Gelid Tranquillo - have I done something stupid?

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 18:05

Hi all,

I'm in the middle of my first build and have just realised I've made a mistake installing my CPU cooler

I'm using a Gelid Tranquillo on an Asus p8z68-v mobo with an i5 2500k. Looking at this review of the Tranquillo it seems that the fan is supposed to face the RAM. I've positioned mine facing the floor (i.e. the graphics card). How bad is this? Will I have to remove the cooler? If so, what's the procedure for removing and reapplying the gray gunk?

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Gelid-Tranquillo-CPU-Cooler-Review/940/4

Thanks in advance.

stulid · 2 Aug 2011 at 18:06

Thats ok, hot air rises.

You have only done it wrong if the fan is blowing air downwards or towards the front of the case.

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 18:17

Phew!!! Thank you!

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:20

Ok... I'm in the bios now and I'm seeing CPU temp at 51C and mobo temp at 30C. How does that sound?

stulid · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:21

To high, at idle the CPU should be high 30's

You did apply thermal paste?

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:34

Yes, a nice big grain of rice. Ah crap! What to do?!

stulid · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:36

Download Realtemp, is it reporting similar temps for the four cores?

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:39

Ah, no windows yet... Just bios. Should I get it installed?

stulid · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:42

re-fit the cooler, you must have done something wrong.

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:47

Ah crap. What should I do to remove the thermal goop?

By the way, here's what I'm reading in the bios:

CPU temp 52C
Mobo temp 31C

Voltage:
CPU 1.184v
3.3v = 3.408v
5v = 5.12v
12v = 12.096v

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 21:58

This 52 degree temp seems constant while I'm just sat in the bios. I've been googling and it looks like I need isopropyl alcohol from a pharmacy. Have to wait til morning unless tesco do it. Wonder if I should leave the cooler on overnight or take it off now.

stulid · 2 Aug 2011 at 22:04

Just take the cooler off and wipe the two surfaces with some bog roll, till they are clean, then just blow the remaining lint of them.

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 22:06

Seriously?!

stulid · 2 Aug 2011 at 22:10

Thats all I do.

Obviously not used bog roll.

Surveyor · 2 Aug 2011 at 22:14

Wait until you've installed Windows.

None of the power saving features are enabled in the BIOS so you may well find the idle temperature is lower once you're up and running.

stulid · 2 Aug 2011 at 22:15

The CPU is way to high, even for the BIOS.

I suspect from this thread hes mounted it wrong - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18302313

Or if it uses nuts to bolt to the back plate then he has tightened it down enough.

potato58 · 2 Aug 2011 at 23:38

Ok.... Reinstalled cooler.

The thermal paste hadn't spread well at all. It was only covering about two thirds of the copper surface. I've now cleaned it up and applied a more generous coating. I'm now seeing 45C temp in bios. Still high but I'm going to install windows and tomorrow I'll re-do the cooler again after buying some better thermal paste. The stuff that came with the Tranquillo if very clumpy.

Thanks guys.

Justintime · 3 Aug 2011 at 00:44

Bios temps are not 'idle' there is a load on the cpu + power saving, wait states etc.. are not enabled as it would when an OS is controlling it.

Rroff · 3 Aug 2011 at 00:56

Yeah as above when in the BIOS the CPU is far from idle and only using basic power management - its not unusual to see temps somewhat equivalent to 60% load on one core in Windows.

stulid · 3 Aug 2011 at 01:01

potato58 said:
Ok.... Reinstalled cooler.

The thermal paste hadn't spread well at all. It was only covering about two thirds of the copper surface. I've now cleaned it up and applied a more generous coating. I'm now seeing 45C temp in bios. Still high but I'm going to install windows and tomorrow I'll re-do the cooler again after buying some better thermal paste. The stuff that came with the Tranquillo if very clumpy.

Thanks guys.

Thats better and there will be a further drop in temps as the thermal paste cures, so expect another 3-4C off the figure.

Told you it wasnt mounted correctly, if the cooler is attached with thumb nuts? then turn them a tiny bit more, you should be able to just about turn the cooler a little bit left to right rotation on the CPU surface.