XP-120 and Nexus temperature problems

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if-away

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Aug 24, 2004
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What sort of temperatures are you guys getting with the XP-120 and the Nexus fan on it? I think mine are way too high and I don't know why...

Basically I got a X2 3800 about a week ago and ran it with the default heatsink and the default thermal paste until today when my XP-120 arrived.

Since I'm a noob I had to remove my motherboard and install the XP-120. I used "Ceramique by Arctic Silver" after cleaning the chip from the previous paste. I used a bigger than suggested(but not very big) drop of AS on the middle of the chip(it wasn't spread) then installed the XP-120. I had some serious trouble with it and I freaked out by the amount of pressure required but I installed it OK. I really don't want to touch the XP-120 ever again...
The Nexus came on it shortly after I used a dremel to cut the corners.

When I started it for the first time the ASUS A8N-E complained about the low RPM and I disabled that warning, it runs at around 1089 RPM according to speedfan.

My CPU at idle is at 45, at max it reaches 54 and this scares me. I don't remember being so high. The case is an Antec Sonata and it's really hot outside and in my room. About 28C during the day... There is a 120 exaust fan in the case. I plan to put another 120 fan just in front of the video card to create some more circulation but this case isn't really meant for good airflow.

Both ASUS probe and SpeedFan confirm 45 idle and around 54 max, I plan to OC but these temperatures scare me. Should I ditch the Nexus and get a better fan? Is this temperature normal? What are your temps with this setup? Could it be my heatsink installation or perhaps my AS? Should I use the thermal compound that came with the XP-120?

PS. My X1800XT 512MB runs at 65 according to ATI tool, is this normal or too high?

Edit: Everything is stock.
 
For that ambient temperature, it does seem a little high. I've got the same setup as you (guess we both read the recommendations thread? :D) and at night the CPU temp drops to high 20s, low 30s, and during the day goes up to mid-to-high 30s. I also used Ceramique.

X2 4400+
A8N-SLI Premium
Lian-Li PC-71
7800 GTX w/ Silencer

I plan on reapplying my XP-120 when I have the free time (my temp seems too high to me); I think you should do the same.
 
I've been using an XP-120, although with a different fan. Those temps are way too high. I would pull out the mobo and take off the heatsink to check how good your contact is.
 
Try using a small amount of AS5 and spreading it out on the core. The one drop and letting it naturally spread IMO is incorrect, i dont care what AS website says its not nearly as efficient. I have the Antec sonata and its a bitch to keep cool and keep nearly silent at the same time. I have the zalman 7700alcu which is alright but is not very good.
 
Thanks for the replies. I don't remember the old temperatures with the stock cooler however when I'll have time I'll reinstall the HS with proper spreading of the thermal paste. It's such a pain in the ass in a little case like the Sonata to take everything apart including the mobo so that I can reinstall the HS :(
 
rjblanke said:
That HS is a pain in the ass in just about any case. Good Luck.
Click to expand...

lol YES, my god it is a pain in the ass to install because the friggin' brackets are so resistant. *rubs hands
 
RailGunRiz said:
lol YES, my god it is a pain in the ass to install because the friggin' brackets are so resistant. *rubs hands
Click to expand...

Honestly i thought it was very easy to install, matter of a few seconds. However, its a real pain in the ass to try and remove it :p. So frigging hard to get those clips off the bracket.
 
It's a bitch in my case; no removable mobo tray; the working area is so big that it's usually not a problem, but for the XP-120... *mutters*
 
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