Hot! Hot!

[ras786]

I recently replaced my retail heatsink fan with a Zalman CNPS7000A-C on my P4. At first i used the zalman heatsink fan and I'm pretty sure I put too much. My cpu temps not overclocked were at around 45C idle and 57 with 100% processor utilization. So I purchased some arctic silver thermal paste hoping for some decrease in temps. I cleaned the processor well then applied the paste according to the instructions, by applying only a rice grain in the center and sliding my HS on top of the thermal grease:

But my temps are just about 2 degrees cooler! I also read on these forums that after 200 hours of use you'll notice a difference in temperature after you break it in so to speak. But I was certain I'd notice a bigger difference after applying the thermal grease a second time.....my idle temp right now is 43C.......I see people with their cpus overclocked at that temp and mines just at stock clock speed....Yes, i know you cant do much without a cool case but i have four fans at work, two intake and two exhaust.....I'm thinking of replacing the fans soon but I hope to see some improvement.....Of course my cpu is in no danger but I would expect my temps to be much lower....the fan on my heatsink is running at 2600 RPM is that what it should be running at? I know it needs to run slower to generate less noise but this is on normal mode (i took off the fanmate).......

 

[ras786]

forgot to mention I have a lian li pc-65 case, P4 3.0 c , abit ic7-g , and an antec true power 430 watt......

 

[CaNNoN]

take a footprint man. put a VERY thin layer of grease on the CPU IHS <integrated heat spreader>. smear it with a credit card or a razor blade so that it is covering the whole top of the chip. make sure it is as thin of a layer as you can get. then mount the heatsink. then remove it and turn it over and see if you have the grease on the heatsink base in the shape of the CPU top. hence the footprint. this will insure that you are getting good contact between the CPU and the HS base. some P4 IHS's are known to be very un even and dip in the center with high points on the corners. this will cause terrible temps. if this is the case, there is something you can do.

do this at your own risk. i did it and it decreased my temps between 4 and 8C load, when i was using air.

Lap the IHS. be carefull not to BEND the pins on the CPU when you do this! grip it lightly and do NOT press very hard on the chip to the sand paper. light preassure is plenty.

start with 400 grit wet/dry sand paper and go in a circular motion till you start seeing a copper color. make sure you use a liquid for the sanding. i use laquir thinner. you can use alchohol or the thinner. both work fine. i have also hear of using dish soap liquid. never tried that tho.

anyways, sand on an even surface like a piece of glass or the countertop in your kitchen. as i said start with 400 grit and go in circles till you start seeing copper on the IHS.

keep the paper slightly wet and keep sanding with 400 till you see copper on the edges and also in the center.

when you see copper in the center, go to 600 grit paper.
sand till you see copper over the whole IHS. one you see copper over the whole thing, it will be flat. or as near flat as you can get it as long as you sanded on a flat area.

after you see nothing but copper, move to 800 grit and sand out the scratches left from the 600 grit.

by now it will start to have a polished finish. not too shiny, but a dull mirror.

move to 1200 grit and polish it to a mirrow finish.

do the same to your heatsink base, and polish it as well.

reapply a PAPER thin layer of grease. i cant stress that enough. PAPER thin! very little! this will get you a true footprint and ensure good contact. if you dnt get a good footprint, lap more!

get another footprint and compare. if you got a good lap on the IHS and HS, then you should see grease evenly on the heatsink base in the shape of the IHS. if you see this, then clean it off really good. apply your paper thin layer of fresh paste, and mount your HS. boot it up and check yer temps. if you did it all right, you should see lower temps depending on your air flow and ambiant temps. and yes, after the 200 hours you will definitly notice a drop in temps. AS3 has a seating time and once it is set it really starts working great.

also, make sure your ambiant temps arent too high. your air cooled HS and fan can only cool your CPU to ambiant temps due to the fact that the air is that temp. so, turn on the AC and let the temps fall!!

good luck and i hope this helps you!!


C

 

[ras786]

my room is prolly a little cooler than room temperature, case temps get up to 32 C.....my case is right near a window as well so it should be alright......do you think better fans would help? The current ones came with the case and I would assume are pretty crappy......but anyway ill defnitely try reapplying the thermal paste....alsoon another thread someone showed me this link
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm
on how to apply arctic silver thermal paste....thanks for the help......

 

[CaNNoN]

80mm case fans will bring in enough air for a stock clocked P4. have 2 intake and 2 exhaust. i think your problem lies either in the IHS being uneven or a heatsink that just doesnt work well.

for a P4 the best HSF you can buy is the SP series from thermalright <SP-94>. the heatpipe design will definitly cool the CPU as good as it gets.

good luck man.

C

 

[ras786]

So either a the IHS is uneven or the heatsink is poorly constructed?

Would that really make all the difference?