Shuttle SX38P2 - Speedfan Setup Report + Temperature/Noise Control

[xjairusx]

So I thought i'd share my Speedfan experience, after setting up and identifying the temperatures on my motherboard (Shuttle SX38P2) and CPU (Q6600) I ran through a few tests running Prime95 Small FFTS, General use... recording the maximum Tcase (Kind of an average CPU reading, BIOS etc) plus the Tjunction values (Each individual core temperature.).

Firstly I primarily read through this thread (http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/263821-c2d-quad-temp-guide-computronix.html) to get a feel for the actual chip I was using, determining the "Tcase-Tjunction Delta value". (I did not know about this prior to reading this article to props to the author, it also covers setting offsets for the core and tcase values if they are required. I found after vigerous testing of my chip with the help of an analog thermometer!, I needed no calibration.)

I would sincerely advise to read through this for a guide.

Noting that my chip is a Q6600 it runs on the following scale:

Scale 2: Quad
Q9x50: Tcase Max 71c, Stepping C1
Q9300: Tcase Max 71c, Stepping M1
Q6x00: Tcase Max 71c, Stepping G0

-Tcase/Tjunction-
--70--/--75--75--75--75-- Hot
--65--/--70--70--70--70-- Warm
--60--/--65--65--65--65-- Safe
--25--/--30--30--30--30-- Cool

These are the values intel have set to ensure longevity in the CPU life, if the values are surpassed the chip may start to throttle itself. Seeing my Tcase max 100% load values do surpass the 71 degrees celcius I also noted that my chip did not start throttling so don't worry too much. My CPU is seldom used at 100% load anyway, my Video playback and simultaneous Firefox browsing test showed a max Tcase value of just 68 degrees celsius meaning that my CPU would indeed my fine and dandy.

The Tjunction max on the q6600 go0 stepping is 100 degrees c, the older version is 75 degrees c. At this temperature your chip will shut itself down to protect itself. Do not exceed this value. For other intel or AMD chips this may differ.

Test Prerequisites:
1. Install Speedfan - Identify Temperatures, Manually Control Fan Speed dependant on your setup.
2. Read this guide if your new to this: http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/263821-c2d-quad-temp-guide-computronix.html
3. SX38P2Case on.

Notes
1. GTX260, 8GB DDR2 PC6400 RAM, 2.4GHZ Stock speed, 30% PSU Speed.
2. Ambient 22 Degrees celcius.

Test 1: 10 minutes at 100% Fans 100% Load - 4 Thread Prime 95 Small FFT's.

Cpu Tcase: 78/79
Core1: 79/80
Core2: 79/80
Core3: 74/75
Core4: 74/75

Test 2: 10 minutes at 100% Fans 50% Load - 2 Thread Prime 95 Small FFT's.

CPU Tcase: 64/66
Core1: 68/71
Core2: 68/71
Core3: 63/67
Core4: 65/69


Test 3: 10 minutes at 40% Fans 0% Load - Idle.

CPU Tcase: 52/53
Core1: 56/58
Core2: 56/58
Core3: 52/55
Core4: 57/60


Test 4: 10 Minutes at 40% fans 20-30% average load playing 720P MKV through VLC + Firefox Browsing.

CPU Tcase: 63/65
Core1: 68/71
Core2: 68/71
Core3: 66/67
Core4: 63/70

By recording the max values for the Tcase and Tjunction values whilst doing moderature computing. I feel that setting the minimum cpu fan speed manually to 40% (at which point the noise is no problem, you shuttle SX38P2 users know what i'm talking about.) should be fair as the max temperatures of all cores+tcase did not reach to the maximum stable operating temperatures noted in the 100% load, 100% fan test. Once temperatures now reach this limit value, I have set Speedfan to increase the fan flow speed by 10% to bring the temperature back down or as close to this temperature as possible.

Knowing that I can now play video without the fan kicking in all the time is awesome. A correct speedfan setup at last! Only when under intense load will my fans need to kick up in order to keep the temperatures down to a minimum.

These shuttles do sure run hot, i'm wondering whether reversing the ICE fans will be worthwhile as now the GTX260 I installed today completely blocks off an air intake from that side of the case. If I reversed the ice fans wouldn't the air flow surely be increased as there will be cool air flow for the cpu, and also extraction through the gtx260 exhaust. .

But i'm happy atm, although running hotter than i'd usually like to run hardware. The temperatures are still operatable under Intel Thermal Specifications, just about lol.

[xjairusx]

The funny thing is, now my fan isn't kicking in all the time and disrupting the natural flow of things. My idle temperatures seem to have dropped even more!

[jrturbo]

Hi there

If you have installed a graphic card which pumps out the hot air through the rear grill, you may find that reversing the ice fans will lower the cpu temps without hurting the temps of other components.

As a result you may find you the extra cooling may allow you to overclock slightly and still maintain sensible temps.

I know exactly what you mean regarding keeping the fans operating at sensible speeds to stop your shuttle beguining to sound like a hair dryer.

Regards

Joe Rubido

[jrturbo]

Hi there

One more thing you can do, to improve temps is to undervolt the cpu, if you are running at stock settings for the cpu, you may find that you may be able to lower the voltage to the cpu and still maintain stability, the gains vary, but its measurable and could be worth a few a degrees drop, both at idle and under load.

Regards

Joe Rubido

[xjairusx]

undervolted to 1.13v saw temps drop 15 degrees!

[alandoland]

A graphics processing unit or GPU (also occasionally called visual processing unit or VPU) is a dedicated graphics  rendering device for a personal computer, workstation, or game console. Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating and displaying computer graphics, and their highly parallel structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for a range of complex algorithms such as accelerating physics using PhysX. A GPU can sit on top of a video card, or it can be integrated directly into the motherboard. More than 90% of new desktop and notebook computers have integrated GPUs, which are usually far less powerful than their add-in counterparts.

[melsmed]

Excellent write up xjairusx.

I reversed the ICE fans and configured speedfan to only control the 60mm fans.

Set temp to desired 50C, warning 55 and fans to a minimum of 10%.

Also, my vidcard, powercolor 4830 is kind of noisy itself, so i used ATI fan control to set the fan to the minimum, 32%.

My only problem with this is that the fan wont speed up even if its burning up, so if im going to play a game, i must set it back to auto.

By the way, reversing the fans, helped move more cool air in and when the 60mm ramps up, they struggle less in moving hot air out.

[Kurt]

Question on reversing the ice fans, do I just pull and switch the black and yellow fan wires?
Also got replacements fans , dos 3wire fans (80mmSilenX and92mm Sythe) work the sam?
Thanks
Kurt

[Ouisri]

I think reversing the ice fan is flip the fan to operate the opposite direction (not blow in but suck out). This is not a good idea at all..