How hot is too hot??... Also: Panaflow vs. Coolermaster

[x0lution]

How hot is too hot? I have an Asus A7V mobo and AMD 800MHz thunderbird. In the case (which is a little smaller than normal) is only one fan (excluding the one inside the power supply): the cpu fan. And after just using the computer for about 30minutes, it gets to around 60degrees celsius. Is this too hot? Also I want to add a chasis fan and want to know which one is better: panaflow or coolermaster? Thanks for any info.


PS-
My computer locks up solid (mouse won't move, ctrl-alt-del won't reboot...) sometimes, when it does and i manually reboot, i go into bios to get these temps. Is the temperature what is causing it to lock up?

 

[BradS]

That's hot. Check to see if your HSF is properly seated on the core. Do you have any thermal grease between the two?

 

[tweakr]

The locks are very likely due to the temperature of your CPU, if it's 60c when u read it in the bios, it may be anywhere upto 90-100c under load :Q. You want to add (at the very least) an intake fan and an exhaust fan, and if possible a side blowhole over the cpu/vid card area (you could use a big slow 120mm panaflo in that blowhole, for serious air movement without much noise).

Panaflow fans are quieter, coolermaster fans will be cheaper - u decide.

<edit - yeah, check the heatsink - if it's an AMD approved one, check to make sure you removed the plastic backing sheet from the thermal compound, and make sure it's seated on the cpu correctly /edit>

cheers
tweakr

 

[x0lution]

Where can I get an intake and exhaust fan, and what's blowhole? Again, thanks for any info.

There's no thermal grease between the hsf &amp; cpu. And about the hsf being seated properly: when I first tried to install the fan the metal piece that locks it down wouldn't reach, so I had to take it apart, pull that piece out and put a piece that would reach in there, but it's pretty snug now.

Just saw that edit in the above post.. the fan is a AMD recommended fan (coolermaster 6h something or other) I didn't take the plast off the fan (didn't know if i was supposed to)... I'll do it right now and then report back.

 

[tweakr]

ARGH, UPDATES TOO QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!!!. Right, take off that plastic smeg. And the clip that came with the heatsink is tight for a reason - AMD recommends a large amount of pressure on the chip, to force the heatsink grease as thin as possible. Before you go out buying fans, what case do you have?

<edit - the plastic bit should be covering a small white square of gooey material that should be squashed between the cpu core and the heatsink when u install the HS /edit>

cheers
tweakr

 

[x0lution]

i just took the case off and look at the heatsink. there was a little square of pink stuff there (not really gooey, more like silly putty). i don't remember taking the plastic sheet off though (could it have melted and mixed in with the grease). Assuming, it did melt can I just buy some and pu tit on there. And the case is an ATX mini/midtower (don't know what brand though, been a while since i bought it).

 

[Mikewarrior2]

if the plastic melted, you could be in for some trouble... I'd suggest taking off the pad and replacing it with a good grease.

Your temps are warm, but what are your case temps? And mb temps?



Mike

 

[tweakr]

I'd remove the existing thermal pad (scrape whatever u can off using a blunt plastic instrument such as an old credit card or similar - a knife will just damaged the bottom of the heatsink, altho a razer blade could work if you are careful. Remove the rest using nail varnish remover or acetone), and replace it with new thermal goop - any old thermal paste will do, althought the best is Artic Silver, but it's expensive and not at all necessary if you are not overclocking.

As for the case, try to locate fitting areas for fans in it - there should be a white plastic cube at the front-bottom of the case, which can hold an intake fan, and there may be a rear mount for an exhaust also. If so, I'd buy two fans for these positions, to get some air moving.

cheers
tweakr

P.S. Keep up the good work Mike, your articles make interesting reading .

 

[tweakr]

d'oeth, double post....

 

[x0lution]

alrighty, guess i'm going to buy an intake, an exhaust, and some thermal grease. What are some good websites that sell these? And are intake and exhaust the same fans, just turned around so they do the right thing?

My mobo temps aren't as high as the cpu temps (not sure of the exact numbers, but there are a little bit lower).

Also, would you recommend i put the original metal piece back on the heat sink. I couldn't get it to fit at all, and the new one is on there pretty tight.

 

[Pearman]

I have a coolermaster and theyre VERY small, in your situation I'd go with a bigger, more powerful fan, because 60 degrees is a lot.

