Noob Cooling Question

[jpcording]

So my AMD64 3000+ is running in the low to mid 40s (C) at idle and mid to high 50's under load. I've heard that 65 is the damage threshhold, so I'm concerned that I'm that close to damage.

As far as cooling goes I've got 2 80mm fans near the top of the case (Aspire X-Dreamer) blowing out and a PCI slot exhuast fan right under the graphics card, and I've got a Tr2TT CPU cooler (Thermaltake designed).

I know all the fans are blowing out, but I experimented with fan direction and this is the coolest - one, the other or both fans blowing in resulted in temps 1-2 degrees higher.

I bought some Arctic Silver 5 to try and cool the CPU down a bit, but when I tried to remove the heatsink, it seemed "glued" in place.

So here are my questions:

1. Are those temps too high?
2. What can I do to cool the case that I'm not doing? Will 120mm fans make a big difference?
3. What if I want to upgrade my CPU? What might the builder have used to bond the heatsink in place? Do I just need to give it a good yank?

Thanks in advance. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[peleejosh]

1.) Yes the temps seem a little high.
2.) You need about the same amount of intake flow as exhuast. Yes 120 mm fans push more air.
3.) try to run a couple loops of prime or super pi or 3dmark or something that stresses the cpu. Then shut it down and immediately try to remove the heatsink. Dont be afraid to give it a good tug. Be sure if you tug hard to tug straight up so you dont bend the pins on the cpu if it comes out with the heatsink. If this happens, use a credit card or something like it to wedge the cpu off of the heatsink.
4.) when you apply the arctic silver 5, be sure and follow the instruction on thier website. You only need a very very very small amount.

 

[Red and black]

If there's a spot for a fan in the front of the case, put one there sucking air into the case.

120mm fans make sense only if your case has 120mm fan holes.

Also, if you have your fans hooked up to "FAN ONLY" lower-voltage connectors, try attaching them to regular voltage connectors.