A64 3000+ upgrade to A64 X2 4400+

[shinji257]

I am concerned about the heat and was wondering if there was going to be any issues at all for me when both of the cores go full use. Basically here is my current setup.

A64 3000+ using Stock HSF
42C idle - 55C full load (expected worse case -- it leveled at 53C for me when I ran Prime95 for an hour)
I have 3 80mm fans. 1 intake in the front and 2 exhaust in the back.
There is also a PSU fan (80mm I think) that also exhausts on the back. It is a Thermaltake Toughpower 600W.

I would be using the new processor with the stock HSF setup. Nothing special. The motherboard is an Epox EP-9NPA+ Ultra.

 

[hennethannun]

are the temps you mentioned at stock settings on your 3000+ or on the 4400+?

they are very high temps for the 3000+ and a bit high for the 4400+

also, what is the ambient temp in your computer room?

I have both a 3000+ and a 4400+ myself.
with ambient temps around 22-25C, and stock settings I get the following temps
idle: 3000+ 25C 4400+ 36C (both WITH cool'n'quiet)
load: 3000+ 31C 4400+ 50C

note that the 3000+ is in a much less powerful system (mATX mobo, integrated graphics, only one harddrive, so part of that differential is environmental, rather than the result of the processors themselves). but in any event, 42C idle is too high for a 3000+, unless your ambient temp is well up into the 30s.

 

[myocardia]

Shinji, assuming your 3000 is a Skt. 754 chip, then you'll do fine with the stock cooler, as long as you're planning on running the 4400 at stock speeds. If your 3000 is a Skt. 939 chip, then you will probably have to buy a better heatsink, because they run alot cooler than the 754's do. Assuming you live in the U.S., then they aren't very expensive at all: Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro @ newegg.

 

[Mucker]

You may be better off with a X2 3800+. The smaller cache (2 x 512 MB) will generate less heat and the performance will nearly be the same as the 4400+ at the same MHz. Plus you'll save about $80.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Mucker
You may be better off with a X2 3800+. The smaller cache (2 x 512 MB) will generate less heat and the performance will nearly be the same as the 4400+ at the same MHz. Plus you'll save about $80.

I agree, especially if you don't have air conditioning.

 

[shinji257]

Originally posted by: hennethannun
are the temps you mentioned at stock settings on your 3000+ or on the 4400+?

they are very high temps for the 3000+ and a bit high for the 4400+

also, what is the ambient temp in your computer room?

The temps posted are a stock 3000+. I do not know what the ambient temp is in the room but the case ambient temp is 39C usually.

Originally posted by: myocardia
Shinji, assuming your 3000 is a Skt. 754 chip, then you'll do fine with the stock cooler, as long as you're planning on running the 4400 at stock speeds. If your 3000 is a Skt. 939 chip, then you will probably have to buy a better heatsink, because they run alot cooler than the 754's do. Assuming you live in the U.S., then they aren't very expensive at all: Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro @ newegg.

It is a socket 939 chip. I plan on keeping them on stock setting (no overclocking). Thanks for the suggestion on the HSF.

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Mucker
You may be better off with a X2 3800+. The smaller cache (2 x 512 MB) will generate less heat and the performance will nearly be the same as the 4400+ at the same MHz. Plus you'll save about $80.

I agree, especially if you don't have air conditioning.

I do have window ac unit in the room although i'm not always going to be able to have it running. The case is a chieftec dragon case. There wasn't many options for fan spots and the stupid slots won't allow for anything except the really cheap 80mm fans. That's if you can get them to fit in. They basically ended up being the usual 2 spots in the back, one on the bottom front and one in front of the hard drives. I didn't put one in front of the hard drives because it didn't contribute any airflow really. If heat is going to be (or already is) an issue then I will push to get a better case instead and quite possibly a better HSF setup. Any recommendations? I was looking at the Lian Li PC60APLUSII case. Is it any good?

I will have 2 more things to admit here...
1. When I installed the stock HSF it actually fell off. I thought I had a secure mount but apparently it was installed wrong. Upon putting the case upright it fell and got caught in the power cabling (luckily). I just went and redid the install and put more pressure this time until I was absolutely positiive it was in...

2. I've never had the Cool 'n' Quiet feature on. So the temps I posted are with it disabled.

 

[Parasitic]

You can probably get by with the stock cooler from the 4400+ x2 for now...then see if replacements are necessary.
I'm personally going to use a XP-90 (non-copper version) with the 4400+ x2.

 

[hennethannun]

hmm, the case temp (39C) is a bit high, but nothing too bad.

however, if your hs/f fell off and you put it on without reapplying thermal paste, it is possible that you trapped some air inside the thermal compound, which would significantly reduce performance and could explain your high temperatures...

I think you will be fine at stock settings with stock cooling witht eh 4400+, just be sure to get the HS/F seated and locked properly (those stupid retention clips on AMD stock coolers can be really annoying) and if you DO have to reinstall the heat sink, clean everything first with isopropyl alcohol wipes and then re-apply frest thermal paste...

 

[najames]

You might want to consider an Antec Super Lan Boy case. They are easy to work on, rubber mounted drives and fans, quiet 120mm (?) fans. I have 3 of them. The AMD64 3000 and 3200 systems run cool.

I haven't been watching, but Compusa runs them on sale for about $40 and is where I got mine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129145

The pictures don't show it but there is also a big fan for in the back that you install yourself. I have never used the straps shown either.

 

[shinji257]

Originally posted by: najames
You might want to consider an Antec Super Lan Boy case. They are easy to work on, rubber mounted drives and fans, quiet 120mm (?) fans. I have 3 of them. The AMD64 3000 and 3200 systems run cool.

I haven't been watching, but Compusa runs them on sale for about $40 and is where I got mine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129145

The pictures don't show it but there is also a big fan for in the back that you install yourself. I have never used the straps shown either.

I've seen that case already. My cousin has one. I'll keep it in mind though. Probably the only issue is going to be the number of external 5.25" slots but it will probably be ok. On my existing case I already use 3. One is a removable HD rack and the other 2 are optical drives (1 CD-RW and 1 DVD-RW).

Originally posted by: hennethannun
hmm, the case temp (39C) is a bit high, but nothing too bad.

however, if your hs/f fell off and you put it on without reapplying thermal paste, it is possible that you trapped some air inside the thermal compound, which would significantly reduce performance and could explain your high temperatures...

I think you will be fine at stock settings with stock cooling witht eh 4400+, just be sure to get the HS/F seated and locked properly (those stupid retention clips on AMD stock coolers can be really annoying) and if you DO have to reinstall the heat sink, clean everything first with isopropyl alcohol wipes and then re-apply frest thermal paste...

Yea. I probably should of done that. I'll have my cousin helping me out on the new processor install and I will probably get a 3rd party fan to install instead of the stock one. The one that was suggested earlier will probably work out really well.

BTW, What is the best way to remove a pre-existing processor? I don't want to damage anything in the process.