Q9550 running extremely hot

[OpTiMo]

I'm 5 boxing all on the same computer with a two monitor setup. I checked out my CPU temp last night with CPUID HWmonitor and it showed all 4 cores to be 75-80c (switching the affinity for 1 core per instance, and 2 for 1) That's freakin hot. I'm not sure though if CPUID is the best source for determing CPU temps. Anyways, does anyone know if there is a better software prog to give a more accurate reading or if not what would be a good brand of CPU fan that does not requre bracketing and pulling out the mobo to replace. I've checked around but didn't see what seemed to be "quality" ones on newegg. Thanks in advance.

[-silencer-]

Hate to break it to ya, but there are no good mounting mechanisms for the LGA775 (Q9550) chips that do not require you to take out the motherboard. (Unless your motherboard tray has an open area behind the CPU!) All *GOOD* air heatsinks are heavy, and that requires the use of a backplate to be screwed in on the other side of the motherboard. I have a Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B on my E6600 (same mount format as Q9550), and it uses push-pins.. but I wish it didn't, since it's more likely to not have a proper seat on the CPU's heatspreader.

My preferred air coolers:
Thermalright IFX14 (easily the top air-cooled heatsink in my opinion.. but huge and expensive)
Thermalright 120mm towers.. there are a few models.
Tuniq Tower 120
Zalman 9500+ series of copper pipe coolers..

[pinotnoir]

I think that zalman cooler can be put on without having to unbolt the motherboard. I have one on my q6600. I cant remember if I had to screw something on the bottom though. Check out the info.
http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Pr...ad.asp?idx=160

The cooler is great.

[Bovidae]

The Zalman CNPS9700 has a back plate. It keeps my overclocked Q6600 below 50c under load.

[not5150]

You can use either a box fan or one nice Vornado fan until you get a better cooler/heatsink solution.

Take off the side panel and point the fan right at the CPU. This is what I do for my Skulltrail

[sqeaky4100]

The Zalman CNPS9700 has a back plate. It keeps my overclocked Q6600 below 50c under load.

Same.

99% of the cases out there let you access the back of the motherboard tray. If yours doesn't, consider a new case, seriously.

The zalman9700 can be tricky to install, but it's a beastly fan that will cool the hell out of your processor.

[pinotnoir]

The CNPS9500 LED I linked above doesnt have a back plate.

[Herc130]

I like buying cooling stuff from these places:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...7a8b228b65266a

http://www.svc.com/775-cpu-cooler.html

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/home.html


Get one with a back plate that screws in, not cliped in. They work far far better. Taking the mobo out of the case isn't all that hard and is well worth the effort.

[OpTiMo]

I bought a thermaltake fan last night for 70 bucks at best buy. It was just one that uses the push pins. I found that out after I took off all the peripherals on my mobo and unscrewed it. Should have checked first! it's keeping my cpu cooler but not what I would really like. It seems while running all 5 instances on the same comp my cpu just gets way to hot. I have a full size Thermaltake case as with 7 fans. This does keep my cpu at about 45c idle but still 72-74c under load (all 5 copies). I bought http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106102 Is a zallman or some other brand going to cool better then that one? Thanks again for all the input.

[-silencer-]

I bought a thermaltake fan last night for 70 bucks at best buy. It was just one that uses the push pins. I found that out after I took off all the peripherals on my mobo and unscrewed it. Should have checked first! it's keeping my cpu cooler but not what I would really like. It seems while running all 5 instances on the same comp my cpu just gets way to hot. I have a full size Thermaltake case as with 7 fans. This does keep my cpu at about 45c idle but still 72-74c under load (all 5 copies). I bought http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106102 Is a zallman or some other brand going to cool better then that one? Thanks again for all the input.

$70?!?! If you're going to blow that much on an air cooler, you might as well do it right and get one that SUPPORTS the motherboard with a backplate. Pushpins are for lightweight (not good for cooling - not enough copper surface area) coolers that don't do the job like they should.

For that price you can get the best air cooler on the market, especially considering that you seem to have good case cooling:
Thermalright IFX14:
http://www.xoxide.com/thermalright-i...pu-cooler.html