Cooling for S939 X2 for under $20

[Martimus]

I am having issues with heat on my new system. While in BIOS for a few minutes, I notice that my new X2 processor (X2 4200+) made its way up to around 75C, and this was without being under load. I replaced my old 3500+ with an X2 model of the same speed, so I didn't think much about keeping the same cooler (A Zalman CNPS7000B-CU LED CPU Cooler). I have been having issues with my new setup, and I am thinking about replacing this heatsink for a better one. Does the X2 run hotter than its single core equivalent, and what is a good and cheap heatsink to use on a S939 system? I have already spent too much money just getting my "cheap" upgrade to work properly to go overboard on CPU cooling. I just want stock speeds, so I don't care about overclocking capability.

 

[John]

It sounds like you either failed to use thermal compound and/or you didn't attach the heatsink correctly.

 

[Martimus]

I used thermal compound, and I attached it correctly. I even removed it, cleaned it, and reapplied thermal paste and reseated it after getting the problems just to make sure, and alas I still had problems.

I don't mean to sound angry, but I did doublecheck how well my heatsink was attached, and I did reapply thermal paste. Maybe I did something wrong, although I have never had any problems in the past with the way I have used heatsinks.

I just removed the potentiometer from the CPU fan and attached it directly to the motherboard. I'll see how it works when I get my video card back from NewEgg (I RMA'd it because the fan stopped running.) I am also replacing my Antec NeoPower 480W PSU with a PC P&C 470W Silencer PSU because it has a bigger 12V rail. I'll see if these things fix my problems.

 

[humanure]

I used the same cooler when I had my x2 4400, should work fine, I agree with John, sounds like something wasn't quiet right, maybe the controller you removed wasn't working and the fan wasn't spinning?

 

[LOUISSSSS]

for $20 the arctic cooling freezer pro 7 is definately the best. it comes within 80-90% of the top coolers out there...

 

[MarcVenice]

But his zalman should do the job just fine. But if not, then yes, the arctic freezer 64 pro would be a nice replacement. Make sure it's 64, and not 7, because it will have other clamps iirc.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

stand corrected^^

 

[Martimus]

Thanks for the suggestion. It is an old cooler, so it is possible that the fan has some gunk in it or something that keeps it from spinning very quickly. I may pick up one of those arctic freezer 64 coolers just to make sure, especially if they are pretty cheap.

 

[Jhhnn]

Your Zalman really should do the job just fine- you may have to update the bios to get the new processor to read somewhat accurately, or get a new fan for the cooler, lots cheaper than a new cooler-

http://www.sharkacomputers.com/cpucoolprod.html

 

[Martimus]

I just got my Video Card back today. I plugged it in, and started it up. The CPU got up to 100C in idle according to my BIOS, then it shut down. I'm gettting an Arctic Freezer 64, with ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound from NewEgg today, unless I can find a B&M store around that will sell it to me.

Could a problem with my processor also cause the temperature reading to be way too high, or just make the actual temperature too high? All of the problems started after replacing my GPU and CPU, and I originally thought that the GPU was the culprit, because the fan stopped revving up under load. I reapplied Thermal grease (Antec 77064 Thermal Grease) and reattached the Heat sink after the problems started, making sure to follow some instuctions I found online, and it seems worse now.

The funny thing is that the heatsink does not feel hot to the touch, so I feel that the reading may be wrong and the temperature sensor is bunk. Maybe I didn't attach it right, although I did go back through and make sure that I did. The fact that I double checked this is confusing to me, since it is still a problem.

 

[Quiksilver]

Sounds to me like the temperature sensor on the motherboard is on the fritz. If it was really 100C you wouldn't be able to even touch the heatsink and sames your able to and it feels cool I would go with that, so it's likely that even replacing the heatsink isn't going to help. I'm also pretty sure that at 100C that processor would be burned alive.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

hey i have a stock AMD 4 heatpipe cooler for $5 + shipping if you're interested

 

[DerwenArtos12]

try putting your old processor back in and doing a bios update. Your current bios could be incompatible with the newer X2's and causing the problem. Costs nothing more than some of your time. IF this is in fact the problem you could spend a thousand dollars on a new phase change system before the problem went away.

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
try putting your old processor back in and doing a bios update. Your current bios could be incompatible with the newer X2's and causing the problem. Costs nothing more than some of your time. IF this is in fact the problem you could spend a thousand dollars on a new phase change system before the problem went away.

I don't have the old processor, I sold it about 2 weeks after I got this one. It figures that I would have issues right after I sold it. It ran fine for 2-3 weeks, then I started having issues.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Martimus

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
try putting your old processor back in and doing a bios update. Your current bios could be incompatible with the newer X2's and causing the problem. Costs nothing more than some of your time. IF this is in fact the problem you could spend a thousand dollars on a new phase change system before the problem went away.

