CPU heatsink for q6700

[Rob2686]

I've noticed my q6700 has been running at 55c to 60c idle (on stock heatsink), I repositioned the heatsink and replaced thermal paste... still running the same.

Does anyone have a good suggestion? My budget is $30-$100... (if I can get temps low enough I'll OC it)

Please help, and thank you for your time. :-0

[Silver Bullet]

On the low end I go with the OCZ Vendetta 2 and on the the high end I'd go with the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.

Either or should get your temps down and keep things quiet.

[mysticalinfluence]

There alot good ones for that budget. If you get the Thermalright one you need buy a fan. You also need a good thermal compound with any of them. I perfer the Thermalright one over all but there all decent coolers.

Cheapest $23.00- Scythe Katana 3: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14110AC4616&vpn=SCKTN-3000&manufacture=SCYTHE

Cheap But better $39.00-Xigmatek HDT-S1283: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=25530AC5457&vpn=HDT-S1283&manufacture=Xigmatek

Highend and best there is $57.00- Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14650AC2064&vpn=U120E-BP-775&manufacture=THERMALRIGHT

The best fan for the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme ( According to Slient PC Review ) - Scythe Slip Stream 800 RPM $7.08 : http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14110AC0561&vpn=SY1225SL12L&manufacture=SCYTHE

Thermal Compound $4.75 -Arctic Cooling MX-2: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10450AC7217&vpn=MX-2T&manufacture=ARCTIC COOLING

[terrybear]

You could even go with the Coolit Pure if you got a tower with a 120 mm exaust fan. There discontinued but therecheap & I have to say alot less noisier then a 120mm fan running at close to or over 2000 rpm.

But the other sugestions are also very good also. :)

[willy]

Something doesn't look right .... Before you spend your $$$ on a better HSF, let's check out a few things first ....

- Open up the case, use your fingers to touch the heatsink. Is it hot ? 55-60C should be very very hot to touch.

- What's the CPU utilization when it's 'idle' ?

- What is the CPU clock speed when it's idle ? It should be 1.6GHz (instead of 2.6GHz) ...

- Are EIST and C1E enabled in BIOS ?

[Amourek]

Cheapest $23.00- Scythe Katana 3: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14110AC4616&vpn=SCKTN-3000&manufacture=SCYTHE

Cheap But better $39.00-Xigmatek HDT-S1283: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=25530AC5457&vpn=HDT-S1283&manufacture=Xigmatek


I agree with these two suggestions. The TRUE120 doesn't give enough value IMO. It's a couple of degrees better than the Xigmatek, but so much more expensive.

[elton5354]

Something doesn't look right .... Before you spend your $$$ on a better HSF, let's check out a few things first ....

- Open up the case, use your fingers to touch the heatsink. Is it hot ? 55-60C should be very very hot to touch.

- What's the CPU utilization when it's 'idle' ?

- What is the CPU clock speed when it's idle ? It should be 1.6GHz (instead of 2.6GHz) ...

- Are EIST and C1E enabled in BIOS ?

Why would anyone in their right minds (overclockers) would enable C1E and EIST? :D

Is your room hot? What is your ambient temp?
Stock hsf never does a good job in cooling, so just get a aftermarket one like others have mentioned.

[flyz]

Something doesn't look right .... Before you spend your $$$ on a better HSF, let's check out a few things first ....

- Open up the case, use your fingers to touch the heatsink. Is it hot ? 55-60C should be very very hot to touch.

- What's the CPU utilization when it's 'idle' ?

- What is the CPU clock speed when it's idle ? It should be 1.6GHz (instead of 2.6GHz) ...

- Are EIST and C1E enabled in BIOS ?

Agreed on the touch test. You never know if it's a dud temp diode.

I felt my 80C 8800 and yes it felt like 80C :)

[willy]

Why would anyone in their right minds (overclockers) would enable C1E and EIST? :D
Hee hee ... me ....

My E2160 (1.8GHz) is running 3GHz (333MHz x 9) with fixed 1.325V vcore. When the CPU is idle (which is majority of the time) with the EIST enabled, at least it can drop the multiplier down to 6x (2GHz) ... It runs much cooler (With a passive TRU-120, it idles @ 30C).

[Rob2686]

Something doesn't look right .... Before you spend your $$$ on a better HSF, let's check out a few things first ....

- Open up the case, use your fingers to touch the heatsink. Is it hot ? 55-60C should be very very hot to touch.

Yea.

- What's the CPU utilization when it's 'idle' ?

2-4%

- What is the CPU clock speed when it's idle ? It should be 1.6GHz (instead of 2.6GHz) ...

Real temp toggles the CPU at 1596 on idle. CPU-Z clocks it at 2659.9 I'm not sure if it's the same thing. (it says corespeed on CPU-Z)

- Are EIST and C1E enabled in BIOS?

EIST is disabled, I didn't know how to check C1E though, I'll google it and edit once I find it. ^^


Thanks a lot for everyones suggestions and help so far!!!!!

Right now I'm leaning towards http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 .... I am not done looking, (or tinkering) though. :cheesygri

[terrybear]

is where you live hot ??? did you install the heatsink yourself ?? I ask the latter cause improperly installed or uneven heatsinks will be warmer then normal.

[elton5354]

Hee hee ... me ....

My E2160 (1.8GHz) is running 3GHz (333MHz x 9) with fixed 1.325V vcore. When the CPU is idle (which is majority of the time) with the EIST enabled, at least it can drop the multiplier down to 6x (2GHz) ... It runs much cooler (With a passive TRU-120, it idles @ 30C).

with that kind of speed..how can you live? especially with that cpu..i cannot imagine..:lol:

[Rob2686]

is where you live hot ??? did you install the heatsink yourself ?? I ask the latter cause improperly installed or uneven heatsinks will be warmer then normal.

I knew I forgot a question ^^. I do live in a warm climate but my room is very cool. 20c / 68-72f average, the case isn't enclosed in anything and has good ventilation.

I did install the heatsink myself. I'm 90% sure I did it properly, I watched videos and read tutorials on common mistakes.

[terrybear]

I knew I forgot a question ^^. I do live in a warm climate but my room is very cool. 20c / 68-72f average, the case isn't enclosed in anything and has good ventilation.

I did install the heatsink myself. I'm 90% sure I did it properly, I watched videos and read tutorials on common mistakes.

Yeah I'm in a sub ground basement so when the cooler weather hits as much as I am chattering my teeth it gets my temps nice & low.

A air cooler will do the job for shure if your looking to push it hard, but if you want to not have such a loud fan running I'd also sugest looking into self contanted water cooling units especialy if your rear case fan is of the 120 mm variety as the 2 Coolit models mount to your case's exaust. Otherwise the coolers peaple have mentioned are your choices of preference.

[Rob2686]

Just incase anyone is losing sleep over this issue...

After tinkering with this a little more I got my stock down to 45c idle.... :shrug:

[terrybear]

Just incase anyone is losing sleep over this issue...

After tinkering with this a little more I got my stock down to 45c idle.... :shrug:

What did you do to get it down lower ?? & GJ :)