H60 Temperature Advice

maso2k11 · 22 Jul 2011 at 19:55

Hi

I just invested in some new kit to replace my ageing core2duo based machine.

I'm now running a i5 2500k at 4ghz with a H60 for cooling. Installation seemed to be really straightforward, and initially everything seemed to be fine.

I came back to the machine after a couple of hours, it was sat running FM2011 and a few random apps, but not really doing anything, but the CPU temperature was at 75c.

I've re-seated the H60 on the cpu, though it seemed to be sitting ok, and the cpu had some of the paste from the heatsink on it, so I assume it was making contact.

I'm sitting watching the temps at the moment, and with only chrome open it seems to be slowly climbing again, at the moment its bouncing around 37-39c.

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on if I might have done something daft in relation to fitting the fan on the radiator, I've got it so its sucking air from the outside, in?

Any other advice anyone might have would also be appreciated as to why it might be getting so hot?

BillTheButcher · 22 Jul 2011 at 21:11

Sucking air from the outside in is the right way round.

Have you checked that the pump block is firmly in place? Some people were worried by the fact that the screws from the backplate move around until the pump block screws are tightened up. Worth checking that everything's done up right.

My i7-2600k (with H60 fitted) is currently at 4GHz and it's idling at 32C. I've been playing Dragon Age II for the last 5 hours and the hottest it got was 49.

maso2k11 · 22 Jul 2011 at 21:17

It seems a bit happier since I put the pump block on again. I've had a few apps open and its not gone above 40. I'll try pushing it a bit with Prime95 and see if it goes silly again.

Thanks for the advice.

Wiry · 25 Jul 2011 at 08:40

although it isn't a H60, my custom watercooling kit runs at 22 degrees celsius, so I can't imagine it going below that Idle. Turn you computer off for a while when you go out or something. Then go back on it later, and shut down all the programs/apps if any auto-startup when you log onto windows. Wait till it has fully loaded and then run something like coretemp or realtemp. Then run prime95 and post your results here of the tests. At least that way you can post the results and I can see what averages are with other people, and if they're pretty much similar then I wouldn't fuss about it, these ALC kits are the "best of the best". For £120 , I managed to get a custom kit that cools my i5 750, idle =22, load=42

CaptainUnlikely · 25 Jul 2011 at 09:23

Make sure your H60's pump is plugged into a Molex adapter (ideally) or at least a 3 pin connector on the board. Don't make the mistake of plugging it into the CPU fan header.

Lunawolfy · 25 Jul 2011 at 10:20

CaptainUnlikely said:
Make sure your H60's pump is plugged into a Molex adapter (ideally) or at least a 3 pin connector on the board. Don't make the mistake of plugging it into the CPU fan header.

Why? The pump is a 3 Pin cable, if plugged into the CPU header then it would function as a 3 pin fan, as without the 4th pin, PWM is not an issue.

Whilst some 'smart' Mobos downvolt their headers when the system is not under stain, it's still more than enough to keep the pump at 100%

r0cky · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:26

I had an H60, but recently swapped for an H80 (H60 arrived with a faulty water pump). Both of them idle around 38C, that's because I've got it blowing air out (against the manufacturers advice). The radiator is cooled by the air inside the case. I don't want to vent all that CPU heat back inside the case.

BillTheButcher · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:41

r0cky said:
I had an H60, but recently swapped for an H80 (H60 arrived with a faulty water pump). Both of them idle around 38C, that's because I've got it blowing air out (against the manufacturers advice). The radiator is cooled by the air inside the case. I don't want to vent all that CPU heat back inside the case.

I haven't experimented with airflow since fitting the H60 (because it's faulty and it's going back) but my 590 gets much hotter than it did when the stock Intel CPU HSF was in there. I've got the 120mm radiator fan set to suck air into the case and the 590 dumps some of its heat into the case as well so I suppose that would explain the 590 temps.

I'll see what happens when the Noctua goes in.

r0cky · 25 Jul 2011 at 12:07

Yeah I've got my GTX580 in the case dumping its heat, so wanted the CPU heat blown straight out the back. That's what's great about the radiator and blowing out the back, very little heat stays inside the main case.

I've got my H80 set to the middle setting (2 out of 3 lights on), and I've just got used to the noise now!

This is inside an Antec P183 with Noctua fans fitted in the front blowing air in. The top exhaust fan of the Antec P183 is set to lowest speed. Seems OK so far!

Noctua NF-P12 in the upper part to get some decent airflow over my GTX580.
Noctua NF-S12B FLX in the lower HDD/PSU compartment, just to keep a gentle breeze over the HDDs.

For really hot days, I've got a decentish portable A/C, it works pretty well.

CaptainUnlikely · 25 Jul 2011 at 12:41

Lunawolfy said:
Why? The pump is a 3 Pin cable, if plugged into the CPU header then it would function as a 3 pin fan, as without the 4th pin, PWM is not an issue.

Whilst some 'smart' Mobos downvolt their headers when the system is not under stain, it's still more than enough to keep the pump at 100%

Partly because the CPU fan should be on the CPU fan header, so the board can regulate the speed of the fan properly. Also because the pump needs a constant voltage to work properly, almost every CPU fan header I've seen a H50/H60/H70 accidentally plugged into has been unable to provide this even with the CPU fan speed set to max, Q-Fan disabled, etc etc.
Supplying less than 12V to the pump is not good for it, not only can it actually damage it but it will not work to cool the CPU effectively.

maso2k11 · 25 Jul 2011 at 17:18

I've been running it over the weekend, using CoreTemp to monitor. Mainly just running a browser, Spotify and Football Manager 2011 (addicted again sigh).

At idle the machine the temperature sits at 34, though with it been warm over the weekend by the end of the day it was floating about 37/38. When the CPU's are under load CoreTemp shows it spikes upwards to 52-55 for a few seconds, but as soon as the load drops off, it recovers back to the 34-38 within 30seconds or so.

I'm a little confused by the posts regarding the connection of the pump and fan headers, the instructions seemed to imply the 4pin connector should go on the CPU header, and the 3pin on to a system fan header? Thats how I have mine set up, and it seems to be ok, but is this not correct? I've also got the fans set to about midway up the speed range, with a temperature alert (I forget the exact wording) so if it gets above 45 it ramps up to full. Is this a bad idea?

CaptainUnlikely · 25 Jul 2011 at 22:14

You have the pump and fan connected correctly. Your temperatures seem fine, it was when you said the temperature was 75 doing nothing much that made me think something was wrong.