SI-97 installation/temps/fan??

OVI · Post by **OVI** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:46 am

I tried searching but couldn't find answer for this installation question so heres another SI-97 thread.

I recently installed SI-97 on my xp3000 (@2200mhz 1.7V) with a 80mm Panaflo FBA08A12L1BX running at full speed (1900rpm). I installed the hs with the supplied shim and thermalright paste. After installing the hs I noticed that it doesent sit very tightly over the cpu, and I can wiggle it from side to side pretty easily.

My temps are now 44C idle and 59C load (cpuburn K7 20min). Does this sound normal? The reason Im asking this is that before SI-97 I had this Glacialtech Silentbreeze III http://www.glacialtech.com/pdf/SilentBr ... %20III.pdf
HSF with the same panaflo fan running at 1500rpm and my temps were 45C/61C (with less noise).

I've got a Sonata with Fanswapped stock truepower380s and one 120mm intake and one 120mm exhaust.

Should I try reinstalling the SI-97 or sell it and go back to the glacialtech?(which btw costs only half the price of the SI-97!!)

What kind of fans are you using with your SI-97s and at what speeds??

elasticdog · Post by **elasticdog** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:16 pm

My SI-97 is paired with a Nexus 92mm fan, currently running at stock speed (around 1600 I think) on top of a mobile 2500+. I used Arctic Silver 5 and found that it sits very securely on the cpu...it can only be wiggled about 1mm or less with a decent amount of force. Could it be that your mounting bracket is a little bent so it isn't providing as much downward force as it should?

Granted mine is a mobile, and a bit slower than yours, but as of right now, the highest temp I've seen under load is 34ºC. I would try taking it off, check the mounting bracket, and remount it.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:01 pm

i strapped a 120mm nexus on top of mine.. there is wiggle, perhaps 3-4 mm either direction, but no negative externalities to speak of.

frankgehry · Post by **frankgehry** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:59 pm

Are you sure that the clips locked in place. For the xp-120 you have to press down hard to make everything lock in place.

OVI · Post by **OVI** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 10:57 pm

Thanks for your replies. I'll get some AS5 and try reinstalling the HS, and double check everything you suggested.

TheWesson · Post by **TheWesson** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 11:22 pm

OVI wrote:I tried searching but couldn't find answer for this installation question so heres another SI-97 thread.

I recently installed SI-97 on my xp3000 (@2200mhz 1.7V) with a 80mm Panaflo FBA08A12L1BX running at full speed (1900rpm). I installed the hs with the supplied shim and thermalright paste. After installing the hs I noticed that it doesent sit very tightly over the cpu, and I can wiggle it from side to side pretty easily.

My temps are now 44C idle and 59C load (cpuburn K7 20min). Does this sound normal? The reason Im asking this is that before SI-97 I had this Glacialtech Silentbreeze III http://www.glacialtech.com/pdf/SilentBr ... %20III.pdf
HSF with the same panaflo fan running at 1500rpm and my temps were 45C/61C (with less noise).

I've got a Sonata with Fanswapped stock truepower380s and one 120mm intake and one 120mm exhaust.

Should I try reinstalling the SI-97 or sell it and go back to the glacialtech?(which btw costs only half the price of the SI-97!!)

What kind of fans are you using with your SI-97s and at what speeds??

that doesn't sound that great although mobo sensors can be pretty, er, divergent.

it's possible to mess up the SI97 install by having the clip "over one notch" - can you check that the clip is centered on the HS base and the base is on the CPU? It works if not centered - just not very well.

The black foam thing helped me keep the clip from slipping around during install.

Anyhow, that might explain an extra wiggly heat sink.

Some of the recent TR heat sinks have come with warped bases. As long as you have the HS off you could check for flatness and smoothness.

The shim is worthless or even dangerous in my opinion. People crack cores once in a while I guess (though I never heard of anyone losing a CPU this way) - but they also get a burned CPU from the shim not letting the HS make good contact. Twice I have heard of that happening.

For a good CPU HS install w/o shim or cracking/chipping core - FIRST put the HS flat on the CPU and keep it that way while putting the clips on the lugs. Levering the HS on with one of the clips in place, while tempting, is disapproved by A.M.D., and can lead to a damaged core (tho often enough the 'damaged' core continues to function with a chunk missing on the edge.)

---

in my system I've got an SI-97 with a 92mm fan at about 1600 RPM, and CPU temp reads about 24C above air intake temp on load (it uses room air). Athlon X P-M at 2400/1.8v.

