Cooling newbie: Beyond retail fan/heatsink

[motoxpress]

I have an AMD 2000XP, KT3 Ultra, GF4 Ti4600 and 512 ram. I am getting lockups in UT2K3 and I can't get the system to even be stable at 133mhz (It sits at 100mhz right now which translates to 1.25mhz for the cpu) It seems like I may have a heat problem(not sure how to tell for sure). What do you recommend over the fan/heatsink that comes with the retail cpu?

Thanks

GL

 

[Peter D]

water!

 

[boyRacer]

Anything by thermalright...

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: boyRacer
Anything by thermalright...

 

[mindwreck]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: boyRacer
Anything by thermalright...

and artic silver

 

[motoxpress]

Can anyone tell me how to determine my cpu temp in winXP?

MX

 

[bozo1]

Originally posted by: motoxpress
Can anyone tell me how to determine my cpu temp in winXP?MX

You need some monitoring software. Most motherboards come with a utility. If not, you can install Motherboard Monitor and configure it to work with your board.

 

[Davegod]

to find out if heat is the problem, it would help to see the temp of your cpu

you can either
- restart the computer and press DEL to go into BIOS and find it in there (suggest against changing any settings in there though! just exit without saving when you quit it). leave it sitting for a few minuites.
- get from cd/download and install a program from your motherboard manufacturer that shows system temps (your manufacturer may or may not have one) or a third party one like speedfan. although the 3rd party ones are more complicated to set up properly.

if you do the second option, do it once while your pc isnt running any intensive programs to get the idle temp, and do it again while running something very cpu intensive for a while - e.g. game for 20mins then quickly quit and check temps - for the load temps.

then there's two key aspects for cooling, cpu cooling and case cooling (in particular, case airflow). you can have the best air cpu cooler but if all it has to work with is hot air its going to do very little.

if you def want a new cpu cooler, i er third the thermalright suggestions. dont forget about case cooling though, if you have no case fans its still going to be crashing. you probably should have one intake fan positioned nearish the hard disks at the lower-front of the case, and an exhaust positioned in the upper rear, near the cpu + psu (that is 1 in addition to the psu fan). even a fairly quiet/low rpm fan will probably be fine.

 

[motoxpress]

Thanks for all the info. I found that MSI does have a utility and currently it seems that I am looking at
CPU:79 'C
System:37 'C

Is that high, low, average?

MX

 

[Peter D]

79*????? your chip is gunna burn up man! get some serious cooling on that, quick!

make sure that the heatsink is making proper contact with the cpu core and make sure there is a thermal interface of some sort

 

[Cerb]

Ditto Vegetto.
37C is hot for the case (but not TOO hot), so you might want to check that out as well, but a better heatsink should definitely keep the temps down in safer ranges.

For installing a heatsink:
1. NEVER put much pressure on the heatsink--just the clip.
2. Remove old heatsink (use a screwdriver, should fit into a slot on one side of the clip).
3.Clean CPU core with alcohol or acetone, until the retail HSF compound is no longer there to the naked eye.
4. Put on compound, following thedirections. I'd recommend Arctic Ceramique (Near as good as Arctic Silver III, but doesn't run)...but nothing is wrong with the cheap stuff that will come with the heatsink (assuming you get a Thermalright, as they all have come with some for me).
5. slip on HSF, following directions. And if Thermalright again, remove the plastic film. I've been dumb a few times, don't emulate me (but the mobos did keep it from frying ).
6. If Thermalright SK or SLK series, you can put the fan clips on afterward and the fan if you want. or before, but I find doing it after easier.

 

[motoxpress]

Well, I went and picked up a copper heatsink/fan and put a new case fan in and I am now at

CPU:40 'C at idle and around 44 ' in moderate activity.
System: 34 'C

I hope that will do it. Thanks for your help

MX

 

[motoxpress]

Ok, Now I put the clock speed at the correct setting (133) and here are my temps at moderate useage:

CPU: 50 'C
System: 38 'C

Is that an ok temp range?

Now I should be able to play UT2K3 without crashing out

Thanks again

MX

 

[MDE]

That temp is fine. What brand\model heatsink did you get?

 

[Cerb]

1. Out of curiosity, what'd you get?
2. That sounds alright for temps.

 

[motoxpress]

I ended up going to Compusa and getting a cooling kit from them. I put on some thermal paste and the heatsink/Fan. I also changed the case fan to thermal sensing bu,t I really just wanted a colored one

MX

 

[funko]

50C is actually on the high side, probably due to a mediocre hs/f combo you got from compusa

next time ordering a better heatsink/fan combo will yeild you much better results and extend the life of your cpu, since heat does attribute to aging

 

[motoxpress]

I will probably get a better setup, I just needed something right away so, I could operate. I also need to add another case fan as I only have one at this point. Sounds like Thermalright is the way to go for better cooling - aside from water

MX

 

[Cesar]

Originally posted by: motoxpress
I will probably get a better setup, I just needed something right away so, I could operate. I also need to add another case fan as I only have one at this point. Sounds like Thermalright is the way to go for better cooling - aside from water MX

Try the Thermaltake Silent Boost it's a great heatsink with a panaflo fan check it out link

 

[motoxpress]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

MX

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: motoxpress
Ok, Now I put the clock speed at the correct setting (133) and here are my temps at moderate useage:

CPU: 50 'C
System: 38 'C

Is that an ok temp range?

Now I should be able to play UT2K3 without crashing out

Thanks again

MX

lol thats more then fine. you think the amd engineers are tards? the retail heatsink is rated for the speed of the chip. it works fine unless you go crazy with overclocking. if your crashing, there are other factors, bad ram, bad board bad air circulation in system, bad windows install, bad drivers etc etc etc. maybe you didn't put it on right, or maybe your m/b is misreporting temps etc.