Zalman cnps 9700nt @ 50c idle?

[funnyman06]

I have a Q6600 and a 9700NT. It runs about the same temps as it did when it was on water. I am right now idleing on the hotest core around 37C, most of my cores are around 28C. So the Zalman should be more than enough.

To those that say zalman doesnt make a good product or its not worth the money. I had a 9500 on my Opty 165 when it was OCed to 3.2Ghz and it stayed with in reasonable temps. Id say thats pretty good...

 

[halcyon]

I apologize for bashing Zalman's products. My experience is just that...mine. I think its not enough performance for the dollar, though they do look nice.

 

[pinoygamer]

here's my temp @ idle
fan speed is set to performance.

here's my rig

oh I only applied a thin coat

 

[hundredislandsboy]

There are some install videos of the Zalman 9700 on Youtube. The only thing i can think of now is there's not enough pressure where the base of CPU meets. Since it's your first Zalman maybe you were light on turning, torquing down the mount screws? Also, is it possible to have gotten one of the brackets installed backwards?

 

[hundredislandsboy]

You're running the CPU on auto voltage? What's does CPU-Z say? I guess you can underclock the CPU for 30 min at a slightly lower voltage and see what it does after 30 min idle. If the temps go down, then you know the problem.

 

[pinoygamer]

You're running the CPU on auto voltage? What's does CPU-Z say? I guess you can underclock the CPU for 30 min at a slightly lower voltage and see what it does after 30 min idle. If the temps go down, then you know the problem.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Last thing to try is to disable Q Fan Control in the BIOS. Check your CPU fan speed with PC Wizard and it should be near 2600 to 2800 RPM basically at full blast. If that doesn't help, then I'd look again to make sure the heatsink and CPU are as flush as possible...

 

[tydalwave]

I have a Zalman 9700 NT (nickle plated one, with green fan). I myself have had great experiences with it, and I'm a temperature nut.

Things I've noticed about my 9700. Trying to install it without turning it is near impossible ( which I think messes with the thermal grease's ability to evenly coat the cpu, but I found this not a huge factor when it comes to the temps in Core Temp.
Also the bars that you screw down seem to lose their strength the more you take the hsf on and off. So try and bend the bars so they are tuffer to screw down so it presses on the cpu more. Due to me taking my hsf off and on so damn much I ended up losing one of the screws ( which i cant seem to find a replacement ) so i actually have one side zip tied. Odd but it works, my temps are higher now that i have it zip tied but they are still good.

Q6600 @3.61 ( temps idle are around 36-39 depending on wifes control of thermostat, load prime95 57-61) ( was about 54 without the damned zip tie but idle was the same )
FSB 400
ddr21066 2.1v @ 5-5-5-12 ( 15 is stock )

anywho try the bending of the brackets see what happens ( another thing i heard was that if the heat pipes are not facing typical ( fan blowing aft not upward ) the liquid in the heat pipes have a prob dissapating the heat.