New system seems to be running hot...

[kretsch]

Hey everyone,
I just put together a system (my first build, actually), and I haven't even gotten around to installing the OS and already it seems to be running pretty warm.

The specs of my system are:
CPU: Athlon XP 2500+ Barton
CPU Cooling: Spire WhisperRock IV
MB: Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe
1 Maxtor 200gb 7200 rpm SATA HD
1 ATI Rage 32MB AGP card (pulled from a 2-yr old Dell P4 system)
Case: Antech SLK3700AMB, 350W PS
Case Cooling: 1 rear stock fan

Obviously there's more pieces but these are the things relevant to my problem. Basically, all I've done is putzed around in the BIOS checking various things, and even just doing that my CPU temp is sometimes (in fact, kinda often) hitting 50c or more. After I shut down, my AGP card seems unusually hot, as does my HD ("unusually" meaning when compared to my HD/AGP after shutting down my P4 2.0g Dell- feels like a few degrees' difference). And all of this is with the case's side panel off and the case wide open, which means its actually getting more ventilation than it normally will :/

The PS, CPU, and case fans are definitely all operating (although in the BIOS only the CPU fan is showing an RPM reading - 2500 if you're keeping score). The voltage readings in the BIOS are all normal as well.

Any suggestions, or maybe something obvious that I'm doing/not doing that might help? I'd like to avoid buying a whole lot of new equipment, and I've heard a lot of good things about the stuff I'm using. I do have a slot for another case fan in the front that will almost definitely help with the HD temp.

Thanks for any suggestions!


PS- This is unrelated, but quick [and wonderfully n00btastic]: I recently managed to fry an old floppy drive (damn those old able-to-put-the-power-connector-one-pin-off-without-noticing drives), and it took a good bit of the wire with it in a horrible melt-y mess. I don't need to use that wire for anything luckily, but should I just snip it off or will it be reasonably safe to wrap the exposed wire in some electrical tape and keep it out of the way inside my case? Thanks again!

 

[powerMarkymark]

My Athlon XP 2700 ran at 50C at idle also, so I wouldn't worry about it.

If you leave your comp on 24/7 and don't run a program like Seti@Home you could try out CpuIdle (they have a 30 day trial period) as it lowered my idle temps by 16% (10 degrees celsius). Of course it won't do anything about load temps.

You could try an aftermarket HSF, you can get a adequate one for around $20 - $25.

Good luck

 

[Fern]

Hiya kretsch & welcome to the forums!

I think you need some case fans to circulate cool air through there.

Is your system temp a little high too? Probrably is with just one exhaust fan (two if you count the psu). I think you need an intake fan or two to get cool air in there.

I use a dremel and add a fan to my side panel (sometimes another on the top as an exhaust for the hot air).

Personally leary of +50c cpu load temps, won't hurt it. But some cpu's seem to get unstable with temps over 50c. (note: if the asus reads from the cpu diode, you're OK, if from socket, I say it's a little high)

EDIT: Sorry just noticed your remark about the side panel being open. Are your room temps high? If so I understand. If not I'm wondering if your thermal compound was applied correctly. Also, from the looks of that HS (at some review sites) it could prolly benefit from lapping (to get base area of contact smooth for better heat dissapation).

 

[kretsch]

Hey all, thanks for the suggestions. I have a slot for another case fan; I'll probably go ahead and get a good one to put there. Keep the suggestions coming, and thanks again!

 

[MrK6]

Having no intake fans kills a system. Even having the case side off doesnt circulate air through the case over the components. Punch a hole or two in the side panel or in the front of the case and put 2 or more intake fans in and you'll see a big difference. Also, try using some arctic silver 5, as that lowers temps too. Good luck :thumbsup:

 

[klah]

Putting a nice quiet 12cm Papst or Panaflo-L1A fan in the empty spot in front of the hdd cage should help a lot. Good luck!

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: kretsch
I just put together a system (my first build, actually), and I haven't even gotten around to installing the OS and already it seems to be running pretty warm.

The specs of my system are:
CPU: Athlon XP 2500+ Barton
CPU Cooling: Spire WhisperRock IV
MB: Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe

The PS, CPU, and case fans are definitely all operating (although in the BIOS only the CPU fan is showing an RPM reading - 2500 if you're keeping score). The voltage readings in the BIOS are all normal as well.

PS- This is unrelated, but quick [and wonderfully n00btastic]: I recently managed to fry an old floppy drive (damn those old able-to-put-the-power-connector-one-pin-off-without-noticing drives), and it took a good bit of the wire with it in a horrible melt-y mess. I don't need to use that wire for anything luckily, but should I just snip it off or will it be reasonably safe to wrap the exposed wire in some electrical tape and keep it out of the way inside my case? Thanks again!

I liked the looks of a Whisper Rock IV I saw on what looked like a good "Buy it Now" offer at eBay and went ahead and bought it. Only after I had it in hand did I check the reviews it got. It barely holds its own with most of AMD's stock heat sinks in the retail boxed processors. As a matter of fact, I ended up liking the way one of the stock ones from an AMD 2800 ran, lots better than I did the Spire piece.

I don't do the OC thing and am far too set in my ways to learn Centigrade temperatures now, so I don't know what 50 C actually amounts to. Probably well over 100 F. My own BIOS reports in both degree forms, and seems fine with the stock (2800) fan on an XP 2600 Thoroughbred. REGARDING that spare power lead -- I don't have a floppy in the "Seabiscuit" (my name for the PC with a Thoroughbred AMD inside it), but I know I might want one for something, I just didn't want to either buy a black faced one, or go to the trouble to re-color one of the existing (beige) ones on hand.

Preserve your options. You can get a variety of "Y" power extensions. Have one of those with a floppy style power plug on it already in that box, and you can cut the existing bad wires back to their junction point (with the system unplugged, of course).

:gift:

 

[peacemaker1ps]

Try Artic Silver 5, Those stuff is amazing.
Cpu was running 53C with stock hsf but with AS5 and arctic colling HSF with 80mm fan.
Its currently running 36C.

 

[Fern]

Here's what to be a handy product to help with cooling. No need to cut holes, it's a fan (or two) that fits in a drive bay slot. LINK TO Drive Bay Cooler