Abnormally hot Athlon XP 2600+ (Barton)

[Glonk]

I helped my friend build his computer a couple months ago. We originally used a really cheap $30 ATX case and stock cooling on everything. The CPU was VERY hot (idle at 60(!)). So we got him a good case with good airflow, including a fan at the front to pull in cooler air and two at the back to exhaust it. We installed a CoolerMaster Aero7+ properly (with Arctic Silver 3). His motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-7N400-L.

It runs cooler now, idling at 52-55. But it still peaks at over 65C, which is completely unacceptable.

What more can we do? Is it possible he just got a "bad" chip that's abnormally hot? If so, it's a retail AMD one (not OEM), could I go about getting a replacement?

His brother has an Athlon XP 2500+ (Barton) and virtually identical configurations, and it's a good 10-20C cooler all the time...

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Dave

 

[mechBgon]

Some motherboards are calibrated differently than others. I can think of two mobos that can be depended upon to give temperature readings nearly 30C different with the same exact CPU/heatsink/fan/voltage setup. Maybe pick up an Asus A7N8X Deluxe, if you want temperature estimates in the low-to-mid 40C's But it is nothing more than a candy coating on the truth. If the system is stable and you have your heatsink installed in the correct direction then I would say it's time to play some UT2004 Demo

One more thing... you didn't use a shim between the CPU and heatsink, I hope? If they're a little too thick, then your heatsink will get only marginal contact and the heat transfer will be poor.

Ahh, and another thing to check: if your heatsink came disassembled, confirm that you got the clip into it in the correct direction. The clip isn't symmetrical; its pressure point is offset, so it must be installed so that its pressure point coincides with the location of the CPU core.

 

[Cheetah8799]

agreed. different mfgrs use different temp measurement devices, and some are better than others. If you are really worried, you could buy a sensor and attach it yourself.

You could also try touching the heatsink (carefully...) while it is supposedly 65C. If it burns you, then maybe it really is 65C... My Biostar mobo says the CPU tops out at about 50C, but the heatsink isn't all that hot when I touch it.

 

[Abhoth]

Yeah, I'd be double checking the HSF install... Regarding the 'touch' method, it's all well and good if properly seated, but if not then the HSF will be relatively cool as it's not doing it's job all that well.

 

[NokiaDude]

Too much thermal grease was used. Go back and clean that heatsink and CPU throughly with isopropyl alcohol and then apply AS3 using a BB sized dot. Spread that around by taking some saran wrap and putting it tightly against the tip of your finger. "Paint" just the CPU with AS3 and try to get it so you can BARELY see the color of the core.