New Anandtecher needs help. Please

[ShinSa]

Hi, I just joined today cuz I enjoyed getting information from anandtech forums.

I just got a new rig this weekend consisting of the following
Lian-Li PC-60
XP 1700+
Abit KR7A-Raid

My problem is this:
My CPU tempreature is around 57~58 under light load and rises to 60~61 under heavy use.
Is this a safe temperature??

I'm using a heatsink fan combo w/o grease i bought for $10 bux but the thing is pretty big. Should i get a new heatsink/fan or should i add grease to it? Is this a reasonable temperature and should i leave everything the way it is???

 

[Furor]

What's the heatsink/fan called? make sure it's making enough contact on the CPU and clamped down tightly.

 

[ShinSa]

The company is called Pent Alpha model# APSK0169. There was also a APSK0160 but this one came with a copper inlay on the bottom.
I'm pretty sure the contact is good. I had to apply heavy pressure to make the clip of the heatsink attach to the mobo. Also the heatsink is relatively cool to touch at 62C.



Here are the Specs
Heat Sink
Dimension 80x64.7x34mm
Material Aluminum Alloy 6063 / Extrusion with copper base
DC Fan
Dimension 60x60x10 mm
RPM 5000 ~ 5500 rpm
Air Flow 21CFM
Noise 35dB (A)
Support up to Intel: CeleronALL
PentiumIII Coppermine ALL
AMD: Duron ALL
Athlon 1.5GHz
Athlon xp 1900?& above

I think the fan is removable via 2 clips.


Funny thing is, when I boot up my computer I think the initial temp is around mid 50's. I'll double check tomorrow morning I was wondering if any other Abit owners experience this.

Inside my computer
a picture from their website
The bottom copper inlay

 

[Lizardman]

how are you getting those readings for the temperature? If it is from your motherboard then i wouldnt worry about it. The motherboard temp probe is not supposed to be accurate. Also what brand thermal grease are you using?

 

[SteveMac]

Your config is as follows?
*****
I just got a new rig this weekend consisting of the following
Lian-Li PC-60
XP 1700+
Abit KR7A-Raid

My problem is this:
My CPU tempreature is around 57~58 under light load and rises to 60~61 under heavy use.
Is this a safe temperature??

I'm using a heatsink fan combo w/o grease i bought for $10 bux but the thing is pretty big. Should i get a new heatsink/fan or should i add grease to it? Is this a reasonable temperature and should i leave everything the way it is???
******
I think the "w/o grease" is the clincher here. You should definitely have thermal transfer material (grease) between the CPU slug and the HSF. I have the same CPU with an Alpha 8045 and Arctic Silver II, a middlin' 2900 rpm Sunon fan on an Epox 8KHA+. My temps are ~ 32-35 at idle and 38-41 at full chat. Yes, too many variables are different to infer temperature equality, but some grease should keep you from frying that new CPU.

Have fun!

Mac

 

[Egrimm]

Some kind of thermal interface would help quite a bit, and grease-type are the best. Any compound will do, but the best grease are Arctic Silver II.

That's not the only reason for the above average temp though, I'm not sure that the hsf is that good. But get some grease and see how it then performs before rushing out to buy a new hsf.

 

[hmsrolst]

I'd also advocate some grease. The fact that the HSF is not very warm may be a bad sign, since the heat should be moving into it from the CPU.

 

[MoFunk]

Along with some thermal grease I would make sure you have good system cooling. Your HS wont help much if your ambient temps are really high. I would make sure you have an intake and exhaust fan as well. You could also look into another HS like the Alpha PAL8045 that fits an 80mm fan for really good cooling. But with all that said, monitoring your temps through the motherboard is not accurate and as long as you do not have a stability issue, then you should be fine.

 

[ShinSa]

<< Along with some thermal grease I would make sure you have good system cooling. Your HS wont help much if your ambient temps are really high. I would make sure you have an intake and exhaust fan as well. You could also look into another HS like the Alpha PAL8045 that fits an 80mm fan for really good cooling. But with all that said, monitoring your temps through the motherboard is not accurate and as long as you do not have a stability issue, then you should be fine. >>



Yes, the Lian-Li has an exaust fan and 2 intake fans in front.

First of all, I would like to thank alll those who took time to reply. I really appreciate it. I'm reading the tempreture from the BIOS and on Sandra. Here's the funny thing. I turn on the computer this morning where the room tempreture was relatively cold. The tempreture reading was at 43!! Isnt this weird?? So the turn on voltage is at 43 and rises to 58 on normal load. What do you guys think?

