A Core 2 Duo at default clocks (3.06GHz) should run LinX without reducing clock speed right?

Hi all,

I recently decided to run LinX on my Lenovo W700 with a Core 2 Duo @ 3.06GHz and a VID of 1.2375V. Nothing is overclocked.

Idle CPU temps are around 35-38 but under Linx they get to about 94C.

Within up to 2 minutes LinX will continue to run but the CPU will downclock itself to 1.6GHz. I understand it's doing this due to approaching the Tj. Max. of 105C and thus throttling to protect itself?

Even so, considering everything is not overclocked or over volted (i.e. via ThrottleStop) I should be able to run LinX with the CPU at maximum (default) frequency right?

Given the W700 has somewhat good cooling capabilities isn't something going wrong somewhere? I don't think it's to do with dust.

P.S. It's a C0 stepping chip, though that shouldn't matter much.

Thanks in advance,

 

You could try repaste your CPU so that temperatures don't get so high.

 

Unfortunately this could be the only solution The CPU was only installed some 5 months ago. I'm hoping someone will post their own CPU temperatures of this/similar CPU's to compare just how high mine are.

 

I an assuming you are talking Linpack app. And yes at default it will overheat with such a high load and downclock. Your best bet is to use RMClock or other app to undervolt the CPU. You may not get as low with the vCore on a C0 compared to E0 but anything should help.

Repaste with a good TIM amy help as well. Running a thin TIM such as AS5 and those high temps can also boil out the TIM decreasing the efficiency over time. This is why I prefer ICD but that is my choice.

There are no real laptop cooling solutions out there meant to handle the loads of LinX etc for extended periods at those extreme clocks and default vCore. I can tell you with the P78/P79 undervolted with a x9100 E0 ES I could run Orthos or Prime95 @ 3.45 GHz 24/7 without overheating issues.

 

I didn't install the CPU, a service man did contracted by Lenovo. I didn't pay attention to how much or well it put on the thermal paste. Maybe he rushed it, I guess I won't know until I take a look. Luckily Lenovo has some nice step by step videos for taking the W700 apart.

I've got some thermal compound from a desktop Noctua cooler, supposedly it's good stuff, well seems that way on my desktop PC.

I understand LinX is overkill for laptops but I just wanted to see if the cooling is all okay, i.e. complete 3-5 loops of LinX (about 10-12 minutes). I just assumed with everything at factory speeds/voltages it should pass all okay and stay clear of Tj. Max. enough for me to not be concerned.

So...slowly but surely it's looking like a roll your sleaves up, get a screwdriver, prepare some pots to pop the screws in (as to not later get them mixed up) and away one goes.

...or maybe the thermal paste he used was just sub-par, then again the difference between the best and worst thermal paste can't be more than 10%, the rest is marketing right?

 

You may never realize just with TIM 10-12 minutes without hitting the wall. Unless normal usage is getting you at or near TJ-Max then it is not really an issue. Although I'll agree 2 minutes seems a bit fast to get to TJ-Max but thee can be alot of variables getting you too that.

Looking at the W700 you as well have a seperate cooling for GPU and CPU so that should make life a bit easier. CPU access looks to be a bit of a pain though...........

 

Yes, CPU access on the W700 does require removing some other components in the right order, unfortunately.

I turned the laptop upside down. It has ventilation holes on either side, one for the CPU and one for the GPU. They had a think layer of dust on them. I cleared that out with a paint brush (clean naturally) but the same happens in LinX and in the time frame previously stated.

The idle temps in Core Temp are now 33-34C @ 3.06GHz and VID 1.2375V.

Just seems like a very large delta going from 33-34C to 92-94C before it downclocks. That's almost 200% idle temps.

Logic tells me either air flow is blocked, there's insufficient contact between CPU and heatsink or the thermal grease is bad.

 

A proper cleaning and replaication of the TIM will not hurt. If it doesn't get you where you want to be though look into undervolting.............

 

After cleaning the ventilation slots on its base as aforementioned above I ran ThrottleStop and set the VID to 1.150V, down from the default 1.2375V. Now LinX only heats up the CPU to 79-82C (fluctuates) and it doesn't down clock anymore.

Prime95 is about 10C cooler.

It's a pity the source code of ThrottleStop isn't open source, I could throw out all the unnecessary stuff and just make a tidy little app to control VID that would sit on the task bar each time Windows loads.

 

I think you are using T9900. These tend to run a bit hotter than the other Core2Duo chips. Mine goes upto 84C under stress tests. 94C is too high.


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I'm on a X9100 C0 stepping, OEM.

Maybe the C0 Vs E0 stepping also translates into visible CPU temperature differences, even at the same VID.

The QX9300 is an E0 but then it has double the cores so that should also contribute to heat output.

 

Cool, I have TS load when a user logs in using taskmanager, this avoids UAC using the run with highest privelages...............

 

I'm pretty sure TS has this option of changing the VID and then exit, so I dont see any problem with that.

I see your trust issue with software though.

 

I just think TS has a way to go with usability. A tiny little app with just two options: a) FID and b) VID is all that's necessary.

More worryingly though is that despite all the maximum CPU performance options being set in the BIOS and Power Manager of my W700 Core Temp still shows fluctuating CPU frequency each time I boot into Windows. CPU-Z stays at 3.06GHz.

I need to load TS each time and click the reset button.

I don't get how TS is interfering if it's not even launched automatically when Windows starts.