CPU 2 double the temperature of CPU 1?

[zenonithus]

Hello all,

I got a Dell T7600. I installed a second CPU in the mobo (so running 2 x Xeon 2687W @ 3.10ghz)

I noticed there is much warm air coming out the back, so checked temps on Speccy and it says Average temp on CPU 1 (assuming the top of the list is the default CPU) is 36 degrees.

Though on the CPU 2 below it says average temp is 63 degrees??

Is there a way I can disable CPU 2 until I fix it as I don't want it to overheat and get damaged.

I installed it using the pea blob thermal paste method. Could it be down to cheap paste? I really cleaned the old stuff off good with IPA so didn't do a bad job of it? Any help would be great, cheers.

 

[Rhinofart]

There was no protective film on the Heatsink bottom was there? I know they sometimes come with a thin piece of clear plastic to protect the heatsink from scratches and such. Since, it's the tower model, is there a proper amount of airflow going over the 2nd heatsink? I'm not sure if the Dells have the PWM modules that you have to install along with processor upgrades anymore. Voltages and such are set the same for Proc 1 as they are for Proc 0?

 

[DigitalHamster]

Hello!
Another few ideas that are different from what Rhinofart suggested could be:
Maybe the OS is loading CPU 2 far more heavily than the other?
If the second processor heatsink takes in exhaust from the first processor, that might explain the higher temps (I find this unlikely). Perhaps a fan is not working?

Anyway, a processor running at 63c is not that hot. Modern CPUs have a max operating temperature of around 100c, and you would want to run them below 80c when on full load.

 

[elbert]

You can in windows by using start > Run > msconfig > Boot tab > Advanced options > Number of Processors 1. This or press Ctrl+Alt+Del > Start Task Manager > Processes Tab > right click desired program > Set Affinity.

To fix you may need an aftermarket heatsink. Check if your case has enough room for this heatsink as it large.

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[zenonithus]

Thanks for the replys all. Definitly no plastic on heatsink as I took it from another pc. So strange thing is I had more ram on primary cpu, so took that away to balance them out (both now have 30gb total 64gb) now temp seems better on CPU2 at around 50 degrees (from 64), though temp has gone up on CPU 1 from 36 to 43 degrees :-\ actually as I type this they are both now down to 40 and 45 degrees.

I also have an identical system setup for my brother (with 64gb ram) and that is running both CPUs at around 36 degrees. Do you think I should redo the thermal paste in my one? I reset the BIOS to default. Also my brothers system is running an older BIOS version.

 

[DigitalHamster]

It seems as though you have already solved your problem!
I would not think reapplying thermal paste is worth it as both CPUs are at a low temperature and working properly, and it appears that all is working as it should now. I also do not think it is worth flashing the BIOS - there are no features or capabilities that will be added.

 

[zenonithus]

arrrrgh! now CPU2 back at 60 degrees 🙁 seems to be up and down. Not really doing anything that would heat the CPU, just internet browser

 

[DigitalHamster]

Dont worry!
This temperature issue is slightly weird, but nothing seems dangerous here.
Perhaps you can have a look at the task manager to see how the processors are loaded up, and this might explain it. The browser could be using one CPU, causing it to increase speed and get hotter.
I don't think it is really worth getting anxious about - everything is safe and working fine, isn't it?

 

[zenonithus]

Hey digital hamster. Cheers for the replies. I took out the second cpu and accompanying ram so now just the primary CPU with 30gb. I started running a simple data recovery program on one of my drives. Temp seemed fine to start (35 degrees) now a few hours later it has jumped to 60 :-O not sure what is going on here, though it feels like the longer I leave the system on the temps get higher. Its not a huge issue but I do worry it is depleting the life of what is a very expensive processor. Not sure what is up or if the cooling in these dells are just a bit shite :-\

 

[DigitalHamster]

Hello again! It sounds like your case does not have enough ventilation - perhaps Dell cooling 😛
Considering all else, you do not need to worry as the temperatures are good.
I consider temperatures around 60c as good. The life of the CPU will not really go down much at all, they should last for nearly a decade at least.
I wish you luck, as there is not much else I can say on the matter!

 

[zenonithus]

ok cheers DH, makes me feel a bit better about it yeah the cooling looks pretty bad. I wonder if I can use a different cooler than the one supplied as these Dells don't seem the most customization machines.

 

[elbert]

It a 2011v3 motherboard and the H5 I suggested up top works with those. The only issue is can your case handle that big a heatsink. The H5 is 6.3 inches tall.

 

[zenonithus]

hey elbert, Cheers. I'm not sure though it's a pretty big case. Though I would imagine Dells heatsinks are built to handle it? Also they are pretty pricy online: http://www.terapeak.com/worth/del-fan-for-dell-precision-t7600-aaa-qfr0812uh-t7600-heat-sink/231894154814/

Will have a look into the H5 though if it offers better cooling. Also I think I need to give the machine a proper dusting.

Something else I discovered. The temperature rise on CPU 2 mainly happened when I ran a simple data recovery tool on one of my drives. Though why this would push cpu 2 to much higher temps I have no idea as in task manager it hardley uses cpu. I also bought some arctic compound to see if that makes any difference.