Processor too hot! Really need help!

R

Rob001

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 15, 2004
Messages
85
Hi.

My system is in my sig.

A few days ago I upgraded from a 2200xp to a 2800xp 512cache 266fsb. I was just installing my new RAM when the computer refused to carry on to Windows XP, saying I needed to fix some settings in the bios (or something). I went in to the bios and went through all the settings. The setting that was displayed in red (indicating a problem), was that which monitored my CPU temperature. It was well into the 80's (degree C). I knew this was stupidly hot, so i turned off the computer. I turned it back on again a short while later and found it stayed at around 76 degrees celcius. I have cleared all the dust from the cpu fan, as well as other areas of the case, with no reduced temperature.

I've never looked at the CPU temperature before with my 2200xp, so i put it back in and checked it. With the 2200xp the temp is 51 degrees celcius (normally). This is more like it. As an experiment, i took the 2400xp which is in the family PC, and put it in to see what the temperature of that would be. It ran at exactly the same temp as the 2200xp.

So, why the hell does the 2800xp get so hot? The difference the 2800xp and the 2400xp & 2200xp (apart from mhz and the multiplyer) is the L2 cache is 512mb instead of 256mb. So maybe this is to blame? In any case i really need to cool the CPU.

I tried the CPU cooler from the family PC (newer computer, so possibly better cooler). With the 2800xp the temperature stays at 70 degrees C. So thats an improvement of 6 degrees. The difference is the same with the other processors too. I noticed that the fan ran faster than the other one.

Heres the cooler I orginally had:
http://www.taisol.com/CEK783001.html

And heres the one i borrowed from the family pc:
http://www.akasa.co.uk/akasa_english/spec_page/coolers/spec_ak_795.htm


So, to make the processor cool enough, will I simply need an even better cooler? Note that when i switched prcoessors, i changed nothing in the bios except the speeds. Maybe I need to change some settings to lower the temp?

I've had a look at some coolers, and it seems the more expensive, the lower the fan speed. Why is this? I thought the higher the speed, the cooler it can perform?

Anyway, i am a bit lost now. I don't know whether another cooler will solve my problem, and if it can, i don't know which one to get. I really don't want to have to send back this processor, as the extra L2 cache will really improve my games performance.
 
all i can really say is check the following

make sure the heatsink is making contact with the cpu, and u have some sort of thermal paste on it. ...make sure the heatsink is aligned properly too, as ive had it on backwards once...weed...

also check the vol,tage to the cpu, it could be that the voltage is too high...causing the cpu to heat up....find the option in bios, set voltage to auto?

not much else i can think of that would heat up a cpu like that...the cache and fsb shouldnt make it increase that much

hell my 2500+ oc to 3200+ runs under load at 42c
 
I don't know if it's the best one but I figured I'd recommend the one I'm using with my Duron 1.8 GHz which I read is really a reconfigured Athlon XP 2200+. Mine runs at 45'C but that's with the thermal pad it came with.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=674108&CatId=0

On the Tigerdirect web site, for whatever reason, they call this a "Cables Unlimited" but it's really a Spire Whisper Rock IV (it says so on the box). Anyway, I looked at the Spire web site and found a long list of reviews for that heatsink.

So, I have a doofus question for anyone who knows the answer. What would happen if I took off the thermal pad and put thermal grease like Arctic Silver 5? And does sandpappering the heatsink help? I read something about lapping but I really didn't understand what the guy was talking about.

\EDIT: BTW, I wanted to say that on the tigerdirect web site, you can scroll down and click on the Canadian flag or the UK, German or French flag to order from those countries. I ordered all my stuff from tigerdirect.ca
 
I would make sure the HSF is making proper contact with the chip. I would reapply some thermal paste to the chip (make sure to drop just a small dot in the middle of the chip, and spread it evenly throughout the chip. Replace the HSF and make sure it's making the proper contact it should be.

If this does not work I suggest maybe getting a more "heavy duty" HSF, such as the popular Zalman series.
 
