Computer/Poss. CPU problems

[CPSterndog]

Hey everyone, thanks for taking time to read this. I've been having some problems regarding my CPU over the past few weeks. When I put together my computer last summer, I bought an AMD Athlon (non-XP) 1.4 GHz. I also bought a CoolerMaster heatsink and a Delta 7000 RPM fan for it as well. I had been using the heat pad and stock fan since I built it because I couldn't stand the noise from the Delta fan. When I had it in that configuration, it was running 55-60 Degrees Celsius. I discovered rather recently that problems I have had running games may be related to my processor overheating during my gaming. Anyway, I decided to reinstall the Delta 7000 RPM fan in. That brought the temperature down to about 45-48 degrees C at idle. However, through the week the CPU tempertaure began to creep back up to about 52-54 degrees C when I would start up (with the Delta fan). I decided that the heat pad wasn't cutting it anymore, so I ordered some Artic Silver 3 thermal compond. When it arrived, I removed the old heat pad and followed the directions to apply the compund. However, when I finished and tried to start the computer again, it would not even POST, and I would get nothing on screen at all. I'm suspecting that somewhere along the line, my processor got screwed up. Do you all think this would be the case? If so, would buying a new Retail processor make things easier and less idiot-proof? I'd rather not go through all this crap with the fan and heatsink again. I will not be doing any sort of overclocking of this chip, so would that work fine for my needs? I'd appreciate your opinions and advice on this. Thanks in advance!

All the best!
Chris Sterner

P.S. For the record, here's my complete list of system specs:

AMD Athlon (non-XP) 1.4 GHz
Giga-byte GA-7DX motherboard
512 MB (2x256) DDR2100 RAM
IBM Deskstar 60GXP 60.0 GB hard drive (7200 RPM)
ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 32 MB graphics card
Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Platinum
Sony CD-RW 8x4x32
Pioneer 16x DVD
3com NIC
Creative 56k Modem

 

[Duvie]

Hmmm...It seems to me there was plenty of problems...A 1.4ghz at stock vcore and needing a jet engine fan and it still got 52-54....my stock 1.4 @1.5ghz with a 5400rpm fan never got hotter then 52c in prime95...I know mobo vary and socket a readings are very inaccurate...I am thinking maybe heatsink doesn't make full enough contact....

As for problem it would have had to fry...atfer applying did you have it start fans and all then no post? any smells??...clean off as3 and inspect the top of the core for cracks or chips...then unplug power supply...clear cmos...reseat cpu...check that ram and vid card are seated properly (nothing worked itself loose)...then reapply as3...doesn't take much and avoid spilling onto the bridges as this can short it out...then apply heatsink...make sure it is snug and a good fit (no rocking and not on backwards)..then fire it up...


Retail is no safe guard as you stil needed to apply the heatsink and that in itself has been a problem for many with the athlon....sad to say the retail hsf would have been worse off likely then the 7000rpm delta fan you had...temps likely would have been worse, unless it truly was a hsf seating issue...

 

[CPSterndog]

Hey Duvie, thanks for the response. After I applied the compound, it restarted and the fans were running, and it POSTed once, then froze up while loading Windows. I reset the system, and the next time it froze during the POST. When I restarted again, it would not even POST, and since then I have not been able to POST the system. All the fans still run, but I get nothing on screen. I did as you suggested and reseated my RAM and video card as well. I did get a fair amount of the Artic Sliver compund on the chip by accident. The chip itself still heats up when I start it though, but I suspect I must have fudged up the chip. If this is the case, would you recommend just purchasing a replacement chip, and use my fan and heatsink again? The fan's defintely good, but perhaps I might want to try a new heatsink. Any suggestions / recommendations? Thanks again.

All the best!
Chris Sterner

P.S. For the record, here's my complete list of system specs:

AMD Athlon (non-XP) 1.4 GHz
Giga-byte GA-7DX motherboard
512 MB (2x256) DDR2100 RAM
IBM Deskstar 60GXP 60.0 GB hard drive (7200 RPM)
ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 32 MB graphics card
Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Platinum
Sony CD-RW 8x4x32
Pioneer 16x DVD
3com NIC
Creative 56k Modem