Tech Support Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Arctic Silver Results Not What I Expected

2K views 32 replies 6 participants last post by  grimx133 
#1 ·
Well I searched for this and was unable to find it so I am forced to post the Thread unless someone can find it for me. I decided that I would apply some new compound to my CPU to cool it. I decided to use Arctic Silver because I had heard good things and red some good reviews.

Well I opened the case up and removed my Heatsink/Fan and then cleaned the Heatspreder of my E8400 and then applied the paste in a single line just like it said on the instructions then I reapllied the Heatsink/Fan and gave it a little wiggle to spread the compound a little bit. I understand that there is a "Break-in period" and actually just wanted to find out from members of this forum what the experience has been generally with this product and just how long it takes to really work properly.

I have heard 200 hours. I ended up with a temp reading from "Core Temp" reading of 44 degrees for both cores with the regular stuff that I received on the Asus Heatsink/Fan I bought. This was, I'm assuming the cheap stuff that they put on the low end units which is essentially just a pad of material. On my actual Asus Utiltiy "PC Probe" I get a reading between 27-33 degrees but I'm assuming that's just the external temp. I'm wondering if I should have gotten a different unit to cool my CPU? I would have no problem picking up a new unit for the CPU. Perhaps the noctua unit. I would think that even a less expensive unit with the Arctic Silver would even get some half decent temps below that. I just might have to be patient and see what the results bring.

Jones
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Core temp always does read higher then the motherboard sensors, you will maybe see a 2 degree drop in temps with artic silver nothing dramatic but the thing about artic silver is it never wears out or gets hard/dries up like the cheap stuff can do sometimes so your temps over years will stay the same.

You should be alright with those temps unless your running your cpu at 100% 24/7 or something
 
#3 ·
Ok then that sounds good to me. I never use my Rig like that. Maybe 2-3 hours at a time except perhaps for gaming then were talking 5-6 hours sometimes. I was wondering if perhaps a new Heatsink/Fan would do the trick a little more. I don't have a really expensive unit (under $30). I'm thinking I might just go out and grab a new one. I really like the New Zalman unit. I'm thinking the combo of some new arctic Silver and a newer unit might do the trick. The one I did buy really isn't all that great but was better than the stock intel unit that I got with the intel E8400.

Thanks

Jones
 
#4 · (Edited)
A good brand copper heatsink will always lower temps somewhat but don't expect miracles 27 to 33C with asus probe is pretty good you might not do all that much better and it worth the cost.

I do folding at home so some of my computers run 24/7 at 100% cpu usage and depending on room temp they can get to 52C to 55c using mtherboard provided software. Some of these machines have run for years like this and never hurt them

And yes I do use artic silver, I don't trust anything else over time running like that
 
#5 ·
Wel thanks Very Much. You have been very helpful. This is the current unit that I use for my CPU below.


http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=16&l2=66&l3=0&l4=0&model=2259&modelmenu=1

It seems pretty good. Blows at 2400 rpm right now at abour 67% and it's pointing right down at the CPU which helps. Perhaps a larger unit might help. It's good to know that the temps are quite tolerable and are acceptable. I even have the system Overclocked to 3.62 Ghz.

Jones
 
#6 · (Edited)
My e8400 core temp is 44c idle my ext cpu temp is 27c. with artic silver and a zalman cooler my ext cpu under load temps which I found out when wgatray.exe pegged both cores to the max when it acted up is around 40c. not sure of my core temp under 100% load though I know its at or just under 60c

E8400 is at stock 3ghz speed
 
#11 ·
Cool, Thanks I'll run it this weekend when I'm out of the house. I still think I should switch up the CPU Fan/Heatsink. It might make a difference and then there's the break-in period. The thing is I can't see how I can get the same temps with the cheap "pad" of material they put on the Heatsink pre-installed and then get the same temps with the Arctic Silver. There has to be a difference......a big difference. I'm sure it'll improve or else I can always change the material again with a new unit.

Jones
 
#12 ·
when I changed my XP heatsink/fan combo from the stock one to a 120mm fan and heatsink combo my idle temps went from around:

old idle temps
41C - to 43C

new idle temps
34C- 36C (cooler if my room's door is open)
 
#13 ·
Wow that's quite the improvement. Now I'm not too sure which unit would be best and I know that there's quite the selection out there with regards to brands.

What I would say is top priority when choosing the Heatsink/Fan Combo is one in which the fan points downward unless the heatsink material is very efficient at drawing the heat upwards for the fan to dissipate effectively.

