Simviation Forums

CPU Heatpipes vs solid or copper core heatsinks.

I know that heatpipes are far more efficient at removing heat, but I've also heard that some may have mounting position issues as well as temp limitations, either too high or too low, that can cause a heatpipe to function incorrectly. I don't do any overclocking, but as I'm in the market for a replacement for the stock Intel solution, and was wondering which to go with.

Can I use a heatpipe rated for a P4 @ 3.4GHz, on a P4 @ 3.0GHz?

I have never heard of the idea of a heatpipe not working at certain heat levels. That is some bull crap some kid posted im sure. Heatpipes are usually a copper pipe filled with copper wire and some conductive grease so one heatpip can only transfer so much heat. Usually the more heat pipes the better to cary the heat away (Unless your like Thermaltake and add 1000 useless things) but they must attach to a good fin and fan assembly to remove the head or they become worthless.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835118019

Keeps my 3.2ghz quad core at 35C idle and 49C load.

Should have no problem keeping a P4 at nice low temps.

If you're going to use heatpipes you'll have to set them up incredibly precisely so as not to come into contact with anything else (especially the CPU). They have to be positioned within very precise tollerances. Frankly a heatsink is much easier

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

Keeps my 3.2ghz quad core at 35C idle and 49C load.

Should have no problem keeping a P4 at nice low temps.

Dang, thats hot! My 9700 keeps my Q6600 at 25*C idle, and about 45*C load, and thats clocked to 3.4Ghz. Did you use the thermalpaste that came with the sink or did you use Artic Silver 5 or cremique like you should have?

Getting proper airflow within the case helps a lot too.

Cheers
Cameron

Cool, thanks for the input fellas.

Heh, used the stuff that came with the heatsink, meant to get artic silver but wasnt gonna be bothered to wait another week when I had all the components here. Its in an Antec 900 case so airflow isn't a problem

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

Keeps my 3.2ghz quad core at 35C idle and 49C load.

Should have no problem keeping a P4 at nice low temps.

Dang, thats hot! My 9700 keeps my Q6600 at 25*C idle, and about 45*C load, and thats clocked to 3.4Ghz. Did you use the thermalpaste that came with the sink or did you use Artic Silver 5 or cremique like you should have?

Getting proper airflow within the case helps a lot too.

Cheers
Cameron

LOL!!

Just so you know Cam the Tjunction on a Q66-6700 is about 100c and I think Intel even raised that on the 2nd series Q6600 to 110c

Read it, LEARN IT http://www.overclockers.com/articles1378/index02.asp



They will run just fine up through 80c although I would not run it like that. Even if it hits 87-90c it will simply begin an internal shutdown and never be harmed.

I have no problem on my air rig cooking a full load temp of 60c (as read by speedfan.. the real temp is 10-13c higher) @ 3.6gig+ on a 1.45-1.5v+vcore

My air rig idles at 35c and loads to 60c max (by speedfan readings) but I can torture test it using Intels TAT software and have it hit 75-80c (real temp). If I am really cooking it with 4 PRIME processes I can nail 82-85c on a very high clock which I would never see under normal full load conditions.

there is absolutely nothing wrong with those temps and they are well within spec for a Q6-QX6 so dont be too concerned. I would not even begin to worry unless the temp started getting to above 75c (true temp) with normal use which mine never will.

Temp monitors do NOT read the Intel diode correctly. They are 7-13c off Cam so you are NOT running 25*C idle, and about 45*c load you are running 34c-36c Idle and 55-58c Load.. there are very few temp monitors that read the intel diode correctly and unless yout tower is a wind tunnel and sits next to an AC duct your quad overclocked is not idling at 25c

The Intel TAT tool will

CPU Heatpipes vs solid or copper core heatsinks.

I know that heatpipes are far more efficient at removing heat, but I've also heard that some may have mounting position issues as well as temp limitations, either too high or too low, that can cause a heatpipe to function incorrectly. I don't do any overclocking, but as I'm in the market for a replacement for the stock Intel solution, and was wondering which to go with.

Can I use a heatpipe rated for a P4 @ 3.4GHz, on a P4 @ 3.0GHz?

