Finally installed a Silver Arrow - kinda disappointed

Goose · 18 Nov 2011 at 18:12

Successfully installed a Silver Arrow on my 2500K chip just now and after doing a quick run of IBT after setting my motherboard to optimized OC settings for 4.6ghz i'm left pretty disappointed. I'm pretty sure Core temp's vcore reading is off as the Asrock Extreme tuning software was more in line with CPU-Z'd reading of 1.36ish.

My case cooling consists of a 120mm Apache front intake, 120mm Bitfenix Spectre side intake and the stock coolermaster fans as rear and top exhaust. I knew my temps wouldn't super awesome since my case is about a food away from my radiator but i was still expecting better

80c on the hottest core after only about 5 minutes of IBT seems kinda crappy. And presumably when i play a game things will only get worse once my 460 starts dumping warm air in the case.

Should i be concerned?

Surveyor · 18 Nov 2011 at 18:18

One thing to consider is that you may not have successfully installed a Silver Arrow on your 2500K chip.

12°C difference between cores seems a lot.

Perhaps you should consider refitting the cooler.

pgi947 · 18 Nov 2011 at 18:23

Agree with Surveyor, sounds like a bad seat. Take the cooler off and see if you have/had a good spread. As a rough guess I would say at that speed/voltage you should be expecting around 70c peak.

Edit: Have you also tried shaving that voltage down any? will help with your temps...

Davefran · 18 Nov 2011 at 18:26

First off core temp reads VID not vcore, your temps are pretty high. But so is your vcore I only need around 1.32v for 4.6GHz.
I'll run the same test to see what temps I get.

Davefran · 18 Nov 2011 at 18:40

Just ran on mine with case fans on low, couldn't be bothered to take the side off and up them to medium. But that only make a couple of C difference.

Re ran with core temp to show the VID

Goose · 18 Nov 2011 at 19:02

How do you ensure a proper seating? The SA has two screw which i tightened alternately until the stopped. I then tightened the middle bolt thingy until it too stopped. If any of the three are not fully tightened then the whole cooler could still be wiggled about pretty easily.

If i tightened them all correctly then i dont see how it could need resitting?

How much of a difference can poorly applied thermal paste make? The instructions for the SA say to spread it evenly on the chip and the base of the cooler but i only spread it on the chip using the figure in cling film method. I saw a video on youtube of a guy spreading it with a credit card but i've never had much success doing it that way.

Thanks

Davefran · 18 Nov 2011 at 21:38

I just put a pea sized blob in the centre of the cpu then press the heatsink down for 10secs, before securing it with the screws. Works well for me

Goose · 19 Nov 2011 at 00:17

I'll give it a go tomorrow. If the temps are still high then the SA will appear in the MM. I've had a bit of nightmare as far as coolers go and i'm starting to get a wee bit fed up.

Vespasian777 · 19 Nov 2011 at 00:22

Surveyor said:
One thing to consider is that you may not have successfully installed a Silver Arrow on your 2500K chip.

12°C difference between cores seems a lot.

Perhaps you should consider refitting the cooler.

+1

Purgatory · 19 Nov 2011 at 14:24

Davefran said:
I just put a pea sized blob in the centre of the cpu then press the heatsink down for 10secs, before securing it with the screws. Works well for me

+1

The spreading method is terrible and introduces air bubbles. 5.5mm sized pea amount in the centre of the cpu and lower the cooler down and do not wiggle or remove it. That will spread the paste evenly and no air bubbles. Tighten the screws all the way with a screw driver and tighten the centre screw with the tool provided with your little finger till it feels hard to move. I tighten the centre screw all way by hand and add about a whole twist of the screw with the provided tool and I use my lttle finger to judge how tight it is, till the point my little finger is starting to feel it is getting difficult to turn. Then run the machine for a few days so the heat spreads the paste and then retighten the centre screw a bit, about a quarter turn or till if feels hard again to turn with your little finger. Don't go too crazy with it, if your little finger feels the screw is getting difficult to turn then stop.

Goose · 19 Nov 2011 at 14:50

Purgatory said:
+1

The spreading method is terrible and introduces air bubbles. 5.5mm sized pea amount in the centre of the cpu and lower the cooler down and do not wiggle or remove it. That will spread the paste evenly and no air bubbles. Tighten the screws all the way with a screw driver and tighten the centre screw with the tool provided with your little finger till it feels hard to move. I tighten the centre screw all way by hand and add about a whole twist of the screw with the provided tool and I use my lttle finger to judge how tight it is, till the point my little finger is starting to feel it is getting difficult to turn. Then run the machine for a few days so the heat spreads the paste and then retighten the centre screw a bit, about a quarter turn or till if feels hard again to turn with your little finger. Don't go too crazy with it, if your little finger feels the screw is getting difficult to turn then stop.

Thanks for that. Does it not matter then that if i dont tighten the centre screw until it stops that the heatsink can still be wiggled a bit?

sunny007 · 19 Nov 2011 at 14:57

Is the thermal paste even worth it ?

Goose · 19 Nov 2011 at 15:04

sunny007 said:
Is the thermal paste even worth it ?

Do you mean the quality of the included paste or using any paste at all? I was under the impression the included paste was pretty good and that you always always always need paste, even if its crap.

Helios1234 · 19 Nov 2011 at 16:23

The bundled thermal paste is one of the best. Don't spread it yourself, just apply a blob then let the cooler do it. Also don't overtighten the centre pressure vault.

fowler002 · 19 Nov 2011 at 17:30

which is better mx-4 or the chillfactor3 that comes with the silverarrow?

Nelly · 19 Nov 2011 at 17:57

fowler002 said:
which is better mx-4 or the chillfactor3 that comes with the silverarrow?

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/arctic_mx_4_thermal_paste_review,6.html

Says Chill Factor II better than MX-4, so I guess Chill Factor III must be better still?

Helios1234 · 19 Nov 2011 at 18:10

Correct.

Nelly · 19 Nov 2011 at 18:28

Helios1234 said:
The bundled thermal paste is one of the best. Don't spread it yourself, just apply a blob then let the cooler do it. Also don't overtighten the centre pressure vault.

I read that the center bolt can give 40 to 70 Ibs of pressure thats loads. :eek:

I turn the center bolt with my fingers till it stops, then use the spanner and do one 45 degree turn, thats it all sorted.

maddness · 19 Nov 2011 at 23:07

I've used this cooler without tightening the centre, the Venomous x also has this centre pressure mechanism, with it fully tightened the cooler pivots

give it a try without tightening

Goose · 20 Nov 2011 at 12:49

I resat the cooler just now this time not applying any pressure to the centre bolt and the blob method of paste application. The result? Absolutely no difference.

When am i allowed to start thinking i have an awful 2500K chip?

The Silver Arrow will appear on the MM shortly since its been a total waste of money.