Software cooling, Nay or Yay

[Bullet-Man-2]

im running vcool which brings down my cpu temp to 26ºc (air cooling, to poor for water cooling).

I am just wondering if software cooling is any good, I hear it causes problems such as thermal stress, what ever that is. :confused:

[araaraara]

I say nay because those programs only work on the % of the CPU which isn't being used. Do any CPU intensive work and those software coolers become useless. They are good though for a PC which just sits around for long periods of time.

How can your CPU ever be idle if it's busy running Seti@Home for Team Sysopt 2002!

[Bullet-Man-2]

Originally posted by araaraara

How can your CPU ever be idle if it's busy running Seti@Home for Team Sysopt 2002!

LOL :)

[elroy]

I used CPU Idle on K6-2 cpu's and it did help a lot. If I remember correctly it dropped temps about 20F.

[downrodeo]

does anyone have links for vcool and Idle CPU or any other software coolers. also, are they freeware or do you have to buy it. thanks

[Bullet-Man-2]

http://217.110.240.85/vcool/

this is a link to vcool

and yes these are free. Make sure you have the right chipset that will work with this one. Im not sure about the otherone, maybe do a google.com search for it.

[gibsinep]

NAY,

They really dont cool it when coolingis most needed.
When does the software work, it works when your computer is idle and would be at it's least in need of cooling

When does it not cool anything--when your PC is at fullload when it needs cooling most.



A poor sub for good cooling

[Bullet-Man-2]

well I do al ot of internet surfing, and a lot of TV watching on my PC. I like having a cooled CPU when im not working on big heavy projects.

I mean I still have great cooling in general. But vcool lets my CPU cool off.

[WyreTheWolf]

I am running Folding@Home ... So, my CPU cycles are never idle long enough to let the processor cool.

If you are not running Seti, Folding, or Genome @ Home ... then go for it ... it works pretty well.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Nope, as others have said, it doesn't cool when you really need it. Besides, there are plenty of great HSFs at reasonable prices. Maybe not as efficient as water cooling, but is that really necessary unless you're doing some heavy duty overclocking?

[delhi]

IIRC, these software coolers shuts down the parts where the cpu is not using. Say you're surfing the net, there's very little Floating point crunching. So those parts will be shut down (idle) so that it cools down the cpu for that portion. I used to Rain on my celeron and it cools down almost 10C when it is not on full load. Then when I uninstall Rain, on regular windows work, it runs 10C more. Something to think about. It complements the HSF nicely I think.
But with my current setup (1.2 duron) running on win2k, cpuidle does jack! I miss Rain. too bad it doesn't support win2k. Maybe win2k has it's own HLT. <shrug>

[JackKane]

Well, I found that it is a nice ADDITION to a healthy HSF. For instance, with stock cooling from Intel you'll be fine, but if you want your CPU cooler (to prolong its life, whatever), it will do that at idle speeds. Or, if you run your PC all night and the fans are too noisy you can lower their RPMs and let software cooling do the rest.

It does not work AT ALL on new laptops with XP. XP has a bad habit of contolling your SpeedStep processor automatically, so once you start any soft-CPU-cooler, it will jack up the MHz to full blast, while executing absolutely nothing. What a waste.

[WyreTheWolf]

Originally posted by delhi
IIRC, these software coolers shuts down the parts where the cpu is not using. Say you're surfing the net, there's very little Floating point crunching. So those parts will be shut down (idle) so that it cools down the cpu for that portion. I used to Rain on my celeron and it cools down almost 10C when it is not on full load. Then when I uninstall Rain, on regular windows work, it runs 10C more. Something to think about. It complements the HSF nicely I think.
But with my current setup (1.2 duron) running on win2k, cpuidle does jack! I miss Rain. too bad it doesn't support win2k. Maybe win2k has it's own HLT. <shrug>

Win 2K, and Win XP both have there own HLT coding.

<CTRL> + <ALT> + <DEL>

now click on the processes tab ... scroll to the bottom.

see the system process called System Idle, usually it is using somthing like 90 - 99 % of your processing time.

That is the Microsoft HLT coding at work. :)

[apocalypse]

if you can't afford a good fan and heatsink, software cooling is better than nothing.

[Jimstep]

Software cooling only works while the cpu is idle. When you are running programs, your cpu is full throttle and will generate heat. You still have to make sure that the heat is properly disapated.

[Bullet-Man-2]

Originally posted by Jimstep
Software cooling only works while the cpu is idle. When you are running programs, your cpu is full throttle and will generate heat. You still have to make sure that the heat is properly disapated.

my cooling is plentyful. I have to many fans. But thars something wrong with my stupid HSF...

[namrak]

Like so many others have already said, nay on software cooling. I need active cooling all the time ;) Not software cooling that only kicks in when my computer is idle. I'd much rather leave the side panel off and point a housefan at the cpu and mobo. Come to think of it, I already do that. :p Overclock 24/7, not just for benchmarks.

[Bullet-Man-2]

well my current full load temps are around 46ºc... But software cooling is nice to have running, because even during games, the prossesor doesnt need that much power... Some times..

[benknobi]

I think it is a bad Idea and say nay. Those software coolers like Rain take over when your CPU is idle sending a Halt instruction to your CPU. I think it creates bigger Temperature swings between Full load hot and Idling cool. Thermal expansion and contraction greater than normal That has to be bad for your cpu Those .18 Micron traces are small. A good HS/Fan Cooler works ALL the time so

XP1600+ @1670Mhz w/SK6 and Delta 38
Arctic Silver3....Full load temps 41C, Idle 38C

[Bullet-Man-2]

well since I fixed my heat problem, i guess I don't need the software cooling. It seems my cheap COMPUSA thermal paste melted... yes.. Im serious... When I took off the HSF, the white greese compound had started to flow!

That will teach me from buying cheap again.

now my cpu runs @ 45ºc full load