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Q9450 CPU heatspreader not quite right?

Soldato
Joined
6 Sep 2005
Posts
3,815
Location
Cambridge
So i see me and several other on the internet have been having problems of high idle temps of the q9450..

in more detail im getting around 50degrees on all four cores (but one which is always around 10 degrees lower) and around 70 on load. iv reapplied the grease, used diff grease, used 2 coolers ( one stock) but they still seem to be pretty useless..

one theory im up to is the heat spreader being rather bubbled.


When i take off my cooler i can see that there is quite a differnce in grease thickness foring a shape as a cross between a X and a H.

now i dont know what the thickness differnce is, and im thinking of either lapping it or returning. however i got the cpu over in japan so i dont know wether i have to take it back over ther.

photo to come up.
 
photos of the surface

n514228986_586129_5546.jpg


n514228986_586130_5856.jpg


n514228986_586132_6391.jpg


same attempt, just different lightings.

Does it seem awefully out? or is it just me
 
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I don't think reseating it will help much. I reseated mines about 4 times and theres no temp change and i used 3 different thermal compounds and my heatsink is lapped. I think the temp programs read wrong idle temps, so i wouldn't get too worried. The load temps will probably be more accurate.

Are you using core temp? That uses a Tj.max of 105 which i think is wrong. Use real temp or change core temp to use 95.
 
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I don't think reseating it will help much. I reseated mines about 4 times and theres no temp change and i used 3 different thermal compounds and my heatsink is lapped. I think the temp programs read wrong idle temps, so i wouldn't get too worried. The load temps will probably be more accurate.

Are you using core temp? That uses a Tj.max of 105 which i think is wrong. Use real temp or change core temp to use 95.

ALSO, the pc has crashing bsod problems with random error messages.

real temp says the following:
distance to TJ max
52 67 50 55
core temperature
43 28 44 39
maximum temp
46 32 46 43

the second core seems to be a lot cooler all the time, and it seems its not stuck on a certain temperature.

maybe thast where the heat spreader is in direct contact with the heat sink.
 
I have the same problem; high temps. I lapped the CPU and am still getting the same temperatures. Are we sure it isn't just the temp programs mis-reading the CPU?
 
Not to criticise and it might be me in the wrong and it looks like you need to in order to fill the crevices, but that is a hell of a lot of thermal paste you have on there!

On mine, I spread it thin enough that I can almost see through it. Am I doing it wrong?
 
Not to criticise and it might be me in the wrong and it looks like you need to in order to fill the crevices, but that is a hell of a lot of thermal paste you have on there!

On mine, I spread it thin enough that I can almost see through it. Am I doing it wrong?

I agree, looks like half a tube at least :p

+1 for the nearly see-through approach.
 
I just bung on a rice-grain sized dollop, and strap my waterblock on...as per the instructions on AS5's website. Much less faff than spreading it out.
 
I just bung on a rice-grain sized dollop, and strap my waterblock on...as per the instructions on AS5's website. Much less faff than spreading it out.

Ah but how much is a rice grain?

Pudding rice, basmati, long grain etc.

They are all different sizes. That's why I hate menufacturers saying "grain sized or pea sized".

They make the tubes and know how wide the nozzle is.

Why not say apply a 2mm length of paste (or whatever it should be).

I'd bet you, that if you compared it, 99% of users when applying a "grain sized" blob actually applies too much if you went and got a grain of rice from the kitchen. The natuaral temptation is always to apply too much rather than too little.

In the old days you used to get a thin film of plastic and a credit card spatula and you stuck the plastic on the cpu, put your paste on and then spread it over the chip with the card.

That way you got a perfect thickness paste over the whole cpu. I guess they stopped supplying them to keep costs down but it was a very, very good idea.

Don't forget, thermal compund is only meant to be there to fill the micro pores on the surface, not to have a layer between the cpu and cooler. Of course, you need flat surfaces to begin with which seem to be lacking somewhat with modern cpus and coolers. ;)

I'd rather use the clingfilm finger method and leave it slightly see through. I know what result I am getting that way.
 
its my safely method, i once put on what you guys might be calling a grain size but, when i put the HS on i put it awkwardly (and not intensionally) and the blob got spread in one direction leaving an edge naked. all excess gets pushed out anyway, and like in this case where ther's contact will be a propper thin layer compared to the rest. and plus these grease are not conductive.
 
All i did was put a line about 4mm long from my tuniq tower stock paste turned the cooler about 30 degrees either way when installing it and i have idle temps of 25-27 load 37-39 on my Q9450 wasn't any hassle at all. Those pics look like you got a plasterer to put that paste on i would defo remove it and start again.
 
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