Yeah, I just wanted to add that the Spire Whisper Rock IV is very silent but also has three "connectors" on both sides so when the heatsink is on, it's really "locked" on.
 
Check the following for overheating or perceived overheating:

- Is the heatsink correctly installed ?
--> Verify it is correctly installed.

- Is the heatsink filled with dust and crud ?
--> Clean with compressed air in a can.

- Is the heatsink fan operating ?
--> Replace defective fan with similar or better unit.

- Is the heatsink adequate for that application/CPU ?
--> Verify it meet the requirements for the CPU being used.
--> RETAIL heatsink? May require lapping and better TIM.

- Is thermal interface material used between heatsink and cpu ?
--> Verify it is used, and is applied according to the manufacturers guidelines.
--> Recommended PCM's, thermal pads from "AMD Thermal, Mechanical,and Chassis Cooling Design Guide #23794.PDF.
- Bergquist HF225UT Phase Change
- Chomerics T725 Phase Change
- Honeywell PCM45 Phase Change
- Power Devices Powerfilm Phase Change
- ShinEtsu PCS-TC-11T-13 Phase Change
- Thermagon T-pcm905C Phase Change
--> Recommended thermal interface material aka: grease, gel etc.
- Arctic Ceramique.
- Arctic Alumina.
- Arctic Silver, 3, 5 etc.

- Is the TIM pad cover removed from heatsink before installation, if using supplied TIM pad ?
--> Remove the cover before installation, failure to do so will insulate the cpu from the heatsink.

- Is there adequate airflow or case ventialation ?
--> Verify airflow, add case fans if required.

airflow.jpg


- Is the Vcore set higher than specified by the manufacturer ?
--> Verify the Vcore is set to the manufacturers specification in the mainboards bios.

- Is the temperature read via the internal temperature diode. Is the tremperature read via the socket thermistor ?
--> Temperatures read at the diode can and will be higher than an external reading.

- Is the temperature sensor properly calibrated ?
--> Several boards have this problem, check manufacturers bios revision history for calibration fix.
--> Does the heatsink feel warm or HOT, if it's warm it could be a miscalibration error.

- Outside temperature high ?
--> If the external temperature is high, then the case fans will be drawing in hot air, especially during summer months. Remeber, when it's Winter in the Northern Hemi-sphere, it's Summer in the Southern Hemi-sphere & vice-versa.


Thanks MD!! :D
 
temp.jpg


Theres an image of what SpeedFan makes of my system. I don't quite understand where all the different readings are coming from. I went into a game of BF2, came out and did a defrag analysis to try and push the processor. It only went up to 74 degrees. So if it doesn't get much hotter when it's stressed, will the processor be OK running at this sort of temperature?

I checked my motherboard support page, and the next few bios's don't make any mention of the temperature monitoring thing. In fact I think the bios i'm using now is the one that fixed the problem.

Just to make absolute sure, is the heatsink the fan/cooler thing that fits over the processor? Or is it the metal grid thats placed elsewhere on the mobo? This confuses me a bit.

Thanks for your help so far.
 
Rob001 said:
Just to make absolute sure, is the heatsink the fan/cooler thing that fits over the processor? Or is it the metal grid thats placed elsewhere on the mobo? This confuses me a bit.
Click to expand...
well a heatsink is simply something that dissipates heat from something that gets hot, but needs to stay cool. normally when we refer to it around here (or the HSF, same thing), we mean the big block of metal that you put onto the processor. it should have a fan on it. if not, definitly definitly definitly put one on :eek:

that said, i want you to try this:

take a screenshot of speedfan.
run a prime95 torture test (use small fft's!) for 3-5 minutes, and take another shot of speedfan. post em both up here, and we'll try to decide what sensor is which :p

prime95 = http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm
 
You could also put a larger fan on your current heatsink using an adapter- seems the stock fan is a little light.
 
mid you that cooler was made for 2200+ xp's was it not?

just knuckle down and grab something from newegg or ncix (usa / canada respectively)
 
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