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high i5 temperatures at POST - cooler problem?

danbroad

danbroad

danbroad

Associate
Joined
30 Sep 2007
Posts
75
Hi folks

just finished a new build into a specialist 3 unit music case.... powers up nicely, all working. But - first thing I do with a new build is sit and watch the POST/BIOS closely to see any potentials... and my Core i5 is sitting at 53 degrees C at idle. Seems high to me, especially with a decent cooler on board.

Two things to note... firstly, the case is fairly small, but has two extra system fans to promote throughput. There's about an inch over the top of the CPU fan, but there's good airflow in there.

Secondly, the Mobo is a Gigabyte GA-P55-US3L and the cooler is an Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro. I notice that the CPU cooler mount only fits one way - otherwise, the plastic sides foul the RAM slots - and that the cooler itself is a very snug fit against the RAM and the row of capacitors alongside the chip. Now, my last build was a Core Duo, so I'm unfamiliar with socket 1156, but this seems a little unusual. Having said that, I'm sure the cooler is sitting well on top of the CPU. The Alpine Pro comes precoated with thermal paste, and it's that which I've used.

Could this be a board incompatibility with this cooler - is it supposed to be that snug, and is my i5 running too hot, considering that I haven't even got as far as loading up the OS yet?

I think the answer is yes and yes, but before I head back to OCUK and ask their advice, I wondered if any of you with i5's see something similar in your initial testing..

Thanks in advance...
 
I installed an i5 today and the temperature at first switch on was around the 21C mark using a H50 cooler (the windows were open and the room was quite cool too).

53C without the OS even loaded up is way, way off the mark. May be a problem with the cooler not sitting right on the CPU but something is definitely amiss there.

Possibly try re-seating the cooler or try the stock Intel cooler (if you have one) to see if there's any difference?
 
It's the OEM CPU, so I don't have a stock cooler to test. First thing on Monday, I'll be heading back to OCUK and picking up a stock cooler. If that's not it, then the case goes back [it's not an OCUK case, it came from a specialist supplier to the music trade] and I'll fit this in a nice spacious enclosure.

Anyway, the good news is that the BIOS shows a successful build except for this cooling issue. The computer's turned off, and will remain that way until I've replaced the cooler and/or the case.
 
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Anyway, turns out there's an incompatibility between the GA-P55-US3L mobo, and this cooler - if you have heatsink-ed RAM. The Alpine Pro is just too big, and doesn't engage the CPU properly because the cradle can't sit as it should for fouling the RAM slots.

Anyway, Corsair H50 purchased instead, and after 30 minutes my CPU is sitting at 25 degrees in a twenty degree room....
 
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