I don't have the old processor, I sold it about 2 weeks after I got this one. It figures that I would have issues right after I sold it. It ran fine for 2-3 weeks, then I started having issues.

I've never used ECS boards so I don't know but, what kind of overvoltage protection do they have and have you tripple checked bios settings like cpu voltage and ldt voltage?

 

[Martimus]

My core voltage reads at 1.34V in the BIOS, so I don't think that is the issue. When I flashed the BIOS to support the dual core processor, I only flashed the MAIN BLOCK, should I reflash it, but overwrite more of the BIOS? Originally I did the whole thing, and it wouldn't boot, so I recovered and just flashed the main block, and it seemed to work fine (I did this before I installed the processor). The problem does seem to be getting worse, so I think there may be a bad thermal couple in the core temperature sensor. But I can work with the BIOS, so let me know what other sectors I should flash and I will try it out. (There is nothing I can do about the temp sensor being bad, if it is)

Thanks for your help!

 

[Martimus]

I updated my BIOS to the latest version, but that id not help. My CPU still idles at 75C, and shuts down after a short period. I still feel those are erroneous readings as the heatsink isn't even warm to the touch.

 

[toadeater]

Originally posted by: Martimus
Could a problem with my processor also cause the temperature reading to be way too high, or just make the actual temperature too high?

Yes, if you have it running at the wrong voltage.

Point a case fan at the Zalman. If temps go down significantly, then there's something wrong with the Zalman's fan speed. If they stay the same, the heatsink isn't on properly or there is some other problem.

I still feel those are erroneous readings as the heatsink isn't even warm to the touch.

That may also mean the heatsink isn't on properly. The CPU could be burning up.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: toadeater

Originally posted by: Martimus

I still feel those are erroneous readings as the heatsink isn't even warm to the touch.

That may also mean the heatsink isn't on properly. The CPU could be burning up.

Agreed. There should virtually no movement at all when the heatsink is locked down. If it so much as wiggles then you're probably not getting adequate contact between the two.

 

[Martimus]

The CPU does not move. There is already a case fan next to the CPU, and it is actually rather cold when I stick my hand in there to test the temperatures. The heatsink is fastened as closely to the CPU as possible, and I am not able to move it at all. I am out of thermal paste, so I cannot try to reseat it again until I get some more (I gave away the last of it when I sold the previous processor) I did order some MX2 from newegg, so I should be getting that shortly. It is running at stock voltages (1.35V), I cannot lower it on the BIOS, only increase it from that value. I tried lowering the multiplier, but I haven't started it since, because I wanted to let it cool down if it really was getting that hot.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Martimus
The CPU does not move. There is already a case fan next to the CPU, and it is actually rather cold when I stick my hand in there to test the temperatures. The heatsink is fastened as closely to the CPU as possible, and I am not able to move it at all. I am out of thermal paste, so I cannot try to reseat it again until I get some more (I gave away the last of it when I sold the previous processor) I did order some MX2 from newegg, so I should be getting that shortly. It is running at stock voltages (1.35V), I cannot lower it on the BIOS, only increase it from that value. I tried lowering the multiplier, but I haven't started it since, because I wanted to let it cool down if it really was getting that hot.

I think your going to have to RMA. I really can't think of anything besides a bad sensor at this point, sorry.

 

[Martimus]

I am running the computer now, but I haven't tried putting it under any sort of load. It seems to die almost instantly when I boot into safe mode, but doesn't have any problems in normal windows. I don't understand that. I cannot RMA my processor, as it is already past the 30 day period, and NewEgg no longer carries it. I have seen a X2 3800+ for sale for around $60, but I want to make sure the problem isn't my motherboard before I decide on a course of action. Thanks for your help!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Martimus
I am running the computer now, but I haven't tried putting it under any sort of load. It seems to die almost instantly when I boot into safe mode, but doesn't have any problems in normal windows. I don't understand that. I cannot RMA my processor, as it is already past the 30 day period, and NewEgg no longer carries it. I have seen a X2 3800+ for sale for around $60, but I want to make sure the problem isn't my motherboard before I decide on a course of action. Thanks for your help!

RMA it to AMD.

 

[Martimus]

Well, I am now able to run the CPU with an Arctic Cooler Freezer 64 Pro, and Arctic Cooler MX-2 thermal compound. The funny thing was that it was still too hot and shut down when I used the thermal paste that came on it. I had to clean it off and use the MX2 that I bought to get it to run at cooler temps. It now runs around 50C at load, and 30C at idle. it may die on me yet, but I hope to get another year or two out of this machine before I upgrade.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

chalk another one up to user error. No offense at all. you should have seen the kinds of things I did back in the day. One time I didn't get a tube in far enough and figured I could re-seat it with the amp running. I have a scar on my index finger and partial hearing in my left ear from that one.