After a few more hours tonight flushing the loop a third time, it now has new coolant, a new waterblock, and new (lower) temp readings. Not a huge difference, but 4 or 5C -- which isn't bad considering the AS5 hasn't cured. Running at stock speed of 3GHz with vcore set to 1.45 (actual 1.42v with LLC disabled), the highest core temp reading is 35C. It was 40C before the 'Keith Richards,' Swiss blood transfusion.

Nice temp improvements!!

Old Keith, what a guy. What is the ambient temperature Jason?

70F, Sturmbannführer.

Do you think the QX9650 suffers the same weird temp readings as the e8400 and Wolfdales? What were your readings using the physical temp probe?

While temps have dropped 4 or 5C since flushing out the CPU loop, I think adding the D-Tek Fuziion "accelerator nozel kit" has also helped towards that end.

Spring cleaning boosted PSI, but adding that kit . . . woowee! . . . looks like I have a coolant tsunami in my reservoir. The speed doubled -- easily. Not bad for a $7.00 mod!

No, I think your chip is finebut having done quite a bit of reseasrch on this stuff lately I am left wondering if any of us is getting a truly accurate reading. here is some light reading from Intel re. the DTS system http://irevues.inist.fr/bitstream/2042/6579/1/TMI23.pdf and an ongonig conversation re. the problem here http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showth...=173999&page=31 unclewebb feels that no diodes really give an accurate reading as they are calibrated for the high end at the factory and their main reason for existence is to shut the CPU off before catastrophic failure. Go back a few pages in that thread for some interesting reading.

I couldn't get the probe close enough to do any good but with every chip i have owned I have been able to get a feel for how hot things were getting under the block by feeling the temp of the air coming out of my top mounted rad. It is pretty cool as of right now (of course that could alo mean the cyctem isn't workig. LOL)

Merc, would a Fluke laser thermometer get a more accurate reading? I've been thinking in investing in one. I'm getting tired of the screwy readings too.

Someone gave me one for use with my brewing stuff (field return that works just fine). It's nice to get a quick reading of temperatures when cooling stuff down.

Since I've started building PCs and overclocking with the rest of you it has become and very valuable tool when looking at all the different areas on the MB. I think the accuracy is very good (at least it measure copper water pipes comparable to a thermometer).

Plus, the kids love walking around with it and "shooting" the laser and checking temperatures.

Hey Rick - how much does it cost to get a good laser temp reader? Have a model to recommend?

Something like this, perhaps?

FLUKE 65 INFRARED LASER THERMOMETER

These normally run around $350 -- have seen some good prices on Ebay.

Here's how I was greeted when getting to replace coolant in my NB/SB/GPU loop:

Consigliere submitting his critique of Fluid XP



Consigliere looking imposed upon as operation "PC Ice Purge" commences



So far so good using Fluid XP -- no signs of precipitate. The discoloration you see on the Tygon was left by Thermochill's PC Ice. Even though Fluid XP Extreme uses much richer dyes, they don't appear to leave behind the residue left by PC Ice. That could well change in the coming months. It also did a good job flushing out the precipitate left by PC Ice -- as well as some paint that I lost from the interior of an Alphacool aluminum reservoir.

I finished purging and topping off the second loop today. The photos don't do justice to the striking, rich colors of Fluid XP Extreme. The formulation is such that it reacts with oxygen and darkens as you introduce it to the loop. Pretty cool parlor trick. Oh, and does a decent job cooling the wblocks too. Bonus points.

Maximus Nebuchadnezzar prior to Fluid XP:




Maximus Nebuchadnezzar running Fluid XP:

With the new wblock and fresh coolant in place, I decided it was time to do a little overclocking. I'm pretty happy with the initial runs. Even happier that temps never exceeded 35C, even though I was running vcore of 1.650v:

10.000 - Core 2 Quad QX6950 @ 4669MHz



10.125 - Core 2 Quad QX6950 @ 4617MHz



10.203 - Core 2 Quad QX6950 @ 4565MHz

Excellent - great little chips and very nice temps & vcore!!

Sorry, I just got back in town.

I'm not sure what they cost, but the model I have is a Raytek Raynger ST. Works very well for what I use it for.

Thanks, Rick - good price! All of these units show an accuracy of +/- 5C. Do you find that your is accurate enough?