 

[Frosty20]

Best sites:
3dfxcool.com
Plycon.com
2coolTek
TeamAwe.com
The Card Cooler


Yes intake and exhaust fans are the same, they just face opposite directions.

 

[tweakr]

I'll second the recommendation for 2cooltek , I've yet to hear a bad thing about that store.

If the clip seems to be holding the heatsink on well, then keep using it - the one that came with the heatsink will fit, but you will have to use a LOT of force to get it on, to satisfy AMDs recommendations of lotsa pressure on the cpu.

cheers
tweakr

 

[x0lution]

I have two more questions-

1) What's the difference between a ball-bearing fan and a sleeve fan?
2) I'm thinking about buying a new case (mine's too small, the mobo takes up so much room i can't stick two 5.25 drives in there, the cmos battery is in the way). what cases would you recommend, and can i buy one that's pre-modified (lights, windows, all that good stuff)?

Again, thanks for all y'all's help.

 

[jsbush]

The SX830 and the SX1030 are both great cases.

Antec

 

[tweakr]

A ball bearing fan is a higher quality one, slightly louder (most of the time) but with a much longer life. Sleeve bearing is slightly cheaper and quieter, but is more likely to burn out in the long run.

Antec's line of cases are good, if you're looking for a cheaper one look for the Enlight 7237, it's got 4 5&amp;1/4 inch bays, lotsa space and easily moddable.

cheers
tweakr

 

[AMD4ME2]

I just put together a Duron System with a coolermaster HSF.. and I can say that the spring catch can be a little decieving.. whithout the processor in it seems easy to push down and latch. however with the processor in place on the socket you actually have to pry out and push down at the same time in order to get it onto the tab. This is why they have that notch for a screwedriver I realized, without it you could never be expected to be able to latch it due to the outward and downward force you must do at the same time.

I haven't actually fired it up yet.. will do that tommorow and report my temps

 

[x0lution]

I found a Enlight EN7237 that I guess I'll get. I just have one quick question about it: what size fans does it use (80mm, 92mm, 120mm)?

 

[tweakr]

I believe it uses two 80mm fans for suplementary cooling, one up front and one at the back.

cheers
tweakr

 

[x0lution]

Before I actually buy anything, here's my list...

1 Enlight EN7237 Case
2 Coolermaster AF8-25IM-74 fans
1 Tube of Artic Silver

Does this sound good?

 

[tweakr]

Sounds like a good plan, you might want to get a larger heatsink while you are at it just to be sure - good buy is the Globalwin FOP32 (or the FOP38 if you are willing to put up with MASSIVE noise, no understatement ).

cheers
tweakr

 

[x0lution]

I bought the artic silver and the fans last night, gonna hold off on the case &amp; new hsf for now (kinda low on cash), and hopefully this will cool it off enough anyway.

How do you apply the artic silver? Do you put it on the bottom of the hsf or the top of the cpu (or does it matter)? And how much do you put on, I know you're not supposed to put on much, but how much is enough? Again, thanks for all the info.

 

[tweakr]

The artic silver should be applied in a thin layer to the top of the cpu core - spread it with a piece of an old credit card, or carefully with a hobby knife or razor blade.

cheers
tweakr

 

[x0lution]

Well, the artic silver and fans came today.

It was running around 60c when i first posted. The computer has been on for almost two hours and it's 48c (it had been 47 for the last hour and half), which is still a little bit warmer than my ideal temperature, but it's a hell of alot better than 60c. The motherboard was in the 40s before, it hasn't gotten above 32c since it's been on though. Thanks for all you guys help.


PS-
I think you all are right about the hsf. while it's on their pretty snug, it's not putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the cpu. If i ever find the original clip, i'll put it back on and it'll probably cool down more. Again, thanks.

 

[jsmonet]

ok, well, I switched from an older supermicro full tower to an sx1030b. it dropped both idle and under load temps by 10~15C. with the switch I added three fans as well. 3x 80mm, 1x 92mm, as opposed to 1x 92.

48C at idle is WAY too high. I have a p3 800eb and it idles at about 26C.

is there smoke coming from your box? haha...

both panaflow and coolermaster are good. get 2 fans, one in front for intake, one in back for exhaust. try to get the same fans for both, as well. it just makes things easier.

man, I'm running 6 fans.. 3x 80mm, 2x 60mm (thank you, vos32), 1x 92mm. my case sounds like a scale model working turbine, but it runs nicely.

start off with 2 fans. if your problems continue, either consider more fans, or run with the side of your case open, I guess.