That is, 46C load, approx.

anyhow, I would expect much better out of the SI-97 than a SilentBreeze.

OVI · Post by **OVI** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 2:15 am

I've reinstalled the HS twice, didn't have time to get AS5 so I used Arctic Cooling paste which came with my ATI silencer. I did everything TheWesson suggested, no shim, HS and clip are both correctly installed, btw using the black foamy thing really helped. The base of the heatsink was smooth and not warped in any way (checked with a steel ruler).

Now my temps are 41/57, but I'll have to check how much they rise when I lower the RPM of the HSF.

I also tested disabling my exhaust 120mm papst (right next to HS) to see if it was somehow affecting HSFs performance but didn't see any immediate change.

*edit: I lowered the RPM of the HSF to 1500 and now the temperature is exactly the same as with the silentbreeze

idle 45C

Everybody seems to be using 92mm fans with SI97 but does anyone have experiences with 80mm fans, what kind of temps do(did) you have?

c00z · Post by **c00z** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 12:38 pm

I have found this heatsink to be a disappointment also. I am running what I have in sig. However my temps are as follows

idle
mb = 32C
cpu = 48C

load
mb 35C
cpu 57C

voltage is 1.875V on the chip....fan is the silenX 120mm 58cfm with artic silver 5 on it. I also can wriggle mine a bit from side to side. I would have thought that it would have more of a forcefull clip, but then again this clip mechanism is pretty ghetto

TheWesson · Post by **TheWesson** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 4:26 pm

#$%#!! An 80mm fan ?!? Dang, I missed that.

no, you want a 92mm fan. Anecdotally, a 92mm is worth a 5C drop for similar RPM/noise levels. I went with an 80 first and it was a little disappointing tho I can't remember the exact figures.

I know TR lets you put an 80mm fan on the SI97 but multiple reports have it that a 92mm fan works a good deal better. My thinking is that the thinnish aluminum fins aren't very good heat conductors so you really want the airflow principally across the area of the fins in which the heatpipes are embedded. Which is exactly what the design does - if you use a 92mm fan.

We need an SI-97 checklist.

- Black foam thing.
- Not over by one notch.
- Check base flat and smooth.
- Forget the shim, instead place HS and then clip.
- 92mm fan (!!)

For extra goodness:
- Lap the base to remove nickle plating (1-2C drop)
- Use Arctic Silver 5 paste. (1-3C drop)

anyways my SI-97 is wiggly too. 3-4mm of twist I'd say.

TheWesson · Post by **TheWesson** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 4:37 pm

c00z wrote:I have found this heatsink to be a disappointment also. I am running what I have in sig. However my temps are as follows

idle
mb = 32C
cpu = 48C

load
mb 35C
cpu 57C

voltage is 1.875V on the chip....fan is the silenX 120mm 58cfm with artic silver 5 on it. I also can wriggle mine a bit from side to side. I would have thought that it would have more of a forcefull clip, but then again this clip mechanism is pretty ghetto

That must be about a 100W CPU @ peak load, so 22C above case temp with a reasonably quiet fan is doing OK ...

also is that 120mm fan blowing into a duct that narrows down to 92mm? I should think the only way to get full value out of a 120 on a 92 would be to use the 120 to pull air out of the HS via a widening duct (and thence out of the case perhaps.)

PS Have you considered a passive side opening to give your HS room air?

OVI · Post by **OVI** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 1:15 am

So I bought some AS5 and an 92mm Papst 3412N/2GL 35,9 CFM and am running it at 1500RPM (27 CFM?). Temps are still the same idle 45C.

Now I have the side of my case open and idle temps dropped to 39-40C, so I guess I should try to improve my case airflow.

I also tried bending the HS clip a little bit and now the HS doesent move from side to side so much.

I also have a cheap thermometer probe sitting on two of heatpipes now and its reporting 29,1C and they only feel slightly warm to my hand. Is this normal or should they fell hotter when CPU is supposed to be around 40C?

frankgehry · Post by **frankgehry** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 1:51 am

OVI,

Sounds like your making progress. I have an xp-120 and the heat pipes never seem to get that hot. Things might be different on yours but I doubt it. - FG

TheWesson · Post by **TheWesson** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 5:01 pm

OVI wrote:So I bought some AS5 and an 92mm Papst 3412N/2GL 35,9 CFM and am running it at 1500RPM (27 CFM?). Temps are still the same idle 45C.

