Hot chip or bad NH-D14?

[Mumbles37]

Well, summer's a-coming, and in Japan it gets very hot indeed. Starting to think more about temps.

My rig is in my profile but for a quick summary I've currently got my i7 950 at 4.2GHz (21x200), 1.31825v vcore on a Sabertooth x58 with an NH-D14. QPI/DRAM is the only other thing I've had to adjust, and it is also at 1.31825v. 100% stable.

I always just assumed my chip ran hot. Even in winter it was much hotter than I had hoped. Before modding my case and adding fans I'd seen it top out at 90C+ in Prime95 and LinX. (Which is obviously the reason that I modded.)

Anyway, temps are high already, with and idle delta of about 21, and a load delta of 57! Yikes.

Ambient: 24C

Idle: 45C

Highest core at load: 81C

Keep in mind this is already down like 9C from where it was before I modded my case. Airflow is very good now. Also, I'm not an amateur at seating coolers, yet just to eliminate error I have reseated it 20 times or so, using several TIM methods several times each. All with NT-H1. All the same results, give or take 1-2C.

The question: Could it actually possibly be that my chip is really this hot? Or are the chances greater that my heatsink has a defect?

The answer will affect my decision to either: 1. Sell my 1366 setup for a 2500k or 2. try to RMA my Noctua.

Thanks!

 

[marsey99]

21c idle delta sounds way too high to me, do you still have the stock intel blower to see how it copes?

only if it runs hot with that it points to the cpu while if its not much hotter then it points to the heatsink.

it could be both but swapping out one or the other is the only way to test.

 

[Mumbles37]

Figured I'd have to go that route! Didn't want to use the stock cooler if I didn't have to since it might hurt the resale value of the 950... oh well, better to be absolutely sure I suppose.

Yeah, I'm still puzzled about those delta temps... Do even the hottest chips get that hot?

 

[marsey99]

I have heard about hot chips but this sounds too hot imo.

Before you try the stock blower you could see if its the case by taking the side off. I know you said you have modified it but is it still trapping the heat?

 

[Stryker64]

I think it might be a faulty NH-D14, because those temps you are getting are worse than even the hottest chips I've seen.

 

[Mumbles37]

I have heard about hot chips but this sounds too hot imo.

Before you try the stock blower you could see if its the case by taking the side off. I know you said you have modified it but is it still trapping the heat?

Yeah, I have tried with the side off. I've also tried with the case laying flat, just in case.

Actually, I was quite systematic in my approach to the case airflow, because I thought that was my problem initially. I have tested each fan and each fan configuration to see which one worked best for me. That's how I came down over 9C from what I had at the very beginning. From the default Phantom configuration, I dropped 3 degrees after adding fans, and then another 6C after modding the case. The airflow was pretty bad before

Not only that, but I had a pretty cheap mid-tower case housing the NH-D14 before the Phantom, and the temps then were about the same as the Phantom stock.

I think it might be a faulty NH-D14, because those temps you are getting are worse than even the hottest chips I've seen.

That's what I was fearing! I haven't heard of a chip this hot before, either. I have heard of the odd defective NH-D14, though. Maybe I'll contact them and see how hard it would be to RMA from Japan.

Thanks guys

 

[Stryker64]

My guess is that the soldering between the base and the heatpipes wasn't done properly leading to subpar heat transfer, therefore high temps. I'm pretty sure Noctua will let you RMA it considering it is a problem that occurred during manufacturing.

Just so you know Noctua use a different solder than most companies, opting for an expensive and higher melting solder, which is harder to use when it comes to manufacturing, but does lead to better temps.

 

[marsey99]

i heard a rumor they have changed their manufacturing process, idk if thats the reason for the drop in performance :\

 

[Mumbles37]

Ahh, right, I see. Wasn't aware of the solder difference. It is comforting to have some answers.

I got it toward the end of 2010 so it was probably using the old manufacturing process, if indeed it has changed. Hope the one I eventually get from the RMA works out better.

Cheers!

 

[Stryker64]

i heard a rumor they have changed their manufacturing process, idk if thats the reason for the drop in performance :\

I think it's more likely that the new process is more effective/reliable at creating solder joints between the different parts of the cooler. I'm guessing they are trying to eliminate the rare occurrences of faulty coolers, or they are gearing up for production of their next generation of coolers.

Also good luck on the RMA, hope it works out.

 

[Mumbles37]

Computer says no...

They will ship out a new mounting kit but looks like no RMA on the cooler itself. Drat!

 

[sheroo]

Lap the d14 and your chip?

 

[Mumbles37]

Lap the d14 and your chip?

Wouldn't mind it except that I wouldn't be able to resell it. I'm just going to be on the safe side I think and sell the chip, get a cool SB, and then if temps are still high get another cooler.