High CPU temps. Solution?

[Morfik]

My CPU (Athlon 64 3000+) runs at ~45C idle, though case temp is usually at ~32C. Based on the temps others are getting, that seems a little high for idle (isn't it?). I am using stock everything, including the thermal pad. At the time I didn't have any thermal paste. Now however, I got some Arctic Silver thermal paste.

The PC has been running about two weeks now and I have no clue as how to "un-apply" the old thermal paste (originally pasted on the bottom of the heatsink and "re-apply" the new stuff and how much to "apply". Is there instructions somewhere? Can I burn my CPU by doing this? Someone once told me that I have to use very little, otherwise I can fry my CPU?!?!?!

Can someone please enlighten me as to how this works?

Thanx to all, as always.

 

[Markfw]

Remove HSF. Use flat razor blade (like the ones in window scrapers, only sharp on one edge) to scrape HSF and CPU both carefully to remove as much thermal pad as possible. Then use 99% Isopropal (spelling?) alchohol and continue wiping both surfaces untill they look like new. Tehn apply thermal paste lightly to both surfaces, and re-install HSF. With the Athlon64, the top of the CPU is much easier to work with than the XP cores, and not prone to damage. Also the HSF mounting is much more foolproof

 

[sd]

Run Prime95 Torture test for a few hours. If it runs error free, your temps are fine.

 

[corkyg]

45C at idle is perfectly OK -

 

[Morfik]

Originally posted by: sd
Run Prime95 Torture test for a few hours. If it runs error free, your temps are fine.

Where can I download it? A quick search didn't get me anywhere.

 

[Morfik]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Use flat razor blade (like the ones in window scrapers, only sharp on one edge) to scrape HSF and CPU both carefully to remove as much thermal pad as possible. Then use 99% Isopropal (spelling?) alchohol and continue wiping both surfaces untill they look like new.

Can I use windex instead and a sharp flat knife intead of the blade?

Would Arctic Silver give me any decrease in my temps at all? How many degrees (approximately)?

 

[sd]

linkage

 

[Viper96720]

Does your motherboard support cool and quiet. Mine is cool because I have it enabled. Motherboard is 33C and CPU is 36C. If I disable it the CPU temps goes up to about the same as yours 43C-45C idle.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: Morfik

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Use flat razor blade (like the ones in window scrapers, only sharp on one edge) to scrape HSF and CPU both carefully to remove as much thermal pad as possible. Then use 99% Isopropal (spelling?) alchohol and continue wiping both surfaces untill they look like new.

Can I use windex instead and a sharp flat knife intead of the blade?

Would Arctic Silver give me any decrease in my temps at all? How many degrees (approximately)?

Windex ? Maybe, not recommended, and may not remove the material (99 cents should get you a bottle at your local drug store)

Flat knife ? I doubt that it would have a fine enough blade to scrape it clean, and how to scrape the cpu installed in the board with that kind of knife safely ?? With the razor blade, I can do it still installed, and just blow off the scrapings
when done without damaging anything (like the CPU pins)

Degrees ? 2-5 I lean to the 2 but some people say 5.

Edit, and yes 48 is still high, but normal

 

[Morfik]

I ran Prime95 stress test for about 50 min. No errors and my temp got up to 51-53... do I have some room to overclock (2000 to 2100 or 2200) without changing the thermal paste?

Update: What is the highest safe temp for the CPU? (Based on your experience)

 

[Morfik]

i know all you guys are over clockers. Anyone???

 

[Amorphus]

safe temps for CPU are said to be up to 90C, but most people use 60C as an upper limit. I use 50C, as I want my CPU to last.

btw - Isopropyl alcohol also goes as "rubbing alcohol", and comes in 91%, 94%, and 99% concentrations. don't go below 90% isopropyl alcohol by volume, because then it gets diluted a bit too much to be convenient. the stuff is a good solvent, and will clean most stuff off.

How to apply Arctic Silver (old proc, but still the same concept)
Official instructions
Clean off both surfaces (bottom of heatsink AND core) completely, though. As said before, scrape the majority off with a flat object (razor blade, NOT knife, unless you are absolutely SURE it is a flat edge), and then wipe off the excess with (cotton balls/q-tips/paper towels/tissues) wetted with rubbing alcohol.

 

[Viper96720]

Not overclocking this one. No need to running as fast as it is already. But 60C is a good limit for CPU temp under load.

 

[lordtyranus2]

Ice.

 

[Morfik]

well I just found out that my cpu temp at idle is actually ~42 based on the BIOS "PC Health" stats, but in Windows the MSI tool shows it exactly about 3 or 4 degrees higher, which means that currently my load is about 49-50 and not 53. So I am not really worried about the temp any more. It would however be nice to still take it down a few degrees using some Arctic Silver...

Anyways, thanx for the replies.

 

[redass1876]

Arctic Silver 5

 

[alm4rr]

Originally posted by: Morfik
well I just found out that my cpu temp at idle is actually ~42 based on the BIOS "PC Health" stats, but in Windows the MSI tool shows it exactly about 3 or 4 degrees higher, which means that currently my load is about 49-50 and not 53. So I am not really worried about the temp any more. It would however be nice to still take it down a few degrees using some Arctic Silver...

Anyways, thanx for the replies.

Which MSI tool are you using?

 

[fstime]

Most likely core center, I have the msi mobo as well...

 

[Bucksnort]

45 is nothing, perfectly normal

 

[alm4rr]

I tried PC alert 4 from MSI and it was *COMPLETE* crap
PC Alert 3 does a decent enuff job, the same as PCA4, but without all the popiing up and lack of settings