AMD XP Running Hot

[TATOO]

I thought I was getting the hang of cooling when I cooled my 1.2 Athlon with a Thermalright SK6 and a Delta Black Label fan; loud but cool. I then upgraded to an Antec case, Asus A7V333 MB, AMD XP 1800, and a Thermalright AX7 heat sink with Thermaltake's 80mm smart fan (trying to go quiet). Case temps are around 28-30C and the CPU is still around 52-53C idle (Win XP). Can someone give me some insight on what I'm doing wrong? I am currently stationed in South Korea so getting parts takes some time. Thanks...


Tatoo

 

[CelticDemolition]

yeah, man, i've had a similar problem... my xp 1700+ used to idle in the low 40s with a volcano7+, fan set to lowest speed. then i shipped my computer home for the summer, removing the heatsink so it wouldnt fall off and kill stuff. then when i regoop the cpu and put it back on i find that i idle roughly 10 degrees C higher than before! the ambient temp maybe went up a degree or two, thats it. the only thing i can think of is that i didnt put the proper amount of as3 thermal grease on my core, either too much or too little, i dunno. does anyone else experience such high swings in temp due to a little difference in amount of thermal paste they applied? very curious to find out... if i get around to it i'll take some time to regoop the cpu and experiment, too busy playing sof2 at the moment though.. hehe.

 

[IKeelU]

I doubt this will completely solve your problem, but here are some instructions provided by Arctic Silver on how to apply their paste:

Applying Arctic Silver

You could also try lapping the base of the sink (although thermalright does a pretty good job already). This guy swears by it:

Lapping an SK6

Tatoo how good is your case airflow? And have you tried changing the direction of the CPU fan? Could be worth a try.



-STS

 

[TATOO]

No, have not tried redirecting the CPU fan yet, that will be my next step...thanks. I just finished reapplying Artic Silver and reseating the Heat sink but no change...I even took the MB out this time to make sure I was doing it right. I'll reply back as soon as I change the CPU fan around...

Tatoo

 

[mechBgon]

TATOO, your temperatures are below normal for an A7V333. This board's socket thermistor simply reads higher because that's how Asus has calibrated it. My own A7V333 typically runs 55C with a 1700+, an Alpha PAL8045 and a quiet Panaflo L1A fan, for comparison. If you enable the Asus Q-Fan feature in the BIOS, it will run your CPU fan at a low speed and only begin raising the fan speed if the temperature is exceeding 60C. So enjoy your quiet setup, it's running at a very nice temperature.

CelticDemolition, I would have to guess that you put your heatsink on backwards, since no other factors changed. One end of most heatsinks has a step cut into the base so it clears the cambox at the end of the CPU socket, and if the heatsink is on backwards then the base touches the cambox and prevents square contact between the CPU core and the heatsink (plus the clip's pressure point ends up in the wrong place). They really should start designing CPU sockets with asymetrical lugs so this can't happen. Anyway, you might check that out.

 

[paralazarguer]

They really should start designing CPU sockets with asymetrical lugs so this can't happen

It's called an Intel stock HSF.

 

[CelticDemolition]

nah mechBgon, that heatsink is on the right way.. made sure of that. the kr7a series has the cpu socket inverted, so the hsf is actually upside down when in correctly. i'm thinking its gotta be the amount of as3 on the core. i checked that earlier link, the one about the instructions for applying as3, and maybe i'll check that out. i think i just have too much on there.

 

[eloric the 2nd]

TATOO - i actually dont think there is anything wrong with those temps... they seem fine for an XP, heck my 1900+ that i had ran at 60 idle and 65 underload, now that was at the limit, and it was with a stock HSF, now the thing i did with was to clean the fan and the HS, get all the dust out of the HS was a biggie that droped my temps some.. back to the high 50's .... now i have a 2000+ with an SVC G68 with an 80mm fan and i get a CPU temp of 50 idle and maybe 55 underload ... my case temp is 37 on average.

CelticDemolition - to much ASIII can be a bad thing.... i put to much on my 1900+ when i first got it and ended up ftying the CPU and MB.... hence why i now have a 2000+ all u need is a a VERY VERY small amount... smaller than what i normally use with other brand past... and of course make sure to clean both the HS and the CPU before reapplying any past...


good luck to ya both

eloric

 

[TATOO]

Thank you all for your help. MechBgon & Eloric the 2nd, even though I trust your advice I can't help being bothered by those high temps. I'm still trying to tweek for a few C's lower. Yesturday, I removed the Thermaltakes Smart Fans's thermister and am now running the 80mm fan at approximatly 5000 rpm witch should give me about 53 CFM with 39 dB's. My CPU temps still run over 20 degrees over case temps (30C case/52C CPU). I will now try to turn the fan around to see if that will buy me a few more C's....If it were not for the pain in the butt retaining clip, I would try my SK6 with the Delta fan and ignore the noise.


TATOO

 

[CelticDemolition]

thx everyone