Maximus Extreme NB cooling help please

[Polegate]

Hi folks, I have been reviewing this forum for sometime but our recent hot weather has spurred me into action. Some hardware details are in my profile. I apologise if this post spells out the obvious to you folks but I'm new to this game and nervous about damaging my hardware.

Some background:
Asus Maximus Extreme, bios 1007
Intel Core Duo E6850 @ 3Ghz (No O/C)
2 x 1Gb Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1066
PNY GeForce 8800 Ultra
800W PSU (with integral 120mm fan)

Asus Silent Night2 CPU cooler (2500 rpm)
1 x 120mm Cabinet fan (pulling 1275 rpm) positioned top back
1 x 60mm cabinet fans (pushing 2600 rpm) positioned bottom front
1 x 60mm cabinet fans (pushing 2600 rpm) positioned left side, blowing onto the GPU/MB

I bought the PC in December 2007 and was immediately concerned that the NB was running at 40ºC when the PC was idle while the CPU was at 25ºC. (Measurements using asus probe II V1.04.23. I have tried using HWMonitor V110 but whenever I run HWMonitor I get a BSOD sooner or later. Still, HWMonitor reports CPU core temperature ~10º higher than the asus probe)

In this weather, at idle Asus probe is reporting CPU 26º, MB 45º, NB 46º, SB 43º, (GPU 70º from HWMonitor)
I feel these temperatures are to high, the NB exceeds 50ºC very quickly if I start to really use the PC.

I have ordered an new 120mm cabinet fan that will run up to 2500rpm to replace the existing 1200rpm item but doubt this will make a huge difference and have no room to fit more cabinet fans (unless I go for a 3 x 40mm fan drive bay item)

From reading forums, it seems that this MB has some issues with NB cooling and I am looking for advice as where to go next. I have considered a cheap water cooling solution just for the NB such as the Zalman Reserator1 v2. But, being a noob at this I am scared of leaks and understand that the thermal compound used by Asus sucks, so a water system might not help if the real problem is heat transfer.

The other option is to remove the standard water block and use a decent passive cooler (this also scares me because of the Asus concrete)

So, could you offer me any advice please? Be gentle I'm new at this
Sorry the post is so long

[Polegate]

btw, asus provided a small optional fan to cool the mosfet but state "should only be used with passive (water) cooled cpu solutions" because it will interfere with cpu cooling airflow.

Question: How can this be so if it's acceptable to fit an 80mm fan on a Thermalright HR-05 so close to the cpu?

Should I just install it anyway?

[Clunk]

Welcome to the forums

Unfortunately, the Maximus cooling was pretty poor, for both air and water cooling. Another major oversight by Asus was that they used some kind of super strength thermal cement to bond the fusion block to the NB, resulting in a few people ripping off their NB when trying to remove the waterblock.

Assuming that it IS the heat that is causing your BSODs, what I would suggest is to remove the board from the case and try and gently remove the fusion block.

Get something smooth and rounded - I used the nose of a pair of small, angled, needle nose pliers as a lever. Start at one corner and gently lever a really tiny amount and work your way round the block, then do it again. You will feel it start to give, so keep going, gently and eventually it should just pop off and leave your NB where it is.

Remove the thermal cement with some IPA or TIM clean (takes a while to dissolve) and reapply some non-conductive thermal goop, such as AS ceramique.

A HR-05 will indeed give you much better results.

I think the warning about using the accessory fan is because it sticks up a couple of inches and will probably hinder any air being blown from your CPU heatsink....maybe

In all honesty, you don't need to watercool the NB unless you are going for massive overclocks.

[Polegate]

Hi Clunk, thx for the reply and advice.

First step for me then will be to replace the 120mm fan with a 2500rpm item and while the box is open I will fit the asus mosfet cooler and monitor any changes. If I'm still not happy I will embark on the scary business of trying to remove the fusion block. This seems reasonable as I have the 120mm fan anyhow and will need to order a Thermalright HR-05.

Are there any particular tips you can offer for cooling this board?

btw, the BSOD's are caused by running HWMonitor. It's strange but when running HWMonitor the time before BSOD is very variable, a couple to seconds up to 5 mins, but sooner or later it always happens.

No other problems to report

[Kelainefes]

Just want to add that if you want to know the real temperature of your CPU cores you have to use Coretemp or Realtemp. Asus probe does not read the core sensors, but a sensor in between the cores.

[Clunk]

The only other thing I would say is not to worry about it. The board doesn't run too hot once you have redone the paste and/or added a different NB cooler and the PWM part of the fusion block seperates so you can keep using that.

[Polegate]

OK I got the new 120mm fan in which is running at >1800 so should be shifting ~50% more air I guess.
No improvement at all. The whole thing (everything) just seems to damn hot. This image is from an idle system running for about 20 mins after fitting the new fan. There is plenty of air space around the box, I even have it raised on wooden battens to assist air circulation, and I have a 9 inch directing air onto the front. I don't know the current ambient temperature but ...... this is England!!

The only other thing I would say is not to worry about it.

hehe, that's exactly what I am doing
I'll get on and order a Thermalright HR-05. Any particular model? I think I will need the SLI version because the Asus SilentKnight2 cooler is big and partly sits over the NB. Ideas?

[Clunk]

I think the HR-05 might block the top PCI-E slot. Might be worth emailing thermalright to confirm this if its going to be a problem for you.

[Polegate]

You were correct, Thermalright state that the HR-05 (in any form) is not compatible with the maximus extreme.
Can anyone recommend a NB cooler for this mobo?

[Kelainefes]

Take a look at the Enzotech lineup.
I haven't tried them on the NB, so i can't speak of performances, but i do have a low profile one on the SB and i gotta say that build, finish and material are all excellent.
You should get one of the "tall" ones for the NB, and with a 40 mm fan if you want to overclock over 400 FSB, i reckon.