New first budget build - CPU temps & cooling

[cam50935]

Hello all, first post! Before the questions and advice heres my newly built spec:

Motherboard: ASUS P5KPL-AM EPU
CPU: Intel Dual Core E5400 2.7Ghz with Intel stock fan
Memory: 2GB X 1 Crucial
HDD: Western Digital 500GB
Optical Drive: Samsung DVDRW
PSU: (Unknown) 500w

My first question is concerning the CPU temperatures when idle and under load. Currently when idle the CPU is running at 32C, which seems to be normal in my mind. However when under load around 70-80% the temp can shoot up to 60+ (this is before applying the thermal paste where it reached 80-90C!). Another thing I noticed is that there is a gap of 7-9 degrees between the cores e.g. core#0 @ 40 & core#1 @ 47, is this normal? The computer has hung and crashed a few times which I suspect is the CPU overheating, and this is only playing a few videos and browsing the web.

So is there a ballpark figure for normal operating temperature and under load I should be aiming for? Do I need a better cooler?

Another thing, the monitor has randomly switched off at times where the screen would go into power saving mode but the computer looks to be still on and operating where nothing can be done except to reset it. I've read on another board it could be something about the PSU, could this be the problem?

Any answers will be helpful, Thank you

 

[spyder viewer]

Your initial temps look ok, however, I am mystified as to why you applied paste? What was wrong with the pre-loaded paste? Although you have integrated graphics, I'm surprised that you are achieving 80% useage just watching videos. What exactly are the sources you are running?

You must be able to tell us something about the psu - labels on it?

For your application, maybe your money would be better spent on a graphics card (HD 5450). That would off-load all the work from the cpu

 

[skylineGTR]

Did you install the push pins on the stock cooler correctly, they can be a little tough and not sit right on the CPU causing poor contact and bad temps. Yes the diff in cores is very normal i build a fair few build ans have yet to find a CPU thats reports the same on all cores

 

[cam50935]

Thank You for your replies and advice

Your initial temps look ok, however, I am mystified as to why you applied paste? What was wrong with the pre-loaded paste?

I forgot to say that the PSU and Intel Fan are taken from another system therefore I wiped the contact and cpu with the alco wipes and re-applied some new paste.

Although you have integrated graphics, I'm surprised that you are achieving 80% useage just watching videos. What exactly are the sources you are running?

TBH im a little baffled by this I assumed a Dual core which by sufficient enough to handle such minor applications. I was playing a video on the iPlayer and it regularly hit 60-80% load on the CPU!

You must be able to tell us something about the psu - labels on it

All I know is that it is a EZcool 500w PSU don't know any serial or I.D tags, however it has been lying dormant as a spare for the past 1-2 years from a system upgrade, so I nicked it for this build.

For your application, maybe your money would be better spent on a graphics card (HD 5450). That would off-load all the work from the cpu

Interesting...so installing a GPU will take the strain off the processor when playing video content. Obviously if I were to invest in a GPU card it would be on a budget, so how do these look?

Asus ATI Radeon 4350 HD 512MB PCI-Express HDMI Silent (EAH4350 SILENT) - dabs.com
Sapphire Technology ATI Radeon HD 4350 600Mhz 512MB DDR2 PCI-Express HDMI/DVI (11142-07-20R) - dabs.com

I have chosen these as they look to be good value price and feature wise, I don't need any thing for gaming as I have consoles for that. Also, i would like it to operate silently hence why I have chosen fanless models. What is your opinion on these?

Did you install the push pins on the stock cooler correctly, they can be a little tough and not sit right on the CPU causing poor contact and bad temps.

Yes the installation was a bit of a nightmare after pushing in one pin another one would pop out! However I made sure each one was level and secure to the motherboard. The CPU temps are fine when it is idle and the fan runs at 1100RPM but a spike of load on the CPU causes the temps to shot widely up. For example I was performing a windows experience index assessment the temps started at 32C by the end of the test it was at 97C! So the fluctuations of temperatures is really concerning.

Yes the diff in cores is very normal i build a fair few build ans have yet to find a CPU thats reports the same on all cores

Thanks, although a little alarming to know.

Cheers

 

[spyder viewer]

I suspect you've still got a heatsink/cpu seating problem. Take the hs off carefully and check for the paste covering. You may be applying too little or too much. A blob in the middle about as big as a grain of rice or half a split pea if that's easier!

The 5450 is more current technology.

XFX ATI Radeon 5450 HD 512MB SDDR3 PCI-Express HDMI (HD-545X-YRH2) - dabs.com

 

[cam50935]

Thanks for the recommend.

I used the grain of rice technique however temperatures are still way too hot to be acceptable. I think I just got a rubbish CPU cooler. What I dont understand is that my old system which had a single core celeron 2.0Ghz never got over 60C when under high loads of 80-100% constantly. I just dont understand how a dual core could be put through so much stress with watching a few videos just strange.