Brand New P4 640 Overheating

[who dey]

Hello,
I just built a P4 640 (3.2GHz) machine using the Intel D925XEBC2 motherboard. I also got a nice Antec TPII 380 Watt Powersupply, which is ATX12 Version 2.01 compliant. I'm also using the Heatsink that came with the P4 Boxed processor.

I'm recieving a Overheating error at start-up after the POST test.
The first time I booted up, things were looking okay... I got the Intel Screen, and was getting ready to start the Windows XP installation, but then it all the sudden shut down.

Since that initial start-up, now everytime I start the machine it does successfully load and detect the CPU, amount of RAM, Mouse, Keyboard, etc. But then I get a message on the bottom of that same screen that says ("The CPU was previously shut down due to a thermal event. (OverHeating) Service this machine right away to resolve this.") From what I can tell, all three fans (Power Supply, CPU, and rear Chassis) seem to be working fine. I feel like I installed the CPU heat sink properly, so I'm not sure why it would be overheating. Unless its a false error.

Processor Zone = Starts out at 107 Degrees, the machine shuts down when it hits 109 Degrees... which happens in less then 2 seconds.
System Zone 1 = 36 Degrees
System Zone 2 = 38 Degrees

Any suggestions?

Thanks again in advance for all your help.

 

[imported_2x]

I worked with the 630 recently with the stock heatsink and an intel board and what I found was that the heatsink installation is very deceptive. By that I mean the instructions said press down on the pins till they click in. Well if you stop pressing at the first click - you have not gone far enough. I would take the heatsink completely off, and then seat the heatsink back on but remember to press down on two of the pins at the same time, and the two pins being ones that are directly opposite one another, then repeat with the remaining 2 pins. I remember hearing 3-4 clicks per pin before it stopped clicking. You need to apply very hard pressure but not hard enough to break stuff. I have a feeling based on your described issue that the heatsink is not on the cpu tightly and thus is overheating. Also make sure when you do unseat the heatsink that the thermal pad was not damaged.

 

[NotquiteanooB]

In addition to what 2X has said; I suggest getting a ThermalTake Jungle 512 Heatsink and fan combo and use Arctic Silver 5 paste on the base of the new heatsink. I 've done this and dropped the CPU temps by 8*C while OC"g and running both hyper-threads at 100%. Chuck the Intel heatsink; it runs about 2400 rpm., whereas the TT J 512 is about 3700+ rpm. I can't hear any noticeable increase in fan noise.

 

[who dey]

Good News! I got it to work. I took your advise.. I uninstalled it, checked the Thermal Compound (which seemed a little worn off from the first time I installed it, but still okay) and re-seated it with a firmer press. I also rotated it one half turn, so that the Intel logo on the top of the fan was facing the same direction as all the other logos and text on the motherboard.

My machine now runs... and is installing windows XP as I type this. I'm thinking rotating it may had something to do with it. Perhaps the square shaped thermal paste is more of a retangle shape, and didn't match up corectly until I rotated it 1/4 turn.

Thanks so much for your help guys. I'll probably still invest into a better HSF.

Thanks again,

 

[The Pentium Guy]

If you do, Zalman 7000AlCu is pretty excellent. I got it's bigger brother the 7700AlCu, but it might not fit