounted correctly and is the paste applied properly too?
Are fans PWM or have you set the speed yourself?

 

[little cat]

I would add one extra front fan and one extra top fan . There must be 3 top fans 120/140mm Another option is to put the radiators in front and two fans on top .

http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-r5-black

Both the motherboard and the case are very good

 

[Mrblack761]

Your Motherboard temp is fine, it's the CPU that is hot, is the AIO mounted correctly and is the paste applied properly too?
Are fans PWM or have you set the speed yourself?

Yes the I've mounted it correctly and the amount of paste I used is correct too. For the fans I replaced the stock fans with these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corsair-Air...ressure-Twi-/301380789772?hash=item462bb1e60c

I have to set the speed myself with Fan Xpert in AI suite II



Funny enough the "chassis fan" control the fans on the radiator and the "CPU fan" controls the pump in the cpu block itself.

I would add one extra front fan and one extra top fan . There must be 3 top fans 120/140mm Another option is to put the radiators in front and two fans on top .

http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-r5-black

Both the motherboard and the case are very good

Currently I put both of the fans that came with the case in the front for dual intake, I have a one fan in the back and the radiator fans on top for exhaust.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Is the pump actually pumping?

Put a finger on it when you start your PC, there is a chance that you will feel and hear a faint knock when it starts to pump.

 

[Caring1]

I'd have the radiator fans connected to the CPU header so they push more air out earlier, leave the chassis fans as they are.

 

[RejZoR]

These heatsinks are cool to screw in any tiny fan through those heatsink gaps.

 

[Schmuckley]

http://www.overclock.net/t/1503843/my-bong-cooler-build-log-evaporative-cooling/0_100

 

[Mrblack761]

Is the pump actually pumping?

Put a finger on it when you start your PC, there is a chance that you will feel and hear a faint knock when it starts to pump.

yes the pump is functioning correctly

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Have a look to see what Realtemp says.
https://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/Real_Temp/

turn off HWMonitor and any other monitoring s/w.

 

[newtekie1]

The vrm mounting on the front side gave the oddest results. Temperatures rose quickly on the socket to a maximum of 74c, but there was little to no throttling? I have no idea what to say, I could be reading the temps wrong?

The CPU temperatures is coming from a sensor in the socket, or somewhere around the socket, not the actual CPU. The Package sensor is the actual CPU temperature. I had that motherboard before I replaced with with my 990FX Extreme9, and I can tell you that CPU sensor is garbage.

Also, the reason the CPU temperature is getting hotter is because the VRMs are no longer throttling due to heat. When the VRMs were throttling they weren't letting the CPU work as hard, and the CPUs temperature didn't get as high. Putting the fan on the VRM heatsink keeps them cooler, and stops the throttling. You aren't throttling because of the CPU temperate, you are throttling because of VRM temperature, and there isn't a sensor reporting that.

Have a look to see what Realtemp says.
https://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/Real_Temp/

turn off HWMonitor and any other monitoring s/w.

Realtemp doesn't support AMD processors.

Coretemp would work though. However, we are all looking at the wrong temp reading in HWMonitor. We need to be concerned with the Package temp reading, that is the sensor on the actual processor. The "CPU" sensor is somewhere on the motherboard, who knows where and who knows how accurate is actually is. Coretemp will give the same reading as the Package sensor in HWMonitor, because they are reading the same sensor from the CPU.