The best heatpipe HSF you can get which is easy to install is the Zalman 9700. For extreme cooling the Thermalright 120 Extreme

NONE of them get hot or melt things so the only thing you have to make sure of is you can fit them and they have airflow. The hetpipe HSF's run COOLER than the block HSF's which is why they work so well, unless its a bad designed POS. The Zalman comes in 2 flavors... 4pin (9700NT) and 3pin (9700) fan plug.. make sure you get the right one for your motherboard fan header.

I knew about TAT, I just had heard about it from a slightly unrelyable source, so I didn't know how truthful it was. Now I know, and you were right on the money with the 36~58 when I used the Intel TAT tool.

As far as the Thermalright 120 Extreme goes, they really do provide the best air cooling http://www.anandtech.com/casecoolingpsu ... spx?i=2981 Take what you will from the article, but the Zalman numbers were pretty much right on the money, so I figure they are doing something right. Just be warned that the Thermalright is much heavier than what intel suggests the max weight of a cooler be, its also huge, so when installing it be careful, it may not fit in your case.

Cheers
Cameron

I knew about TAT, I just had heard about it from a slightly unrelyable source, so I didn't know how truthful it was. Now I know, and you were right on the money with the 36~58 when I used the Intel TAT tool.

As far as the Thermalright 120 Extreme goes, they really do provide the best air cooling http://www.anandtech.com/casecoolingpsu ... spx?i=2981 Take what you will from the article, but the Zalman numbers were pretty much right on the money, so I figure they are doing something right. Just be warned that the Thermalright is much heavier than what intel suggests the max weight of a cooler be, its also huge, so when installing it be careful, it may not fit in your case.

Cheers
Cameron

The thermalright 120 extreme requires the user to also purchase a 120mm fan and you have to get the right one for your motherboard (3 or 4 pin). Its also not for the faint of heart to install because of the weight and I modified the bracket by using a center punch and whacking it in the middle a few times so it anchors tighter. The factory bracket is not tight and meeds a bit of adjustment. I also lapped the base and the CPU too which droped temps even further and allowed the higher vcore settings.

The Zalman is easier to install and comes with the fan

as for Speedfan, make sure you have the most up to date version, then, go into the CONFIGURE - ADVANCED - DROPDOWN - INTEL CORE @ $0 on ISA - set ALL core: TEMP OFFESET to 13+

Click "remember it" and OK

It will now read much closer to the correct temp but its still not perfect. It will be about 1-2c off but at least its not way off anymore

http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/ is a nice utility and puts the REAL temp of the cores on the tray which is good to use for overclock tuning, benchmarking and stress tests.



Core2's have a Tjunction of 85c which is one of the advantages of the Quad over the Core2. Too many people believe there is no advantage to a quad over a dual, which is just not true. For the typcial user that holds some truth because they dont know how to use it correctly, but, even FSX uses all cores and there is a solid advantage to a quad over a dual in FSX use regardless of what you may see posted. The days of the single core are gone, the dual cores days are numbered and by the end of next year and into 2009 the quad and dual quad will be the processor of choice, and, the dual GPU and quad GPU video card system will dominate the high end markets.

I also lapped the base and the CPU too which droped temps even further and allowed the higher vcore settings.

Ahhhhh.....I haven't lapped a CPU since I lapped a PIII 800mhz. Ever since I have worried about rouining my $300 plus hardware, though I suppose that it could have helped my Pentium D.

Cheers
Cameron

Just an FYI

Intel designed Quads with a concave heat spreader which is why the Thermalright 120 has a convex base.

Its designed to fit the concave surface of the Intel processors but the entire deal is a bad design on eveyones part.

That is why wet lapping both on a 1/4 thick flat plate of glass with 400, 600, 800-1000 grit can significanly increase the thermal conductivity

Lapping the 120 was a pain. I almost sent it to a machine shop to do. Trying to keep that monster level and strait by hand was tough. The CPU was fairly quick and easy. There are no pins on the CPU and use the plastic cover that came with the procesor in the box for the contact side. What you must watch out for is water under the heatspreader. Shake it out really good and use a hairdryer when finished. I let mine sit a few hours too before installing just to be sure.

Sounds good, I'll take a few practice swings with my dead 805 and the Core Quad stock sink just to get back into the swing of things, and then go after the Q6600 and my 9700

Cheers
Cameron

Those 9700's are pretty darn flat from Zalman. I am not sure if I would mess with that. Zalman did not incorporate the convex shape into thier product.