MN31N reboots

[Soapm]

I just installed a Shuttle MN31N in my daughters computer on Monday, 9/8. Twice now I have found it in a BIOS safe mode as if it were the first time I fired up the system. If it were the power supply seems like I would just get intermittent reboots. Is that so?

My thinking is whatever is doing this has to be clearing my BIOS settings making it appear as if this is the first boot up? Any ideas what this could be? Battery?

 

[Soapm]

Looks like the problem might be heat related. I have had the cover off while trying to figure this out and it has not done it anymore. I put the cover back on and it did it with a few hours. I went and bought her a new case fan but that thing is so noisy I can't stay in her room. Can someone reccomend a case fan that blows volume and is low on noise?

 

[KF]

Is the case fan doing the trick even though it is too loud?

Well, the noise and air volume track pretty close. What is the rpm of the fan, if it is listed, so people can get an idea of what is too loud for you?

However, non- overclocked Athlons can get pretty dang hot without misbehaving. I would take the heatsink off and redo it, taking extra pains to be sure the step on the bottom is not touching the step on the socket. If it used a thermal pad, you will have to remove the remains and use some heat sink grease.

 

[Soapm]

Originally posted by: KF
Is the case fan doing the trick even though it is too loud?

Well, the noise and air volume track pretty close. What is the rpm of the fan, if it is listed, so people can get an idea of what is too loud for you?

However, non- overclocked Athlons can get pretty dang hot without misbehaving. I would take the heatsink off and redo it, taking extra pains to be sure the step on the bottom is not touching the step on the socket. If it used a thermal pad, you will have to remove the remains and use some heat sink grease.

Nope, the new case fan is not cutting the mustard. It locked up sometime last night but has been running great today with the cover off. The fan is a 2900/500 RPM can with 46/53 CFM respectfully. However. I do not use anything between the processor and heat sink. Never have and my first puter was a TRS-80. I run a P4 2.53 gig that way and do video editing without any problems. I didn't think I needed it since I don't overclock, game etc...

You think that may be the problem? What is a good grease to use and where is a good place to get it?

 

[mdcrab]

You definitely need a good heat transfer compound. I would recommend Artic Silver III. It is available at most online retailers, eGay, SVC, etc. I would recommend not running anymore until you have a good heat transfer compound as it is easy to get local hot spots that could damage the processor. Even if you use some Radio Hack compound as an interim solution, it would be better than operating without any.

mdcrab

 

[Soapm]

Thanks for all the help people. I do have another question, the chip is a AMD Barton 2500+. When I took it out of the box it did not look like what I am use to. I am used to a hard coating top with the chips personals written on it. This one looked kind of like PC board material and had a small rectangular pad in the center. Is this normal? Is that rectangular piece the thermal pad KF spoke of? What is a good way to remove it?

 

[mdcrab]

I am not sure if you are talking about the core, which has a metallic silicone look to it as shown in this picture:

AnandTech Barton Review

Unless it is white or pink, it is NOT a thermal pad and it should NOT be scraped off. I usually use a little bit of paint thinner on a paper towel or "Q" tip to remove thermal compound/pad material and it cleans up w/o any scraping.

mdcrab

 

[Soapm]

Originally posted by: mdcrab
I am not sure if you are talking about the core, which has a metallic silicone look to it as shown in this picture:

AnandTech Barton Review

mdcrab

That green part is it. I guess since it is the core I won't scrape it off this time. Where do I put the thermal paste, all over the top (including the core)?

 

[mdcrab]

Soapm,

I found this article regarding hsf installation, which is pretty good.

Extremetech

I actually learned you are supposed to put a very thin coat on hs as well as core.
Several other articles also said same thing, but I have always applied it to the core only.
Also I have always used a thin strip of plastic sheet (thinner than a credit card, but a strip cut from an old credit card will work) for spreading AS3. I would not use a metal knife.

mdcrab

 

[Soapm]

Thanks for the link and help mdcrab. I would have made a mess out of this I see. I had planned on liberally coating the entire top side of the chip and bottom side of the processor so to get good contact from each. I went to Micro Center on my lunch break and the guy just kept saying to coat the top of the chip. I guess some of us don't know what that phrase means???

He should have known I didn't have the picture since I kept asking why the tubes were so little... Now I know!