i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 degrees

tbessie · Post by **tbessie** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:06 pm

Hey all...

I'm building a reasonably small form-factor machine to use for software development (using a Silverstone SG04B-FH case so I can carry it around). 2 SSDs and 1 Velociraptor, 8gb, Intel i7-860, older ATI graphics card, and a Scythe Big Shuriken cooler.

I had to RMA the last motherboard I used (P55 chipset). Now I'm using the same motherboard I've got for my HTPC - Gigabyte GA-H57M-USB3. With the previous motherboard, I was seeing idle 35c, load up to around 75c.

With this motherboard, I'm seeing idle 45c, load up to 85c.

The motherboards are very similar, chipsets are similar, the setup is exactly the same, I took even greater care in seating the cooler... and I'm seeing it running 10 degrees higher even at idle. Seems altogether very weird.

I know when it comes to CPU temps, it's a free-for-all discussionwise, but I wondered if anyone here has seen this kind of thing... temps SHOULDN'T be higher, but are anyway, that kind of thing?

- Tim

tbessie · Post by **tbessie** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 9:42 pm

Well, I've solved part of the "mystery".

I had Windows 7's "Minimum CPU power" setting at 100%, so all cores were always running and using full power (not sure how that translates into what's actually happening on the chip, but I'm sure I'll investigate that). Now instead of 45c, idle is around 37c or so. More reasonable-sounding at any rate.

- Tim

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:25 am

It throttles at 100c so you are safe. By way of comparison I have the same chip with a Noctua SE14 and mine maxes out at 56C in a Sonata 2.

tbessie · Post by **tbessie** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:27 am

starsky wrote:It throttles at 100c so you are safe. By way of comparison I have the same chip with a Noctua SE14 and mine maxes out at 56C in a Sonata 2.

Only 56c? Pretty amazing! Have you run prime95 against it (with the "small FFS" test)? Doing that, last night it got up to around 82c

But also, your cooler looks a lot beefier than mine (my case positions the PSU right above the CPU, so I can't use tall coolers):

Yours:

Mine:

- Tim

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:59 pm

yeah I ran prime 95 64 bit, SFF 8k on all 8 cores and after 5 iterations I am stable between 56 and 57c. Ambient temp 20c.

tbessie · Post by **tbessie** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:25 am

starsky wrote:yeah I ran prime 95 64 bit, SFF 8k on all 8 cores and after 5 iterations I am stable between 56 and 57c. Ambient temp 20c.

Just amazing, is all I can say. I wonder if that cooler would fit in my case - I somehow doubt it.

- Tim

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 5:09 pm

yeah, the stock HSF was pathetic. It would be hitting 100c within 30 seconds, and throttling down to stay under 100.

i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 degrees

i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 degrees

Re: i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 deg

Re: i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 deg

Re: i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 deg

Re: i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 deg

Re: i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 deg

Re: i7-860 with Scythe Big Shuriken is ranging at 45->82 deg