i7 3970x running too hot. please help

[idata]

Hey guys,

Just put together my new 3970x system. Noticed that the CPU is running quite hot so I decided to do a few tests.Everything at default settings (no overclock, ram running at slower speed and timings than the manufactured specified setting)

Played Assassin's creed revelations for about an hour - Core temps at load maxed out between 71-76*C using latest versions of Coretemp and Realtemp gt.

Ran Prime95 small ffts for about 15 mins and core temp hit 80*C, and it's not even running at the stated turbo boost speed of 4ghz (running at 3.7ghz).

Ran Memtest 86+ for 7 hours and 17 mins - 2 passes no errors.

When running ram at its native speed of 1866mhz - Prime95 small ffts - core temps soar to above 76-84*C within 10-20 seconds and system shuts down and restarts.

I've tried reseating the heatsink, reapplying thermal paste 2 different methods:

1. little bit smaller than pea sized dot at middle of CPU

2. BB sized dot at middle of CPU + 4 much smaller dots near the corners of CPU (like the 5 dots on a dice). gives much better paste coverage but no real difference in temperature readings.

I don't think these are normal temperatures the CPU should be operating at specially since I haven't overclocked the CPU. What do you think?

System:

i7 3970x 3.5ghz (stock everything)

Havik 140 CPU heatsink

Asus Rampage IV Extreme motherboard

Corsair dominator platinum ddr3 1866 (running at 1333mhz) 8gb x 4 (32gb Quad channel)

Asus Nvidia GTX 590

Intel 520 series SSD 480gb

Western Digital caviar black 2 TB HDD

Asus 24x DVDRW

Asus Xonar D2X sound card

[idata · Accepted solution]

Hello Saadi,

We recommend you making sure the latest BIOS version of the motherboard is loaded for a proper processor recognition. Feel free running the Intel® Processor Identification Utility to check how it is being recognized: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=7838 http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=7838

If it is being properly recognized, please verify its functionality by running the Intel® Processor Diagnostic Tool: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-031726.htm http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-031726.htm

You can also run the Intel® Processor Diagnostic Tool and use the Intel(R) Turbo Boost Technology Monitor to see how the speed fluctuates: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-031038.htm http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-031038.htm

In regards to the processor temperature, the TCase is a number established by Intel® as a point of reference in order to understand what could be expected as per normal processor temperature. This value, for the Intel® Core™ i7 Extreme Edition processor I7- 3970X is 66.8°C.

Anything from the Tcase and below will be the expected temperature of the processor in normal use, anything that doesn't stress out the processor (watching movies, burning CDs, browsing the internet, creating documents, etc.) When the processor is stressed out meaning that you are running heavy processor applications that take control of the CPU or uses it at 100% the temperature will go beyond the Tcase. It can perfectly reach 80 to 85 degrees and the processor will still be OK. The cooling fan is in charge to keep that temperature there.

If the processor temperature reaches 100 degrees or more it will send a signal to the motherboard to shut down to prevent mayor damages and most likely it will not be possible to turn the computer back in until it cools down.

The normal processor temperature will depend on the chassis type, the hardware involved and the location of the computer, and it usually is lower than the Tcase.

For further troubleshooting or warranty assistance feel free contacting your local support group during business hours: http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contactsupport http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contactsupport

[idata]

Saadi wrote:

Hey guys,

Just put together my new 3970x system. Noticed that the CPU is running quite hot so I decided to do a few tests.Everything at default settings (no overclock, ram running at slower speed and timings than the manufactured specified setting)

Played Assassin's creed revelations for about an hour - Core temps at load maxed out between 71-76*C using latest versions of Coretemp and Realtemp gt.

Ran Prime95 small ffts for about 15 mins and core temp hit 80*C, and it's not even running at the stated turbo boost speed of 4ghz (running at 3.7ghz).

Ran Memtest 86+ for 7 hours and 17 mins - 2 passes no errors.

When running ram at its native speed of 1866mhz - Prime95 small ffts - core temps soar to above 76-84*C within 10-20 seconds and system shuts down and restarts.

I've tried reseating the heatsink, reapplying thermal paste 2 different methods:

1. little bit smaller than pea sized dot at middle of CPU

2. BB sized dot at middle of CPU + 4 much smaller dots near the corners of CPU (like the 5 dots on a dice). gives much better paste coverage but no real difference in temperature readings.

I don't think these are normal temperatures the CPU should be operating at specially since I haven't overclocked the CPU. What do you think?

System:

i7 3970x 3.5ghz (stock everything)

Havik 140 CPU heatsink

Asus Rampage IV Extreme motherboard

Corsair dominator platinum ddr3 1866 (running at 1333mhz) 8gb x 4 (32gb Quad channel)

Asus Nvidia GTX 590

Intel 520 series SSD 480gb

Western Digital caviar black 2 TB HDD

Asus 24x DVDRW

Asus Xonar D2X sound card

I also have a similar problem. I have a 3970X with an ASUS Rampage IV Extreme ( latest BIOS ), 64GB of 2400MHz G.Skill DDR3 http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=460 F3-19200CL10Q2-64GBZHD and a Corsair H100i ( In a quad 2x-2x push-pull config ).

I've tried two thermal interface materials :

1. http://www.indigo-xtreme.com/ Indigo Xtreme
2. Arctic Silver 5 ( what I'm currently running with )

( Note that I used Realtemp GT for measuring temperatures and prime95 x64 at the "maximum heat" setting for load testing )

With the Indigo Xtreme, even after reflow, my load temps at stock were upwards of 75C+ but only about 29C idle.

Now with the Arctic Silver 5, my load temps are "better" around 50-60C but idle is a craptastic 35C.

That's pretty sad considering I tinted the CPU heatspeader and the H100i water block with Arctic Silver 5 and used the 1mm "vertical line" method of application on the CPU as well as rotating the H100i water block several times before bolting down ( http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth/int/vl/intel_app_method_vertical_line_v1.1.pdf http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth/int/vl/intel_app_method_vertical_line_v1.1.pdf ) .

Note that I've disabled Intel Enhanced Speedstep so I'm running at 4.0GHz most of the time. I've also disabled C1E .

Just FYI my batch number is 3238B264 .

I should be seeing idle temps of around 25C and load temps of around 40-45C.

Can any Intel mods/gurus comment on this?

jdb2