Temp creep?

bainbridge · 11 Dec 2010 at 11:48

Is there such a thing?

I usually use Arctic Silver 5 but last time used MX-2 as it said there is no cure time so I could start pushing the system right away. After installation load temps were holding steady at 60 - 61c, but since then they've crept up. It's been a month now since installation & load temps are now about 66-67c, I've noticed a slow but steady increase.

Anyone else get this? Before anyone asks I know MX-3 & 4 is much better etc. Just wondered if anyone gets this temp creep as it seems odd, I used to get the opposite with AS5 as it would perform better as it cured.

bainbridge · 11 Dec 2010 at 11:50

I was thinking it could also be due to the new heatsink "bedding in" & therefore being slightly looser than it was when first installed (with the black 70lb screws).

Blue160 · 11 Dec 2010 at 15:57

Could it be dust build up?

DragonQ · 11 Dec 2010 at 16:01

Could well be dust. Cleaning my CPU & case fans as well as my heatsink lowered my load temps by 7 °C for all 4 cores.

bainbridge · 11 Dec 2010 at 16:37

Good Point. 2 Akasa Vipers must've shifted quite a bit of air in the past month, will have a look.

jones2636 · 12 Dec 2010 at 16:43

Yeah I was going to say about build up of dust maybe and cheak your airflow.

bainbridge · 14 Dec 2010 at 11:32

Removed cpu fans & heatsink, all clean as a whistle & nothing had moved. The MX-2 said no cure time on the packet but on inspection it appears the TIM around the centre of the mating surfaces has solidified somewhat:

So although they say MX-2 has no cure time therefore performs at its best straight from he tube, maybe when it actually does begin to cure its heat transferring performance diminishes?

Decided put some AS5 on, a BB sized ball in the centre then rotated the cooler left & right once in position before locking down.This stuff does have a 200hr cure time but performance does improve once cured, as I found with the previous cooler, a mk1 Freezer Pro.

I'm curious how the AS5 will compare to the MX2 once cured, on the MX2 packet was a direct comparison to AS5 saying its better but I suspect cure times weren't taken into account.

Once I've run for a couple on months with AS5 if I'm not back down in the low 60s under load then I'll try some MX4

bainbridge · 14 Dec 2010 at 11:35

Now at 67c under load with the AS5 which is a bit high for my liking but should begin to drop as it cures.

SouthEastBlue · 14 Dec 2010 at 14:29

Pretty sure AS5 isn't meant to be as good as MX2, but I doubt using different thermal pastes will make a huge difference to temps anyways.

I used MX2 on my Gladiator heatsink, and max temps haven't changed much at all to be honest over the last week or so.

bainbridge · 24 Dec 2010 at 18:14

10 days on with AS5 & now 62c under load. That's a 5c drop since application, only actually been running for approx 40hrs of the 200hr cure time Arctic specify so there might even be a further reduction.

The MX-2 was the reverse, 61c when fitted rising to 67c after a month. So the direct comparison to AS5 on the back of the MX-2 packaging stating it performed better must have been based on instant results rather than a long term test.

It's gonna be interesting to see how MX-4 performs...

bainbridge · 2 Jan 2011 at 11:50

18 days on & 39c idle rising to 62c under load, AS5 is fantastic I wish I never left it in the first place!

Still going to try some MX-4 when I place my next order but I reckon AS5 will come out trumps in the end.

bainbridge · 5 Feb 2011 at 10:30

52 days on, idling at 39c & maxing out at 62c. AS5 is the TIM I'm sticking with, just bought another tube for a budget overclock build.

OLDPHART · 5 Feb 2011 at 12:21

Been using the MX paste's through 2,3 now 4 have never known my temps to creep up, MX 3>4 is better than AC5 and it does not cure even after a few months. All l can think off is you didn't clean your CPU properly or your screws where not tightn'd down equally to effect your temps. After a week just tighten your locking screws up a slight touch, due to the paste settling in, MX is used on 3 PC's in my house never had any problems at all with MX, temps have always been good and stable.

bainbridge · 5 Feb 2011 at 17:53

Cpu & heatsink is always squeaky clean before applying new TIM so it can't have been old paste on there. I'm using the black 70lb pressure screws supplied with the cooler & tighten hand tight then alternate a quarter turn either side until tightened down fully to ensure even spreading. It said on the MX-2 box it lasts 8 yrs but 1 mth later when I removed the cooler after the temps crept up the centre area had solidified, so some curing had clearly taken place, maybe MX-3 & 4 are a big step up from this.

OLDPHART · 5 Feb 2011 at 18:48

Hi again, did use MX2 for a very good while before l switched to MX3, then used MX4 after members gave thier opinions about 4. In fact both my sons PC,s coolers are still using MX2 and both were built a couple of years ago, one of my sons upgarded his CPU and their was no sign of the MX2 solidifing or when l applied MX3[harder to spread] to my cooler heatsink and l have never heard of anyone in this forum have this trouble[MX2 solidifing].

bainbridge · 5 Feb 2011 at 20:31

Wingman is getting a dried crusty area in the middle too, but with MX-4 (post #18) :

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18238011