AMD 3000+ Cooling

[Outback Paul]

I just built my first pc with this processor. The motherboard supplied program states that the CPU is between 72 and 76 C in just a normal internet browsing mode. The max temp according to AMD's website is 85C. I have a Ultra Fire Athlon XP CPU Cooler that I bought here.

I didn't know how to apply the thermal paste and the guy on the phone with Tiger Direct said to put it all on the heatsink so I did. I now believe after some research that I was told wrong.

Should I remove, clean, and replace the paste with a thermal pad as AMD recommends?

How do I clean off what's already on there?

Thanks for the help.

Paul

 

[rb56]

If I read you post correctly and you are running between 72 and 76C I would definitely pull the hs off and redo it. I use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) before reinstalling my hs and it works well. Pad, grease, or something like artic silver (my choice) all will work if applied correctly.

rb56

 

[Granorense]

You have to put a thin (paper thin) coat of thermal paste on the core of the processor. Use a credit card or business card to even it, make sure it is nice and even.

Why kind of thermal compound did you get?

 

[Outback Paul]

I don't know what kind of compound I got. It came with the processor or heatsink/fan.

So is the core just the very center of the processor?

Should I place the pad on the heatsink or the core or does it matter?

AMD recommends pads, should it really be a paste?

What do you think my temp. will come down to?

Sorry for all the questions but it's my first time. Thought I did it all right but have been concerned that the temp was too close to the max and I haven't even played SimCity on it yet.

 

[Granorense]

It would be better if you write down your system specs. For example, how many fans you have and their functions are (intake, exhaust), you mother board, power supply, hard drives, case and so on.

Personally, I prefer to use Artic Silver 5 compound on my systems. Text

The core is as you said the little square in the middle of the processor.
Text

 

[Nickel020]

Check here for detailed instructions on how to apply thermal paste.
A thermal pad performs worse than thermal paste but you can do nothing wrong with a thermal pad, that's why AMD recommends them.

 

[BW86]

are you sure your running that high? did u open the case and feel the heatink? your thermal monitor is probably not reading it right. Also dont spread the thermal grease over the processor like Granorense said. You just put a little dot of it in the middle and put ur heatsink on. You spread it on processors where the core is showing, the a64 has a heatspreader on it.

 

[Outback Paul]

I just touched the heatsink and it was warm but surely didn't feel hot at all. I assume that the monitor is wrong. Is there another program out there that can tell me the temperature of the cpu?

Thanks for all of the replys and help.

Paul

 

[BW86]

Its probably a bios issue. flash to the most recent bios and check your temps.

BTW what mobo do u have

 

[Outback Paul]

I have a Chaintech 7NJL1. There was no BIOS update a couple of weeks ago. I'll check again.

 

[Nickel020]

Here's and alternative monitoring program, generally considered the best out there.

 

[BW86]

if your bios is reporting it wrong the mbm will report it wrong also, or its just that way with my comps