Alpha PAL 8942 Cooler not so Cool

[Ketchup]

I have had an Alpha PAL 8942 for a few months now, and thought it was a pretty good cooler, but the 46 cfm fan seemed a bit too noisy after a while, so I decided to try out the stock Intel fan that came with my 2.4B. Imagine my surprise when I noticed the temps were no higher than they were with the Alpha, and things were quite a bit quieter too. I could also run at the same overclocked speed that I could with the Alpha.

The Alpha has a copper center and a 46 cfm fan on it, so I knew something was wrong. I took the retain fan back off and lapped the Alpha with 3-grades of sandpaper up to 600-grit. I cleaned off and reapplied the artic silver, and made sure the heatsink was on tight with even pressure on all sides.

Did it make any difference? Not a bit. I even reached in and felt the heatsink, and it wasn't even warm while the CPU was under load, so I tightened it down as far as I could, but that didn't seem to help.

In the past, I have used a Swiftech MC-462A that had a similar mounting scheme, and achieved great results with my Athlon XP 1800.

So, before I throw this Alpha in the garbage, does anyone have any ideas as to why this thing runs so hot?

My temps are 48 idle and 64 under load, and I think it is safe to assume my IT7 is reporting temps about 10C too high.

 

[OulOat]

Too lazy to actually lap it eh?

 

[Ketchup]

Too lazy to actually read my post eh?

 

[Spicedaddy]

Originally posted by: ketchup79
Too lazy to actually read my post eh?

owned...



48 idle and 64 load is really high, what kind of case temps are you getting? If the air around the heatsink is hot, then it won't make a difference if you have the biggest heatsink in the world.

I just ordered a Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu to replace the retail HS because I think it's too loud.

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: ketchup79
Too lazy to actually read my post eh?

Too lazy to figure out that 600 grit is not lapping it, eh? 600 grit = flat, but not smooth

 

[Ketchup]

Originally posted by: Spicedaddy

Originally posted by: ketchup79
Too lazy to actually read my post eh?

owned...



48 idle and 64 load is really high, what kind of case temps are you getting? If the air around the heatsink is hot, then it won't make a difference if you have the biggest heatsink in the world.

I just ordered a Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu to replace the retail HS because I think it's too loud.

Case temps are 33 right now, according to MBM. They were aroud 28 when I had my Epox 4G4A+, with everything else in my system being the same. Anyone know why Abit insists on reporting temps higher than they really are? I mean, what's the point of having it if you aren't going to do it right?

 

[mechBgon]

I haven't used the 8942 but I've used its cousin, the 8045, and I know they use the same mounting hardware. Two issues that could be arising:

1) One or more of the standoffs is/are sticking up too high from the motherboard's surface. Possible reasons: use of the flanged washers on a board where the holes aren't big enough for the flanges, or maybe one or more of the flanges got hung up and isn't down into the hole.

2) Springbolts not exerting enough tension when bottomed out (more of an issue for AthlonXP's). Possible reason: not enough flat washers sandwiching the spring. On mine, I put two flat plastic washers onto the bolt, then slide the spring on, then add a third flat plastic washer. This increases the "squish" on the spring when it's bottomed out in the standoff.

Hope that helps get more cooling out of the 8942 for you

 

[Ketchup]

Thanks for the reply. At least I don't have to worry about crushing the P4! You could be very right about the washers, as the instructions say to put a nylon washer on either side of the motherboard where the standoff goes through it, which could be rasing it a little too high. I think I have a couple more that I could put on the bottom of the spring to keep it from bottoming out so soon.

I appreciate the tip. I would appreciate any other input, as I plan on trying the Alpha tomorrow one last time.

 

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by: OulOat

Originally posted by: ketchup79
Too lazy to actually read my post eh?

Too lazy to figure out that 600 grit is not lapping it, eh? 600 grit = flat, but not smooth

get a life.

 

[Lizardman]

when i installed my alpha on my p4 my temps dropped from about 65 under load to 57 something
I have an abit mobo and the temp sensor is about 10 to 15 degrees too high.

 

[PliotronX]

Originally posted by: OulOat

Originally posted by: ketchup79
Too lazy to actually read my post eh?

