45C idle on AMD quad core??

Crucial

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May 26, 2008
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Hey all,

I'm getting about 44-45C idle temps on my new AMD Phenom II x4 940 3.0 ghz Deneb Black Edition CPU. I tried applying paste (Arctic Silver 5) several times in different amounts, to no avail, and even tried updating drivers. I'm about to update the bios.

I was running about 27-29C idle (these are core temps) on my dual core with the same airflow and heatsink/fan, and using the same type of paste.

I'm at a loss. Help would be great. I'm afraid to play games at this point, since AMD reccomends a max temp of 62C and the stupid thing heats to 50 EASILY.

Thanks.
 
is this stock setting or overclocked? If overclocked, yes your temps will rise a bit. If you believe the CPU is running really hot, get an aftermarket heatsink.
 
Doesnt Artic Silver 5 have a curing time? something like X amount of hours for it to work at its best?
 
Doesnt Artic Silver 5 have a curing time? something like X amount of hours for it to work at its best?

Yep, I think it's between 12-24 hours.

OCZ Freeze is what I use, never had a problem even with a stock cooler.
 
I am using the stock cooler. It was enough, though, with the arctic silver, to run at very cool idle temps with my dual core. I don't know what the heck is up...

Since I posted, I readjusted my case air flow. That helped by 1 deg C. How much of that crap am I supposed to use, anyways? A very minuscule amount, or a bb sized portion? I've tried both.. not much difference.

I'm at whit's end. About ready to pop in my dual core and call it a day.

My CPU's voltage range is 0.85 to 1.5v and it's running at 1.33-1.35. Not sure if this is normal or if it's high at fault of the bios.

Also, if you know your stuff and feel like helping, please PM me and I'll PM you my phone number.
 
I am using the stock cooler. It was enough, though, with the arctic silver, to run at very cool idle temps with my dual core. I don't know what the heck is up...

Since I posted, I readjusted my case air flow. That helped by 1 deg C. How much of that crap am I supposed to use, anyways? A very minuscule amount, or a bb sized portion? I've tried both.. not much difference.

I'm at whit's end. About ready to pop in my dual core and call it a day.

My CPU's voltage range is 0.85 to 1.5v and it's running at 1.33-1.35. Not sure if this is normal or if it's high at fault of the bios.

Also, if you know your stuff and feel like helping, please PM me and I'll PM you my phone number.
45c really isn't a reason to downgrade in power to a dual core, it's not like the temps are critical.

It's a completely different proccesor dual to a quad, it's not going to run as cool as the dual. You also changed from the stock dual to stock quad, which is also a change.

If your looking for better temps, buy an aftermarket cooler.
 
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Yah man, I bet you its that stock heatsink.
I'm thinking those are pretty normal temps with the stock cooler. It takes a lot less from a stock dual to cool then one for a stock quad.

You wont see sub 30c with stock, aftermarkets aren't expensive and you'll get even better temps than your stock dual.
 
Alright... thanks.. i'll try getting one later when i can afford it.. 48c right now. I'm scared to death of burning up my cpu playing games..

I wasn't throwing in the towel for good.. just until i can improve my cooling. I tried loading it and it got up to 57 or something before I got freaked out.

Thanks for the help.
 
at startup, go into BIOS, disable Smart Fan and set to manual control 100% CPU fan speed.

or DL SmartFan and control fans from it.
 
Alright... thanks.. i'll try getting one later when i can afford it.. 48c right now. I'm scared to death of burning up my cpu playing games..

I wasn't throwing in the towel for good.. just until i can improve my cooling. I tried loading it and it got up to 57 or something before I got freaked out.

Thanks for the help.
Again.. I don't know why your freaking out. Your just used to super low temps. Now that you have a very powerful processor it's going to put out some heat.

The processor won't fail until around 70c, and if it even got that hot (which is very hard to accomplish unless the heatsink was just not working at all, it usually caps out at one point because the heatsink ramps up its speed) it would just shut down with no damage.

Stop freaking, play, buy a new heatsink and have fun.
 
Wat do list:

1. Aftermarket CPU cooler.
2. Apply thermal paste (You only need enough to barely cover the CPU, in this case, less is best as too much paste would increase the temperature. Also, depending on the paste you use, give it some time to harden.)
3. ????
4. Enjoy your low temps. : )
 

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