FX-8350 / Corsair H110 / ASRock 970 Extreme3 - Heat Issues Before OC

[jorgy343]

With the three parts listed in the title I am having some sort of heat issue. For testing purposes I have kept the processor at the default 4GHz clock with Turbo Core and APM disabled. I am using Prime95 to push the processor to 100% utilization on all cores. I also have the Corsair R500 case. My GPU idle temp is a steady 47C so I believe my cooling in the case is sufficient. I also used ArcticClean and ArcticSilver5.

Using CPUID HWMonitor I am getting an average Package temperature of 33C with a max of 36C. However, CPUTIN is averaging 50-60C. When ever CPUTIN hits 60C the CPU is throttled down to 1400MHz until CPUTIN drops to 50C. This repeats every minute or so.

Using AMD OverDrive all of the core temps are about 32C when the processor is running at 4GHz full load. The TMPIN0 temp stays at a near constant 44-48C. I'm not sure what that is but it doesn't appear to be an issue.

Using AIDA64 it shows a CPU temp of 50-60C which seems to mirror the CPUTIN. Each core is about 32C.

I'm trying to figure out where the problem is. Is the high CPUTIN temperature even related to CPU or is it a VRM temperature? If it's a VRM temperature then is the board I selected really that bad that it can't run an FX-8350 at stock speeds?

 

[hybird9012]

I'd disable any turbo, core boost, etc.. in bios first. Once that is taken care of I'd then would disable CPU overdrive. I have the same processor and these run very hot.

Secondly, the Corsair H110, just like many other closed loop liquid coolers have thermal pads on the bottom of the heatsink. Once those are replaced by 3rd party thermal compound it will never really be the same. The reason being is that the thermal pads have a much larger thickness to them compared to 3rd party thermal compounds. There will be contact but not as much as compared to thermal pads. Unfortunately thermal pads aren't really optimal in themselves.

Third, closed liquid coolers aren't that efficient at keeping the CPU as cooler (contrary to popular belief). They are mainly used to help with open airflow in the case and to theoretically make cooling quieter. So to have them operate at viable temperatures you must crank the fans.

I had a closed loop radiator cooler and got rid of it as the temperatures were worse for me than with a high end air cooler. I recommend trying to reseat the heatsink and potentially consider getting a thermal pad of the same or similar thickness. If that doesn't work I'd recommend getting a solid high end air cooler.

I have a ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B and I love it. Large fan, quiet and cool. Maxes out at 50C on load and 30C idle.

 

[jorgy343]

I disabled turbo core, APM, cool n quiet, thermal throttling, the advanced sleep states, and visualization. The processor is running at 4GHz and I got the same exact results as described in the OP. After CPUTIN hits 60C the voltage and frequency of the processor drops until CPUTIN hits 50C. It seems to me that the VRM is overheating and dropping the voltage to the CPU in order to compensate. Assuming the majority of the entire processor's heat comes from the cores, a total processor temperature of 60C with all 8 cores at 34C doesn't make sense.

I was a bit worried when applying my own thermal compound but I have read else where that other people have done it just fine. I'm not going to remove the heat sink from the processor yet, but that should indicate whether it was done properly or not. All of the fans in the computer are running at full. Keeping in mind the board I choose has a 4+1 VRM. I wasn't aware how important the VRM was when attempting to operate a CPU at stock speeds.

 

[hybird9012]

I disabled turbo core, APM, cool n quiet, thermal throttling, the advanced sleep states, and visualization. The processor is running at 4GHz and I got the same exact results as described in the OP. After CPUTIN hits 60C the voltage and frequency of the processor drops until CPUTIN hits 50C. It seems to me that the VRM is overheating and dropping the voltage to the CPU in order to compensate. Assuming the majority of the entire processor's heat comes from the cores, a total processor temperature of 60C with all 8 cores at 34C doesn't make sense.

I was a bit worried when applying my own thermal compound but I have read else where that other people have done it just fine. I'm not going to remove the heat sink from the processor yet, but that should indicate whether it was done properly or not. All of the fans in the computer are running at full. Keeping in mind the board I choose has a 4+1 VRM. I wasn't aware how important the VRM was when attempting to operate a CPU at stock speeds.

There is a limiter on the CPU. AMD CPU's aren't great with high temperature. What your system will do when it reaches 60C is downclock the CPU to try and achieve 50C. You may want to look in your fan settings, etc.. However, 60C is pretty high, especially for a closed loop cooler (and air cooler). I suggest you try reapplying the thermal paste and reseating the heatsink. The issue isn't with the vrm temperature or the mainboard, it's the CPU.

Update:
Your bios has the best and most accurate temperature reading. If you are using more than one program, use the one that matches your bios temps.

