Do CPUs get hotter with age?

[Rigoletto]

I asked because my slotA CPU used to run at hmm..46C. Yesterday, even after only being on the web, 55C! I have noticed it getting hotter- and I believe these readings.
I find it hard to believe this Athlon is built to last.
Does anyone have any cooling suggestions? Is a thermaltake orb OK, or will I need an Alpha instead? God forbid I should get mixed up with peltiers, my PSU won't take it surely.

 

[Trifecta]

well. I dont know about processors getting hotter, but I would definately say that thermal materials in between the heatsink and chip could break down. especially if it is something like thermal tape or cheap grease.

I would invest in a better heatsink/fan and buy some arctic silver.

Are you overclocking? if not, an alpha is probably overkill. Thermaltake products are the right price, but average performance for overclockers.

good luck!

 

[Rigoletto]

thx Trifecta, BTW what are you cooling your Duron with? I was thinking of the same kind of setup. The chrome orb is cheap, but again the alphas are cool...

 

[osage]

May want to take a look at your cpu fan, as well as any case fans. They tend to collect dust on the blades, that may hinder airflow. Blow off the blades as well as the heatsink, just to make sure they are clear.
Give it a try, can't hurt

 

[Trifecta]

osage makes a good point, the fans will often get clogged up if you dont have air filters on you intake fans. (I HIGHLY recommend buying these things)

I have a vantec cooler on my duron and its very nice. 15 dollars. You must use arctic silver to get good performance. A freind of mine had great success out of his GlobalWin FOP.

go to www.2cooltek.com or www.3dfxcool.com ... 3dfxcool has the alphas, if you want to spend that much.

2cooltek socket coolers

3dfxcool

My duron cooler

 

[pm]

From a silicon perspective, actually the opposite occurs. Usually the internal temperature of a processor drops slightly with time. This usually takes years though.

 

[Rigoletto]

Thanks for the pic link Trifecta coo look at de pwetty color...
I have been looking around inbetween posts and I think there is a hierachy:
Global Win fop38 (or something the new one that pushes 47CFM or something CRAZY)
Alpha pep66
coolermaster copper
Chrome orb

but I think the orbs are nice quiet and efficient.
BTW I had luck with my case fan placement change, temp is down to 40C- don't ask me why I don't understand it at all...

 

[toph99]

clean the blades of the fan and reapply the thermal compound(it may have dried up)

 

[RaySun2Be]

I would suggest cleaning the fans, dust in the case, and checking the thermal compound. I have been running a Cely300A@450 pretty much 24/7 for over a year using the retail HS/fan (I did add a big case fan), and lately it was exhibiting lockup problems and would run long at 450, and had to underclock it to 337. When I pulled the Heatsink off, the thermal paste had dried. I changed out the retail HS/fan combo for a better HS/dual fan, reapplied thermal paste, and it's running back up at 450mhz again.

 

[major_major]

that vantec seems to be an average cooler at best..i had one but found that the clip was much too loose to apply adequate pressure on the duron pads in order to ensure good cpu contact. i ended up getting a taisol which is just awesome give its relatively small size.

 

[VladTrishkin]

The silicon gets "worn out or "ill".." and does get a bit cooler (not hotter), like PM has pointed out.