[Question about Zalman heatsink/fan] -
Question about Zalman heatsink/fan
Discuss Question about Zalman heatsink/fan
Posted by: KingAustin
I just bought this cooling fan, [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118119[/url]
and I applied the thermal grease in a thin layer across it and followed the instructions on the paper, but my temp. is around the same if not a little higher than my stock heatsink/fan was.
Possible thing I did wrong but not sure, I didnt remove the old thermal grease (my old cooling fan had thermal grease in a square already packaged on it).
I'm just new to all of this and want my computer running as smoothly as possible.
Posted by: CJJohnson
If there was old thermal paste on your processor then you should remove it as it may have gone hard. The Zalman may not make a dramatic change in the cpu temp but it should be a lot quieter. Has it got a speed controller?
Posted by: timmer
yea they have a program u can change the speed. but yea i would say u gotta remove the old stuf with a credit card and alcohol and a lint free rag
Posted by: KingAustin
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by CJJohnson [/i]
[B]If there was old thermal paste on your processor then you should remove it as it may have gone hard. The Zalman may not make a dramatic change in the cpu temp but it should be a lot quieter. Has it got a speed controller? [/B][/QUOTE]
It is pretty quiet, and I have the speed controller turned all the way up
Posted by: KingAustin
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by timmer [/i]
[B]yea they have a program u can change the speed. but yea i would say u gotta remove the old stuf with a credit card and alcohol and a lint free rag [/B][/QUOTE]
If I do this and remove all of the old stuff and recently applied stuff, and then reapply as a thin layer, it will make a noticeable difference? I just want to know that I didnt drop $40 on something that works equally or possibly worse than the stock part.
Also, I just checked Easytune and it says my CPU is running at 60ºC, while with the stock it was at 53-54ºC. I have a few minor programs running.
Posted by: KingAustin
Ok, I just had my mobo monitoring program on and ran half life 2, then did a quick alt tab, and saw it was at 76ºC!!! Now I may not know much, but I know this is not good if I want to keep things working.
Posted by: CJJohnson
How is the airflow in the rest of your case? Clean all of the old paste off, it should make a difference.
I had a processor running hot once, I bought it from a company who assembled the motherboard, CPU and heatsink for me. When I took them apart, the processor had a price tag stuck on the top of it with the speed of the processor written on it. Nice thermal price tag - not.
You want to achieve the best contact you can. is the base of the processor totally smooth?
Posted by: grego
You should DEFINITELY remove all of the original thermal padding. That is definitely a must-do. The concept is to have the closest contact, metal to metal, between the processor and the heat sink. There is usually a very small gap between these two parts. Thus it needs to be filled, or heat will be forced to transfer through only the parts that are touching. That is where artic silver 5 comes in. It levels out these small descrepencies and attempts to provide the best thermal transfer.
It is really very simple. Just try to figure out the quickest way to get heat off something in your head and it should all make sense. You surely don't want to insulate the source of the heat, eh?
I'm very tired... Bottom line... clean the HSF and CPU completely. Then apply a rice sized blob (somewhat small indeed) of arctic silver 5 to the cpu right in the middle. Then install the zalman right on top. You should notice quite a drop in temps.
EDIT: Yes I said RICE not NICE lol... in my current state I could see how someone might confuse that for a typo lol.
Posted by: KingAustin
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by CJJohnson [/i]
[B]How is the airflow in the rest of your case? [/B][/QUOTE]
The airflow is great. 2 80mm fans in the front, one side 80mm fan going in, one top 80mm fan going out, and a 120mm back fan going out.
I'm going to clean it all off now, so let me write down a few temp's. Case temp-32º, CPU temp 55º.
Btw, I dont have any arctic silver, so I'll be using the paste that came with it. I might change it out later if it really does make that much of a difference.
I'll be back in a few with the results hopefully!
Posted by: KingAustin
Ok, wow, my case temp is still 32º, and my chip is at 53º. I applied a very small amount. I took pictures, so I'll post them up soon.
Posted by: KingAustin
A friend suggested that I take off the speed controller, so I did, which just made the cpu temp rise 3º and my CPU speed is now at 3174, while it was at 3214 before.
Posted by: KingAustin
Here are some pictures I took. I'm not sure what to apply the paste with, so I used something that came with the HSF that looked like that might be its purpose.
[IMG]http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/woe/CPUpaste.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/woe/cpuHSF.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/woe/cpuHSF2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/woe/CPUtemp.jpg[/IMG]
Posted by: Shumway
If your cpu is a prescott don't expect it to be running ultra cool,The best thing to do is get some Artic silver 5 insted of using the crap that came with the heatsink,You might not notice a big drop in temp's while idle but you should notice a difference while under load.
[B]*EDIT*[/B]
That cpu shot look's like ****,When applying the paste you will want to get a nice [B]smooth[/B] paper thin layer.
Posted by: KingAustin
What would be the best way to go about applying it?
I'm aware I'm a complete idiot since I'm new to this, sorry.
Posted by: Shumway
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by KingAustin [/i]
[B]What would be the best way to go about applying it?
I'm aware I'm a complete idiot since I'm new to this, sorry. [/B][/QUOTE]
Try and use a credit card or similar and try to get it spread as evenly as possible,And don't be sorry for being a newbie cause we all started the same way ;)
Posted by: grego
Heh, lol. The best way to apply it is exactly like I said. Well, it is a [I]very good[/I] and widely used way anyway. Everyone has their own method of choice. All you have to do is put that rice sized blob in the middle of the cpu and then install the heatsink right on top of the blob. Physics will take over and the goo will be pushed into the spaces it is meant to fill.
Posted by: KingAustin
Should I remove the paste that I have on there already, or just go ahead and try to smooth it out?
Posted by: Shumway
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by KingAustin [/i]
[B]Should I remove the paste that I have on there already, or just go ahead and try to smooth it out? [/B][/QUOTE]
It would be best to revove it and start all over again :)
Posted by: KingAustin
Ok, I removed it all and put a "rice sized" piece. Sorry about the blurry pics, but you can still see how big it is.
[IMG]http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/woe/CPUthermal.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/woe/cputhermal2.jpg[/IMG]
Right now it's at 52º, so I'll let it set for a bit. I really hope I did it correctly this time as I'm getting tired of unplugging and replugging in everything :)