 

[jorgy343]

There is a limiter on the CPU. AMD CPU's aren't great with high temperature. What your system will do when it reaches 60C is downclock the CPU to try and achieve 50C. You may want to look in your fan settings, etc.. However, 60C is pretty high, especially for a closed loop cooler (and air cooler). I suggest you try reapplying the thermal paste and reseating the heatsink. The issue isn't with the vrm temperature or the mainboard, it's the CPU.

Update:
Your bios has the best and most accurate temperature reading. If you are using more than one program, use the one that matches your bios temps.

Tomorrow I will install the stock heat sink that came with the FX-8350. I'll leave the pre-applied thermal pad on it after cleaning off the CPU using ArcticClean. I'll see what kind of results that gives me. If it is simply a bad application of thermal paste I will be very happy. I'll update with results afterwards.

Thanks for the advice so far!

 

[hybird9012]

There is a limiter on the CPU. AMD CPU's aren't great with high temperature. What your system will do when it reaches 60C is downclock the CPU to try and achieve 50C. You may want to look in your fan settings, etc.. However, 60C is pretty high, especially for a closed loop cooler (and air cooler). I suggest you try reapplying the thermal paste and reseating the heatsink. The issue isn't with the vrm temperature or the mainboard, it's the CPU.

Update:
Your bios has the best and most accurate temperature reading. If you are using more than one program, use the one that matches your bios temps.

Tomorrow I will install the stock heat sink that came with the FX-8350. I'll leave the pre-applied thermal pad on it after cleaning off the CPU using ArcticClean. I'll see what kind of results that gives me. If it is simply a bad application of thermal paste I will be very happy. I'll update with results afterwards.

Thanks for the advice so far!

Sounds good!

 

[jorgy343]

There is a limiter on the CPU. AMD CPU's aren't great with high temperature. What your system will do when it reaches 60C is downclock the CPU to try and achieve 50C. You may want to look in your fan settings, etc.. However, 60C is pretty high, especially for a closed loop cooler (and air cooler). I suggest you try reapplying the thermal paste and reseating the heatsink. The issue isn't with the vrm temperature or the mainboard, it's the CPU.

Update:
Your bios has the best and most accurate temperature reading. If you are using more than one program, use the one that matches your bios temps.

Tomorrow I will install the stock heat sink that came with the FX-8350. I'll leave the pre-applied thermal pad on it after cleaning off the CPU using ArcticClean. I'll see what kind of results that gives me. If it is simply a bad application of thermal paste I will be very happy. I'll update with results afterwards.

Thanks for the advice so far!

Sounds good!

So I returned the water cooler and RMA'd the motherboard after it stopped posting (hence my late response). I don't feel like dealing with a water cooler or high end air cooler so I bought a CM Hyper 212 Evo. I appear to have installed it correctly. I also went with an Asus M5A99X Evo 2.0 motherboard. Nothing fancy but it all works. No throttling issues or anything.

I'm currently sitting at a very modest 21.5 CPU multiplier with a base clock of 201MHz. I'm getting 4.333GHz with turbo boost turned off. I'm comfortable with that since my computer is working now.

Thanks for your help and support! Some day I'll try my hand at a higher end cooler and higher overclocks.

 

[hybird9012]

There is a limiter on the CPU. AMD CPU's aren't great with high temperature. What your system will do when it reaches 60C is downclock the CPU to try and achieve 50C. You may want to look in your fan settings, etc.. However, 60C is pretty high, especially for a closed loop cooler (and air cooler). I suggest you try reapplying the thermal paste and reseating the heatsink. The issue isn't with the vrm temperature or the mainboard, it's the CPU.

Update:
Your bios has the best and most accurate temperature reading. If you are using more than one program, use the one that matches your bios temps.

Tomorrow I will install the stock heat sink that came with the FX-8350. I'll leave the pre-applied thermal pad on it after cleaning off the CPU using ArcticClean. I'll see what kind of results that gives me. If it is simply a bad application of thermal paste I will be very happy. I'll update with results afterwards.

Thanks for the advice so far!

Sounds good!

So I returned the water cooler and RMA'd the motherboard after it stopped posting (hence my late response). I don't feel like dealing with a water cooler or high end air cooler so I bought a CM Hyper 212 Evo. I appear to have installed it correctly. I also went with an Asus M5A99X Evo 2.0 motherboard. Nothing fancy but it all works. No throttling issues or anything.

I'm currently sitting at a very modest 21.5 CPU multiplier with a base clock of 201MHz. I'm getting 4.333GHz with turbo boost turned off. I'm comfortable with that since my computer is working now.

Thanks for your help and support! Some day I'll try my hand at a higher end cooler and higher overclocks.

Awesome! Congrats