i7-950 4ghz low voltages but high idle tempreatures?

Hurlbag · 30 Apr 2011 at 16:55

Hi, so i've had my i7 for a few days now and have it running stable at 4ghz with a Scythe Mugen 2 heatsink/Antec 300 case.
My problem is the idle temperatures really bother me, considering my voltages are quite low.

Idle temp 44c, 62c full load prime95 (70-74c with HT on)
Vcore (in CPU-z): 1.16v
QPI/Uncore: 1.24v
CPU PLL: 1.86v
IOH/ICH: 1.16/1.20v
DRAM: 1.65v
HT disabled, 21x 191 BCLK

To me that's kind of high for idle on those voltages, I read people getting 32-38c idle with higher voltages (from 1.25v to 1.3v) at same clock speed? :confused:

I've just reseated my Scythe heatsink for the 2nd time (pain in the ass) using Arctic Silver 5 - this time using the small center blob method, but alas no difference to when it was first seated (single line method - was a little too thick though).

It may seem like i'm a little anal about it, but I use my pc a lot and having around 10c+ extra compared to the standard of everyone else does bother me.

Any advice on how I can solve this? thanks for reading.

silversurfer · 30 Apr 2011 at 18:33

Whats your case temp, speedfan or gpuz shows it i think

Hurlbag · 30 Apr 2011 at 18:49

Case temp is 26-30c, 3 intake (2 front 1 side) and 2 exhaust (3 if you count PSU).

Graphics card idles on about 27-31c (GTX 460) so I don't think my case is that hot?

mjones1 · 30 Apr 2011 at 21:16

Do you have speed step off?

silversurfer · 30 Apr 2011 at 21:23

I have idle of about 39c on the stock cooler and vcore shows as 0.93

Idle of 55 when vcore is 1.31 and 4ghz on stock cooler. Full load for 366secs = 97c :eek:

Hurlbag · 30 Apr 2011 at 22:28

mjones1 said:
Do you have speed step off?

Aye, that and C1E + C-steps are all turned off.

Silversurfer, that's dangerously high >< sounds like your heatsink isnt on properly, unless the stock one is really that bad?

silversurfer · 30 Apr 2011 at 23:03

I think its just about still within spec and the stock hsf is really this basic. It has grand total of zero heatpipes as far as I can tell.
Basically this is the same heatsink design as I used on my old AMD Athlon except I had a zalman 100% copper

Apparently Bloomfield is certified to 100c where as Conroe was to 85c only