Now I have the side of my case open and idle temps dropped to 39-40C, so I guess I should try to improve my case airflow.

I also tried bending the HS clip a little bit and now the HS doesent move from side to side so much.

I also have a cheap thermometer probe sitting on two of heatpipes now and its reporting 29,1C and they only feel slightly warm to my hand. Is this normal or should they fell hotter when CPU is supposed to be around 40C?

well I get idle/surfing temps of 40-43C, CPU breathing room air, 92mm fan at ~1500 RPM so sounds like you're about where I am.

i have an XP-M at 2.4 GHz, 1.8v, temps measured by Asus from the socket (A7V133 board.) Asus reads a bit low compared to other mobos generally.

My heatpipes are only a little warm as well.

How's the sound level vs before?

PS What about load temp, are you still getting 59C temp readings on load?

c00z · Post by **c00z** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 2:07 pm

I just downclocked mine to see what kind of temps I can get and it is quite impressive.

went from 1.9Vcore and temps were
idle
mb = 32C
cpu = 48C

load
mb 35C
cpu 57C

to new temps at 1.7Vcore and 2360
idle temp
mb = 27
cpu 38

so a nice 10C drop in idle temps and I actually slowed my 12V vantec stealths..yes yes i know...to 5V so it is amazing that the temps dropped this much and the noise is almost nill...

now all i can hear is the psu fan clicking...errr..it never ends

OVI · Post by **OVI** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 7:12 am

c00z: so now your temps with 1.7vcore are pretty close to mine (with side open)

TheWesson: 90mm Papst running at 1500rpm is a little noisier than 80mm panaflo at same speed. I also have an asus board (A7V600) so I quess our temps are comparable. Hevent yet checked the load temps with side open.

I'm trying to come up with something to improve my sonatas airflow, i've already modded the front bezel now I'm thinking of using empty 5.25" bays for intake.

c00z · Post by **c00z** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 7:41 am

two things i did that really helped the airflow is cut the back out of the 120mm exhaust which is restricting the airflow. Second is I tilted the 120mm intake fan upwards, directing it at my NB heatsink and my CPU heatsink. I dont need it blowing towards my graphics card since it is super old and dosent get hot, so i put in two long thing screws, and then put the bottom of the fan on the screws, keeping the top two parts with the sound adsorbing dampers but the bottom two on the long screws. I think my temps would be low to mid 30s if i dropped the voltage and cpu core down to near default...

The next thing I am going to try since I want 2600mhz 24/7 is to create a blowhole just above the CPU to intake fresh air which should be 8-10C colder than the case air.

c00z · Post by **c00z** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:21 am

yeah i just upped mine to 2400mhz at 1.7V and did a load via prime on it,

idle
MB 28
CPU 40

load
MB 31
CPU 47

so not too bad at all, I think feeding 1.9V to get to 2600mhz was simply producing too much heat for this thing to cope with. Will keep you posted when I put my blowhole in to see if I can drop the temps a bit more. Keep in mind I did drop the case fans 120mm to about 5-7V now so it is quiter and cooler, but alas slower for now...will get there

Seems to be actually a good cooler, just was stressing it too far I think

TheWesson · Post by **TheWesson** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:47 pm

c00z:

Seems to be actually a good cooler, just was stressing it too far I think

I wonder about that ... do heatpipes have a dropoff in efficiency if they get over a certain temp (within OC'ed CPU heat output range)?

10C drop from a 20% voltage drop seems like a big difference.

(edit: I meant a 20% power drop (due to ~10% voltage drop)).

c00z · Post by **c00z** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:49 pm

I think like any cooler that once you near the limit of its cooling ability it drops in efficiency, ie if i had a larger cooling area, more heat pipes, larger diameter heatpipes, or a greater cfm fan that I wouldnt see such a large increase in temps when i up 200mhz and from 1.7V - 1.9V. However, if you look at it the voltage increase is quite huge in itself along with the 200mhz increase in core clock.

As you can see, the case temps have dropped a few from 32idle to 28 and that in itself can explain 48-40C well, 4C of it, so in actuallity it only increases 4C while the ambient increases 4C. THus as I mentioned earlier if I can work out a better airlfow I should be able to get back up to 2600mhz with some better temps.

SI-97 installation/temps/fan??

SI-97 installation/temps/fan??

loose heatsink

Re: SI-97 installation/temps/fan??