I just cannot find what is wrong with my system

[imported_MogKnight]

After upgrading my PC with the following:

AMD 2800+ Barton Core Processor
ASUS A7V400-MX Motherboard
Gigabyte's Cooler-Pro PCU21-VG Heatsink Fan

The heat of the machine has been up towards 69C on IDLE (as displayed on MBM5 and CPUCooL). The heatsink fan is on 4000 RPMs, the max setting of the fan.

Fustrated in not knowing what is going on (fitting on the heatsink again and again, applying the right amount of Thermal Paste, cleaned off and reapplyed more thermal paste, etc etc), I decided to purchase Thermaltake's Aquarius II Water Cooling Kit. I put the whole kit together and checked the temp and ended up with almost the same results.

I cannot figure out what is wrong, this is extremely fustrating and I've heard many people of having more powerful systems and able to go down to 40-50 on a HSF. Can someone please help me? I can't even run my PC without it overheating and shutting down.

 

[CycloWizard]

What is the problem with running at 69°? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. AFAIK, running cooler accomplishes nothing.

 

[imported_MogKnight]

Originally posted by: MogKnight
I can't even run my PC without it overheating and shutting down.

 

[RiDE]

lol

hows your case cooling? is it overclocked? or running on default voltage?

 

[imported_MogKnight]

I have 4 80 Fans in the bottom front, a very small 40 in the back and a side panel wide open... I have a large standing fan (as big as my case) blowing air. My processor is running currently at 2ghz and default voltage.

 

[LifeStealer]

Try reseating the heatsink. You did use a pad or some type of paste right?

 

[imported_MogKnight]

Yeah, the thermal greese that came with the HSF.

 

[Budman]

Did you install the heatsink the correct way? you can put it backwards if you dont pay attention..

proper way to install http://www.omnicast.net/~tmcfa...es/Heatsink/index.html

Just asking..

 

[imported_MogKnight]

As much as I wish that was the problem (or not wish?), it is facing the correct direction.

 

[stevennoland]

Originally posted by: MogKnight
I have 4 80 Fans in the bottom front, a very small 40 in the back and a side panel wide open... I have a large standing fan (as big as my case) blowing air. My processor is running currently at 2ghz and default voltage.

A fan as big as your case? WTF? 4 80mm fans in bottom front, and a 40mm in back? This sounds like a recipe for disaster! I'm not surprised your temps are up. If the BIG fan was blowing in, where is the heat supposed to go, out the 40mm? NOT! If the BIG fan is sucking out, the air the 4 80's just sucked in just got expelled befor it ever reached the area of your CPU.

If this case does not allow for the installation of more fans, then I say dump it and get one that has a better air flow (front bottom to top back).

I couldn't imagine how loud this must be. Ugh!

 

[akira34]

Move two of the 80mm front fans to the back of the case. If you can't fit two in the rear, make a blowhole for the second one and do it. You need a place for the air to go, and right now you're just bringing air in and letting it sit there. Put the side panel back on once you fix the fan situation and see what the temps are like. Make 100% certain your processor is set to stock speeds (been a long time since I looked at the older AMD chips).

Remember, front and side fans should be pulling air in. Rear and top fans should be venting air out.

With all that in mind, most of us don't get even close to your idle temps under severe load. I don't even think I got that high when I was using an AMD XP3000+ (also a Barton core) processor. It would idle in the 40's and have full load temps in the 50's (IF I recall properly, it could have been lower than that). That was with air cooling as well and over a year ago now.

Also, make sure you manage the wires inside the case. A rat's nest of wires will ah heck your air flow and it won't matter how many fans you have if the air can't get to where it needs to go. If you're getting the same temps with a liquid cooler, there's something seriously wrong with your system. You don't want to use more thermal paste than is absolutely necessary (follow the instructions). Also, try some Arctic Silver compound (I like the ceramic stuff, since it's not conductive). It can be had for $5 for enough to do several systems.

 

[Nessism]

My guess is that the heatsink is not sitting down flush on the cpu. This is the only reason I can think of based on your comments. Of course, the bios and/or the temp monitoring program could be reading the cpu temps wrong, but this would not explain the instability problems you mention.

My suggestion is to take the motherboard out of the case and carefully inspect the cpu to heatsink interface to make sure the heatsink is sitting down properly; inspect carefully on all four sides to make sure a cap or similar board component is not hanging things up. Assuming eveything is looking good, remove the heatsink and look at for an outline of the cpu imprinted in thermal grease on the heatsink. Assuming everything is sitting down flush, the problem must be in the software.

Good luck.

Ed

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: MogKnight

Originally posted by: MogKnight
I can't even run my PC without it overheating and shutting down.

I uh... I can't read or write.

What is the ambient case temperature?

One thing you can try: shut down the computer and let everything reach room temperature (could take quite a while). Then, restart it and watch the CPU/ambient temperature and see how long it takes to reach 69°. If the ambient temp reaches steady state first, then it's more likely that the problem is with your heat sink/fan on the CPU. If the ambient temperature keeps increasing with CPU temperature, then it's likely that there's insufficient cooling in the case and that that might be the limiting factor.