I really like this unit below as well as the others that are displayed.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4177137&CatId=493

Not too sure if this one above will fit.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3071636&CatId=1588


This one seems pretty good and the fan faces down which I hear is best for the E8400.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4177293&CatId=1588

This one above seems pretty efficient although there are no reviews for it on the tiger site.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4170079&CatId=1588

I really like this one because of the size of the fan and the CFM it pushes out and the decibel level.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2882721&CatId=493

And this one got great reviews and seems to perform very well.

Jones
 
#14 · (Edited)
this is the cooler I use

OCZ Vendetta
$62.50
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835202007

This thing is massive but I would say try to spend around $60 for any cooler and look for high CFM's (can push a lot of air)

and when I was looking for a CPU cooler I wanted one that would push the ait towards the rear or top fan (in my case)

I don't really like the ones the push air towards the side of the case or right towards the CPU
 
#17 ·
Well that helps in choosing a new unit. The Noctua Unit actually lists the heatpipe as being copper. The OCZ unit seems pretty good and the noctua seems to be fairly efficient at keeping the CPU cool. Tiger seems to actually have a pretty good selection actually. I can always order one from newegg.

Jones
 
#21 ·
I've also been impressed with the coolers from Asus..the really good ones seem like they really push some good air and I like the design's. Right now I have a 44 degree idle temp which is good. I'm hoping to get it below 40 for my "Break-In Period". Hopefully It'll go below 40 and then remain there for as long as I have the Arctic Silver on there. Check out some of these HSF/Coolers Below.


http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=16&l2=65&l3=0&l4=0&model=2639&modelmenu=2


http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=16&l2=65&l3=0&l4=0&model=2146&modelmenu=1

http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=16&l2=65&l3=0&l4=0&model=2254&modelmenu=1

http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=16&l2=65&l3=0&l4=0&model=2042&modelmenu=1

Those are just some of the really nice ones I saw. There are so many other ones available.

Jones
 
#23 ·
#24 ·
Well I was checking the Tiger Site for some of the units that were mentioned and.....yeah Tiger does have a pretty poor selection of some of the better units available out there so needless to say I was pretty saddenned by that since I just can't walk into the Newegg store like I can do with Tiger. I believe they are not a brick and mortar store but only an online entity used specifically for ordering parts and then they contact suppliers to fill orders or they must have surplus to order from.

Perhaps there are some units that Tiger carries which would be comparable to the ones found at Newegg because I must tell you that the Newegg units seem excellent and I have no problems ordering one of them but I would really like to be able to go to an actual store. It's a little nicer sometimes to see the items on the shelves. I get excited when I see computer components especially hardware...being a die-hard hardware guy myself I can appreciate the feeling when you get into that store and then are able to hold the item and read packaging specs and see the prices and all that stuff. I can spend hours inside a store just looking at the same items over and over again especially some of the cases out there.

I guess I'll have to check out Newegg and just order one myself. I really like the Sunbeam Unit and was impressed with the Temps in the testing. I had however been wondering if a unit with a downward facing fan for the E8400 might be more adviseable!!! Not too sure but the other units that were tested all seem to be of the same design. Side facing fan units with massive bodies on the cooler units with good size copper heatpipes.

Well more reviews are underway with regards to which unit I will grab. Seeing just exactly whats available is pretty awesome considering that if I do end up going with one of the top five units I can probably see a larger Overclock on my E8400 just short of using a Water Cooling Solution.

Jones
 
#25 ·
Pretty sure I'm gonna go with this unit below.....couldn't ignore the amazing temps on it. I still have to see what the "Break in Period" does for my system. I'm in no way worried about performance. My system hasn't dissapointed me yet so I'm no freaking out.


http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004

Jones
 
#26 ·
The Sunbeam is a pretty highly rated hsf, never tried one personally, though I'd consider one. Right now I'm happy with the Kingwin I'm using that's a clone of the Xigmatek HDT-S1283.
Only thing about the sunbeam is the pushpins, a backplate is much better, too bad they all don't have them, had to buy a separate Xigmatek Crossbow kit to go with the one I'm using.
 
#27 ·
Y'know I was thinking about that and I thought perhaps there might be some sort of kit to attach the unit to the Motherboard by springloaded screws instead of pushpins. I'm not a big fan of the push pins either and have been thinking if I were to go with a different unit then the second choice might be the Titan TTC NK85TZ unit from the review. My Core Temps right now have gone down to 41 for both cores.

Jones
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top