Advice on Graphics Cards

[Abriael]

On the 965 BE, the CPU performance is good, the TDP isn't. It has a max specified temperature of 60°C and is running at 70+ with the boxed cooler once you put enough load on it (e.g. running 1.0). I had to buy a (large) aftermarket cooler to get it to barely under 60°C under load. High temps decrease component lifetime, and overclocking would push the temps even further. I don't think it's a good upgrade choice, better go for the X6 series because I heard the later models got the temps under control.

My 965 BE runs at 45C under full load with a quite cheap Schythe cooler while overclocked at 3.8 ghz with the vcore upped at 1.5375V. On idle it sits cutely at 29.5C.

There's a reason why the 965BE is still one of the most loved processors between overclockers. It runs pretty cool and it's one of the most durable chips ever made by AMD.

If not overclocked it will run without a hitch for years even with the stock cooler, that, by the way, is *very* good.

I'm sorry, but your temperatures are way over spec, and you probably should have returned it as soon as you noticed they were that high.

[Soukyuu]

My 965 BE runs at 45C under full load with a quite cheap Schythe cooler while overclocked at 3.8 ghz with the vcore upped at 1.5375V. On idle it sits cutely at 29.5C.

There's a reason why the 965BE is still one of the most loved processors between overclockers. It runs pretty cool and it's one of the most durable chips ever made by AMD.

If not overclocked it will run without a hitch for years even with the stock cooler, that, by the way, is *very* good.

I'm sorry, but your temperatures are way over spec, and you probably should have returned it as soon as you noticed they were that high.

When I first saw the temps, I searched the net and everyone was reporting similar temps. ~45°C idle, ~60°C full load. Searching now, the results are still the same.

Besides, if it was faulty, then I'd get errors on Prime95 or crashes. Here's an example 5m run with OCCT, could you maybe humor me and do the same? I'm using a scythe mugen2 btw.

[Zenaku]

When I first saw the temps, I searched the net and everyone was reporting similar temps. ~45°C idle, ~60°C full load. Searching now, the results are still the same.

Besides, if it was faulty, then I'd get errors on Prime95 or crashes. Here's an example 5m run with OCCT, could you maybe humor me and do the same? I'm using a scythe mugen2 btw.

you talking about a box coolers which are always shit. My 925 is at 40-45c while on the internet and such. While playing game it max out at 52C which should be fine even if it's running a little hot.

but once i build a new pc i'm so getting a cooler and not using the one that come with it.

But i do agree that pretty high

[Abriael]

When I first saw the temps, I searched the net and everyone was reporting similar temps. ~45°C idle, ~60°C full load. Searching now, the results are still the same.

Besides, if it was faulty, then I'd get errors on Prime95 or crashes. Here's an example 5m run with OCCT, could you maybe humor me and do the same? I'm using a scythe mugen2 btw.

Stock multiplier and vCore.


Overclocked to 3.8 Ghz. vCore upped to 1.5375V. Today's the room heating is maxxed up, so it actually climbed to 50C tops, which is still WAY under what you report and entirely on the safe side.


Coincidentally, I have a scythe mugen 2 too. Faulty processors don't necessarily crash, some just heat up way too much. It may also be a case of badly applied thermal paste (or a very bad thermal paste I guess).

[Soukyuu]

<snip>
Coincidentally, I have a scythe mugen 2 too. Faulty processors don't necessarily crash, some just heat up way too much. It may also be a case of badly applied thermal paste (or a very bad thermal paste I guess).

Oh you actually bothered
Well, now I'm kinda bummed out
Should try to get rid of it since I now have an AM3+ board... so could go for an upgrade I guess.

edit: thermal paste is the one that was shipped with the cooler, applied thinly so that it covers the heatspreader but it's still "visible" under it... at least that's how I thought it's done.

Since this thread has become pretty general, how about an AM3+ CPU recommendation?

[Shura]

Oh you actually bothered
Well, now I'm kinda bummed out
Should try to get rid of it since I now have an AM3+ board... so could go for an upgrade I guess.

edit: thermal paste is the one that was shipped with the cooler, applied thinly so that it covers the heatspreader but it's still "visible" under it... at least that's how I thought it's done.

Since this thread has become pretty general, how about an AM3+ CPU recommendation?

Considering your on the 965 BC, should go with either the FX-8150 or FX-8350 chips, or if your looking for something cheaper the FX-6200 to see any real difference. Would help a little better if you can let us know what your budget is. I would recommend one of the 8000 chips though, about $30 difference in price for each of the listed chips.

Not sure what paste that cooler has as stock but i would get something like Shin-Etsu.

[Abriael]

edit: thermal paste is the one that was shipped with the cooler, applied thinly so that it covers the heatspreader but it's still "visible" under it... at least that's how I thought it's done.

The method sounds right, but I honestly have no idea of what thermal paste was shipped with the cooler. I immediately threw it away. I actually must have thrown it away so fast that I don't even remember there was thermal paste in the box ^_^;

I never trust thermal paste shipped with anything, as it's normally very low quality, and you simply don't know what its physical and thermal characteristics are. Every thermal paste is slightly (or majorly) different, and some even require different application techniques. If you don't know what thermal paste you're using, you may very well doing it wrong.

At the moment my favorite is this one.

As for CPU recommendations, what Shura said.