AMD Phenom II Overheat - Tried Everything

[lkmellone]

Hey guys, it's me again.
Well, some of you might have read my old topic (here: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2445671/thermal-compound-break.html) which I tried to change my TIM in order to lower CPU Temperatures.
Well, now I tried to buy a aftermarket cooler (the only one I can afford by this time), and some other fans to put into my case.
Anyway, the temperatures didn't drop as much as I expected.
My system is cool, everything is very cool, but the processor's still overheating (I think).

On idle, I'm getting 39~40°C on CPU's temps.
Ambient temperature is around 34°C (Brazillian Summer hehe)

My pc config is the following:
AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE 3.2GHz
16GB DDR3 1333MHz (Dual Channel)
EVGA GTX 460 1GB
Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4
SATA II Seagate 500GB 7200RPM

CPU Cooler: Xigmatek Loki II
Case Fans: Cougar Vortex
TIM: MX-4

 

[Afterdark3]

I think your idles should be fine, its your load temps count, try running a program like prime95 to stress the CPU, and if it gets above 80 then shut it down immediately (the program) and also have a fan program handy so you can speed the fans up if necessary (speed fan works well)

 

[lkmellone]

I did some quick test. My maximum temps was 64°C (which raised a bit fast) and thermal margin was 6°C...

 

[Afterdark3]

I did some quick test. My maximum temps was 64°C (which raised a bit fast) and thermal margin was 6°C...

I don't think you have any problems, if it gets over like 75 degrees then you should start worrying

 

[lkmellone]

I did some quick test. My maximum temps was 64°C (which raised a bit fast) and thermal margin was 6°C...

I don't think you have any problems, if it gets over like 75 degrees then you should start worrying

Well, the AMD charts says Phenom II has a limit temp of 62°C...
I have some stuttering in games when temperature goes up from this...

 

[Afterdark3]

I did some quick test. My maximum temps was 64°C (which raised a bit fast) and thermal margin was 6°C...

I don't think you have any problems, if it gets over like 75 degrees then you should start worrying

Well, the AMD charts says Phenom II has a limit temp of 62°C...
I have some stuttering in games when temperature goes up from this...

62 degrees?!? thats a little low, especially considering that my laptop (macbook pro) goes put to 180-90 even 200 and Degrees (Fahrenheit) it is designed to work like that. I guess it is overheating, what is your cooler that you have on it if you don't mind me asking?

 

[lkmellone]

I did some quick test. My maximum temps was 64°C (which raised a bit fast) and thermal margin was 6°C...

I don't think you have any problems, if it gets over like 75 degrees then you should start worrying

Well, the AMD charts says Phenom II has a limit temp of 62°C...
I have some stuttering in games when temperature goes up from this...

62 degrees?!? thats a little low, especially considering that my laptop (macbook pro) goes put to 180-90 even 200 and Degrees (Fahrenheit) it is designed to work like that. I guess it is overheating, what is your cooler that you have on it if you don't mind me asking?

Xigmatek Loki II, as I said.

 

[Simon Ayres]

your temps are well with in operational parameters.

 

[Afterdark3]

The TDP on the cooler is only 5 watts above the CPU's so it might be higher than usual, i would advise running the fan at higher speeds, that might run it cooler. I think the reason why it is running "hot" is because the low pre set thermal limiter. i would advise to save your pennies and buy a new cooler or even a new computer.

 

[lkmellone]

The TDP on the cooler is only 5 watts above the CPU's so it might be higher than usual, i would advise running the fan at higher speeds, that might run it cooler. I think the reason why it is running "hot" is because the low pre set thermal limiter. i would advise to save your pennies and buy a new cooler or even a new computer.

But I've just bought this cooler (
This is what I can afford for now, but anyway, thanks for the advice.

About the fan speed. The CPU Fan speed is currently ~2200 - Only Chrome open. Something I think is f**king things up is my room temperature... It's really, really hot here, and I don't have air conditioner.
As Simon Ayres said, my temps are normal, but maybe I should try to undervolt to lower the load temps, as I'm getting above 65°C in some cases...

 

[Simon Ayres]

The TDP on the cooler is only 5 watts above the CPU's so it might be higher than usual, i would advise running the fan at higher speeds, that might run it cooler. I think the reason why it is running "hot" is because the low pre set thermal limiter. i would advise to save your pennies and buy a new cooler or even a new computer.

But I've just bought this cooler (
This is what I can afford for now, but anyway, thanks for the advice.

About the fan speed. The CPU Fan speed is currently ~2200 - Only Chrome open. Something I think is f**king things up is my room temperature... It's really, really hot here, and I don't have air conditioner.
As Simon Ayres said, my temps are normal, but maybe I should try to undervolt to lower the load temps, as I'm getting above 65°C in some cases...

If you are going to undervolt make sure you test for at least 12 hours with prime 95 small fft to be sure you don't run in to isues with lack of power.

 

[Afterdark3]

you could possibly under clock instead of undervolt if you can

 

[Simon Ayres]

underclock will do little but slow his computer down.

 

[Afterdark3]

underclock will do little but slow his computer down.

And wouldn't under clocking be "safer" in theory than under volting?

 

[Simon Ayres]

nope, under volting your cpu is not likely to damage it

 

[Afterdark3]

nope, under volting your cpu is not likely to damage it

I'm not really that great with CPU voltages , and I've always had the idea that you shouldn't starve cpus of power.