Too lazy to figure out that 600 grit is not lapping it, eh? 600 grit = flat, but not smooth

Too lazy to discover that a mirror finish does nothing for temps, eh? Getting it flat is the objective, Arctic Silver does the rest.

 

[jhites]

I have been using Alpha for several years with my last being the 8942.
Was running a 80mm Sunon 50cfm loud fan with ASIII.

I just replaced it a few days ago with a ThermalRight SLK-900U with
92mm Panaflo 57cfm and used Shin-Etsu Thermal Compound instead
of ASIII. It is running much quieter and my temps at idle have dropped
3C and under load (Prime95) dropped 6C. Motherboard and Ambiant
temps were all the same when testing these changes.

The 900U does use a similar mounting system to the 8942.

 

[Ketchup]

I was thinking about picking up either the MCX4000 or the SLK900U. Besides the fact that they cool better, I think they are much better looking coolers to boot. The Alpha just doesn't do much for me asthetically.

 

[jhites]

Couple of points on the SLK900U:

1. 1. The base does not cover the entire die of the P4 - still cooling better

1. 2. Using a 92mm fan - it hangs over the edges of the sink

1. 3. My motherboard temps dropped 1C - I think due to the air blowing down vs the alpha pulling air up

1. 4. You have the option of using the four stud setup or the clip method using the P4 tray

 

[ShoNuff]

Originally posted by: ketchup79
Too lazy to actually read my post eh?

ROTFLMAO. That was a good one!!!

 

[ShoNuff]

I did not catch what kind of case you are using? I am using the 8942 with a TT Smart Fan 2. Before I installed a fan in the side of my LianLi PC-75 my temps were about 48 idle and 64 under load. That is with a C1 P4 at stock (1.57v) voltage on the 8INXP.

After the side case fan (Antec 80MM low noise?) install I am at 52c under load and 38c at idle. I am still not happy with the temps. I can reduce the load temps to less than 48c if I run the TTSF2 at full speed. I really don't like to do that because it is too loud.

I am very temted to try the SLK900U and a 90MM fan. I just don't know if it will fit the 8INXP with the dual power module installed.

Oh, I am using ASIII if it makes a difference. If you go with the SLK let us know what you think.

 

[Ketchup]

Yup, will do. I think jhites' 3.5 GHz makes us all wanna get one.

FYI: I have a steel Chemming (sp?) case with the side window, side fan, and an Antec True480 P.S. (was going for the 430, but Newegg was out of stock). I put a high flow fan in the side, but really didn't notice a difference, so I put the quiet case fan back on.

 

[Ketchup]

Well guys, I decided to give it one last try, and did something similar to what MechBgon mentioned. I figured that since the screws were bottoming out, I would put a nut on the screw about the spring, so if anthing, I would run out of spring before I ran out of standoff.

And it seemed to work rather well. My load temps are down to 58 C, an improvement of 6 degrees over the stock unit, and 4 degrees below the last temps I recorded with the Alpha.

Thanks to all for your input (except for Oulout; you can take your lapping and shove it up your you-know-what). I think a Thermalright SLK-800U will be my next upgrade.

 

[ShoNuff]

Ketchup79 you are not acting in the spirit of a true enthusiast. You are supposed to spend at every opportunity!:|

Well, if you tried the SLK900U I wouldn't have to. Well, of course I'm just kidding. Glad to see you are getting better results with the Alpha.

 

[Ketchup]

Don't worry ShoNuff, I am sure I will break down and buy it shortly, because I am now stable at 2.98 GHz and DDR 440, so I need something that will push me over the 3 GHz barrier. I may strap on my Vantec Tornado and see if that does it, but even if it does, I can't take the noise!

 

[Lizardman]

I doubt the heat will be limiting your p4 overclock at the low voltages you are using.

 

[Ketchup]

Originally posted by: Lizardman
I doubt the heat will be limiting your p4 overclock at the low voltages you are using.

Well, my vcore is 1.74 idle and 1.72 load according to motherboard monitor, which I feel is pretty near the limit for someone who wants his Northwood to last a reasonable amount of time.

And temps don't make a huge difference, but in this case, they did help. I got an extra 40 MHz out of her compared to what I was at before. 40 MHz isn't anything to go hog wild about, but it is enough to prove that temperatures do make a difference.