low power PSU can cause high CPU temps...

[imported_stev]

So I called AMD to try to resolve my A64 X2 4600+ 939 CPU overheating issue outlined here.

They said any PSU less than 500 watts could cause this CPU to get hot. This doesn't make sense to me. If a 400-watt PSU is providing enough energy to run the CPU, then it seems like the CPU would put out the same amount of heat as it would hooked up to a 600-watt PSU. And if the PSU was having trouble powering all of the components, I figure I would have stability issues, which I don't. If anyone knows what they're talking about, please explain it to me.

FYI, I'm using an Enhance ENP-5140GH 400-watt PSU along with a BFG NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB Overclocked, two hard drives, and an NVIDIA DualTV MCE SDTV tuner.

They agreed to send me a new HSF so that I can rule it out as the cause, but after that they say my only options are to get a more powerful PSU or send my CPU back for testing.

 

[TheOtherRizzo]

Hmm, sounds like BS but since I've had similar problems with two different 939 CPUs and a 350W Seasonic I wonder if there may be some kind of AMD bug. Have you tried getting more information from AMD?

 

[aigomorla]

impossible...

Unless its due to the PSU dumping the heat back into the case.

Reason is this. You use a 350W PSU on Kilowatt Meter vs a 500W im sure you wont see more of a difference in power draw of `10-15W. A 500W psu will not dump 500W continuously into the circuit unless the draw is that great.

Now, according to physics, energy is converted into heat. So therefore, if the energy is the same, its a fundamental impossibility for heat to be greater unless something is broken in your parts, and your leaking power.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
Now, according to physics, energy is converted into heat. So therefore, if the energy is the same, its a fundamental impossibility for heat to be greater unless something is broken in your parts, and your leaking power.

That's pretty much what I told the AMD guy (though not so eloquently). He then said getting a higher-power PSU is what solved the identical problem for another customer. That's when I asked for the replacement HSF.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: TheOtherRizzo
Hmm, sounds like BS but since I've had similar problems with two different 939 CPUs and a 350W Seasonic I wonder if there may be some kind of AMD bug. Have you tried getting more information from AMD?

I didn't know what else to ask. What would you ask them if you were in my situation?

 

[o1die]

Simple answer: either the power supply is overheating (my own experience) or the case airflow is poor.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: o1die
Simple answer: either the power supply is overheating (my own experience) or the case airflow is poor.

If it was a simple answer, I wouldn't be here. The PSU's case is cool to the touch and the air coming out of it is not much warmer than ambient. The case has a 120 mm exhaust fan in the back, a 80 mm intake fan in front of the hard drives, a NB fan, CPU HS/fan, and video card fan. The video card stays in the 50s at idle (70s while gaming) and the hard drives stay in the low to mid 30s all the time. If any of this sounds unreasonable, let me know, but back it up with facts. I feel like so many people around here want everything running at 25 C, as if anything that is hot to the touch is too hot for the component. I don't want my computer sounding like a jet engine unless it has to.

I wish I had kept my 3500+. I'd just stick it back in there and everything would be great again!

 

[TheOtherRizzo]

Originally posted by: stev

Originally posted by: TheOtherRizzo
Hmm, sounds like BS but since I've had similar problems with two different 939 CPUs and a 350W Seasonic I wonder if there may be some kind of AMD bug. Have you tried getting more information from AMD?

I didn't know what else to ask. What would you ask them if you were in my situation?

Looks like you already asked the right questions. His reply that it has fixed the problem in the past is of course a valid response. Only doing some tests ourselves will help.

Originally posted by: aigomorla
if the energy is the same, its a fundamental impossibility for heat to be greater unless something is broken in your parts, and your leaking power.

That's the only way to understand the AMD statement statement: he more or less said that some AMD 939 CPUs or motherboards are "broken" and use more power than they should when connected to certain PSUs. The question we're asking is if this is true or not. It probably isn't but maybe there are other people who have experienced similar problems.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'd send the chip back to AMD, if they are offering you a swap. Something is wrong with it, IMHO.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
I'd send the chip back to AMD, if they are offering you a swap. Something is wrong with it, IMHO.

If the HSF they send me doesn't do the trick and I can't find a really good reason to get my PSU replaced, then I will do that. I'm just trying to exhaust all options before putting my computer out of commission for a couple weeks while they look the CPU over.

 

[nyker96]

I recently replaced a oldie 754 sempy, I told AMD that the same processor would not work in another system either and they opted for replacement right away. SO just tell them that you got your hands on anther HSF and it worked fine, they will probably let you replace your current one. I think they've seen too many newbies who just cannot get their stuff working due to user fault, they always just assume that first. You gotta oush them a little in the right direction ...

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: nyker96
I recently replaced a oldie 754 sempy, I told AMD that the same processor would not work in another system either and they opted for replacement right away. SO just tell them that you got your hands on anther HSF and it worked fine, they will probably let you replace your current one. I think they've seen too many newbies who just cannot get their stuff working due to user fault, they always just assume that first. You gotta oush them a little in the right direction ...

They offered to test my CPU if I sent it in, but I opted to get a HSF replacement sent to me first.