 

[Simon Ayres]

It wont hurt it, unless your system hands during a write to an ssd, then it may kill your ssd
but thats why you dont use the system while its stress testing

 

[lkmellone]

It wont hurt it, unless your system hands during a write to an ssd, then it may kill your ssd
but thats why you dont use the system while its stress testing

All I know is that undervolting doesn't hurt, but can make the system unstable, that's why we need to test it after doing it.. But how could I do undervolting?
My BIOS is a little old (even updated), and it doesn't have too much options for Vcore.
Could I do that using EasyTune6 or something like it?

 

[Simon Ayres]

I don't know, i have never used it, i do all my OC through bios.

 

[slyu9213]

Underclocking wouldn't really lower the heat by itself. If VCore/Voltage is an auto it may lower somewhat by itself if downclocked but in the case that it doesn't a 2.4GHz CPU with the same voltage as a 4GHz CPU would still be receiving the same amount of voltage/creating about the same heat.

That being said undervolting can do wonders but you need to make sure the settings you use is stable. I undervolted my old Core 2 Duo laptop after 10+ years and I was amazed at how quiet the fan now runs and how less hot it is.

So if your OCing and can't get a pretty good aftermarket cooler I would go back to stock clocks/settings. From there I would try to undervolt the CPU to the lowest possible stable settings. If you don't really have any case fans I would add some to create better airflow and tidy up the inside of the case (if it's dirty/full of wires). Managing your cables well will obstruct the airflow less. If that's not enough then this is where you begin to underclock the CPU which will allow you to lower you VCore/voltages even more.

 

[TechsavvyAMD]

Apply thermal paste on your processor......it will help to cool down the temperature........................................

 

[slyu9213]

Apply thermal paste on your processor......it will help to cool down the temperature........................................

You see the part in the OPs opening post where it says TIM: MX-4? You probably just missed it. TIM (Thermal Interface Material) aka Therma Compound/Paste. MX-4 = Arctic MX4

 

[TechsavvyAMD]

Apply thermal paste on your processor......it will help to cool down the temperature........................................

You see the part in the OPs opening post where it says TIM: MX-4? You probably just missed it. TIM (Thermal Interface Material) aka Therma Compound/Paste. MX-4 = Arctic MX4

yaa....got it..buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lkmellone]

Underclocking wouldn't really lower the heat by itself. If VCore/Voltage is an auto it may lower somewhat by itself if downclocked but in the case that it doesn't a 2.4GHz CPU with the same voltage as a 4GHz CPU would still be receiving the same amount of voltage/creating about the same heat.

That being said undervolting can do wonders but you need to make sure the settings you use is stable. I undervolted my old Core 2 Duo laptop after 10+ years and I was amazed at how quiet the fan now runs and how less hot it is.

So if your OCing and can't get a pretty good aftermarket cooler I would go back to stock clocks/settings. From there I would try to undervolt the CPU to the lowest possible stable settings. If you don't really have any case fans I would add some to create better airflow and tidy up the inside of the case (if it's dirty/full of wires). Managing your cables well will obstruct the airflow less. If that's not enough then this is where you begin to underclock the CPU which will allow you to lower you VCore/voltages even more.

This is a damn good advice.
Anyway, my processor is running at stock 3.2GHz, and I've never OCd it. I know my CPU Cooler is not that good for OCing, and I should invest more, but I thought it would decrease a little more in terms of temperature.
What I think, is that my CPU is having a high output temperature, because of Vcore voltages.

But, how can I undervolt it, without a good BIOS assistance?
Also, what can I do if I undervolt and run stress tests, and the CPU temp goes too high? Lower the voltage again and try again?

 

[Afterdark3]

Underclocking wouldn't really lower the heat by itself. If VCore/Voltage is an auto it may lower somewhat by itself if downclocked but in the case that it doesn't a 2.4GHz CPU with the same voltage as a 4GHz CPU would still be receiving the same amount of voltage/creating about the same heat.

That being said undervolting can do wonders but you need to make sure the settings you use is stable. I undervolted my old Core 2 Duo laptop after 10+ years and I was amazed at how quiet the fan now runs and how less hot it is.

So if your OCing and can't get a pretty good aftermarket cooler I would go back to stock clocks/settings. From there I would try to undervolt the CPU to the lowest possible stable settings. If you don't really have any case fans I would add some to create better airflow and tidy up the inside of the case (if it's dirty/full of wires). Managing your cables well will obstruct the airflow less. If that's not enough then this is where you begin to underclock the CPU which will allow you to lower you VCore/voltages even more.

This is a damn good advice.
Anyway, my processor is running at stock 3.2GHz, and I've never OCd it. I know my CPU Cooler is not that good for OCing, and I should invest more, but I thought it would decrease a little more in terms of temperature.
What I think, is that my CPU is having a high output temperature, because of Vcore voltages.

But, how can I undervolt it, without a good BIOS assistance?
Also, what can I do if I undervolt and run stress tests, and the CPU temp goes too high? Lower the voltage again and try again?

Assuming you have a "standard" Blue bios screen un navigable by mouse, there is a chance that you actually cannot do any over/under voting or over/under clocking on your computer. But looking at Gigabyte's specifications for your motherboard, it seems as you can, I believe that your oc'ing and ob'ing (and counterparts) are usually under the CPU tab on the top. Check there and if you see things like clock multiplier and voltage, you are in the right place