I went ahead and bought a silver alumina for 2 bux at jokers website and I'll tell you guys how that goee.

The CPU isnt a problem becuase I ran sandra burn in loop for over 300 cycles(basically I left it running for 4 hours). When i came back the mobo was beeping like crazy telling me the temp is too high(warning temp set at 70) but the system was still runnning.

So the temperature differnce from boot to normal load is only 15C. Isnt this normal???
I think the funniest thing here is the bootup temp of 43. what is going on????

 

[dannybin1742]

i'd suggest getting some ASII and and an sk6 or gladiator 2 (a delta fan is not needed, just get something over 30cfm) i'm running a gladiator 2 with a 60X60X25 evercool at 32cfm 30dba and its silent and cools the cpu down very nicely pluse i have really good air flow through the case 4 80mm fans at 35cfm a peice keeps the inside of the case at a cool 27.7 deg +/- 3 deg. big key is an all copper heat sink with a fairly high cfm fan.

 

[ShinSa]

<< i'd suggest getting some ASII and and an sk6 or gladiator 2 (a delta fan is not needed, just get something over 30cfm) i'm running a gladiator 2 with a 60X60X25 evercool at 32cfm 30dba and its silent and cools the cpu down very nicely pluse i have really good air flow through the case 4 80mm fans at 35cfm a peice keeps the inside of the case at a cool 27.7 deg +/- 3 deg. big key is an all copper heat sink with a fairly high cfm fan. >>



Yes, getting a bigger and better heatsink such as an alpha would help, but isnt the cooler I have good enough??? I mean how are people who buy retail cpu with supplied heatsink getting by??? Not all of em are sinking 30 bux for a cooler. My CPU isnt overclocked nor do i have a stability problem. I have a temperature problem.

 

[gdawson6]

stable or not, very high temperatures can dramatically shorten the life of your cpu and you should do something about it.

 

[ShinSa]

<< stable or not, very high temperatures can dramatically shorten the life of your cpu and you should do something about it. >>



but what accounts for my boot-up temp to be so high????

 

[punkrawket]

you need thermal compound

if there is none you are lucky that you have not fried your cpu yet

get some... ANY kind (ASII, ASIII, Artic Alumina, generic, nanotherm blue, nanotherm ice)

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

I think the telltale sign here is that the heat isn't transferring to the HS ("Also the heatsink is relatively cool to touch at 62C." )
The fact that you're not using any TIM (thermal interface material) at all follows with what you're reading temperature-wise. At 62C, that HS should be scorchingly hot (143F).

edit: It should also be noted that while the Athlon can function at such elevated levels, I wouldn't recommend it. You are risking your CPU by running it without TIM.

 

[ShinSa]

Just got my Artic Alumina today and after applying~~~ Voila, System temp 31, CPU temp 42.5!!!!

So i went from a 57C CPU to a 42C CPU in a difference of 15C just from some toothpaste. Thanks for all your inputs.

 

[JokerF15]

ShinSa: Good to see that the Arctic Alumina made a good difference =). 15C is a lot!.

Nice system you got there btw. How do you like the LIan LI?.

-JokerF15

 

[Mitzi]

ShinSa, do you like the Lian Li case?

I've had mine for a couple of months and am very impressed with it. I managed to get the frontal USB ports working on the weekend, something which alot of people (including me) seem to have a problem with.

 

[ShinSa]

<< ShinSa: Good to see that the Arctic Alumina made a good difference =). 15C is a lot!.

Nice system you got there btw. How do you like the LIan LI?.

-JokerF15 >>



Yes, yes, thank you Joker. That performance on the alumina is incredible.

I love my Lian Li. This case is so clean and detailed down to the last screw. Even the PCI slot covers are mirror finshed. I was kinda regretful that i had to take some off. I don't think i can ever go back to my iron $40 case again.

My roommate called me insane when i told him the price though.

My only complaint about my system is the Enermax's length of the cables taking up so much real estate inside the case. I have bunch of 12V cables that are left over stuffed between my CD-Roms and the PSU. I'm gonna have a hard time when i try to change some jumpers on the CD rom. phew~

 

[ShinSa]

<< ShinSa, do you like the Lian Li case?

I've had mine for a couple of months and am very impressed with it. I managed to get the frontal USB ports working on the weekend, something which alot of people (including me) seem to have a problem with. >>



Yes, the 4 port USB on Lian is really generous. My ABit just happened to have 4 USB headers on the mobo which was a perfect match. I actually ran my USB extension cable underneath the square holes on the bottom righ hand tray. I dont know why those holes were there, but it secures my USB cables from getting tangled up with other cables.