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Replacing CPU HSF Help.

Locut0s

Locut0s

Lifer
I finished builting my new powerhouse a few months ago and ever since the CPU fan has been giving me problems. Here's the deal, I have an Athlon 1800+ CPU with the retail HSF. Not long after installing the HSF it started to make horrible grinding noises. I'm not tlaking about simply a lound fan this sounds something like a leafe shredder! Over the past few months its actualy quieted down to the point now where its very speratic, most of the time I hear a soft buzz, but not normal, and sometimes I get the loud grinding. None of this seems to affect the cooling ability of the fan, the CPU stays a steady 40C or so. My question is this, having never replaced a HSF, how safe is it and how do I go about replacing it? Again this is the retail AMD HSF with a thermal pad. I'm worried that since it was a bitch to get on, I had to put my whole body weight on the clip to get it in place, that removing it could damage the processor. Also I expect there to be quite a lot of residue from the pad once I remove the HSF, how would I safely remove this? Lastly if I do replace it can someone recommened a good HSF. I don't want anything special, I'm not OC'ing and never will, it doesn't even need to be attached with thermal grease, just a good quality, cheap, HSF that will get the job done without breaking local noise buylaws like mine does now.

Thanks for helping!!
 
Is your AMD XP 1800+ a Retail cpu or an OEM cpu? If it's a retail cpu then it comes with a warranty and you don't have to worry about damaging it as much (as you will be able to return it if something goes horribly wrong). Anyway, I cannot tell you what is making the shredder noise but I can suggest what you can do to get the HSF off. Do you have a flat tip screw driver? These work best for attaching and detaching stubborn Heatsinks. You should press firmly but not religiously on the latch that has a little pointy metal ledge sticking out from it (it's ment for leverage like a flat tip screw driver) and push down and push outward. Whatever you do don't let the screwdriver slip and engrave into the motherboard ruining the Mobo. That should get the HSF off the cpu.

After you remove the HSF you should inspect it and the fan mounted on top of it for any obvious abstructions like wire or screws in the fan blades or whatever. If you decide you don't want to use that fan you can buy your own HSF but remember if you try your own heatsink and fan combo you will absolutely need Cooling Compound or some kind of paste or your cpu will bite the dust in a matter of seconds.

I suggest any high quality Socket a Heatsink and a low noise 60mm delta fan. Artic Silver 3 is a good silver compound but you can find adhesive stickers that are easier to apply. Never run your AMD processor without a heatsink and fan NOT even for a second.
 
Here: I've actually had the same problem, so read on:

One time, I think I accidentally screwed one of the fins on the HSF which made it noisy cuz the fin was hitting the heatsink. I ripped the fin off since it got so annoying (I had already bent the fin slightly). It sounded ok at first, except the case vibrated like crazy, making an unberarably noisy computer.

I went off and bought an Alpha 8045 and a Panaflo L1A. Blissful silence 🙂 Now, I have an AX7 cuz I sold the 8045 to somebody, and my CPU is cooler than ever 🙂

Never run your AMD processor without a heatsink and fan NOT even for a second.
Click to expand...
This is untrue because my first DOA EPoX 8KHA+ wasn't able to power the fan, and the HSF never became *close* to hot. Make sure you have a heatsink on, but if the fan doesn't start spinning at first, don't worry. Just don't operate a CPU with a HS and no fan for a duration (a few secs is ok if the fan doesn't work or something).

suggest any high quality Socket a Heatsink and a low noise 60mm delta fan
Click to expand...
I think this is an oxymoron cuz Delta makes some loud fans. Take a look at 80mm coolers since those fans can blow a lot more air at much quieter noise levels. I suggest an AX7 (highest performing 80mm cooler; the one I have) and the new Zalman 20dBa/28cfm fan (I haven't used the Zalman though, but the specs are better than my Panaflo's 21dBa/24cfm).
 

"I think this is an oxymoron"

You calling me a moron? heh. I agree deltas are loud I like PABST,Panaflo and Thermaltalk stealth fans.

You are also right about 80mm fans pushing more CFM than 60mm fans that's a no brainer, however 60mm or 80mm fans will both do the job and not all heatsinks accommodate 80mm fans.

Also keep in mind those quieter 80mm case fans arn't going to be as effective as a faster RPM driven 80mm or 60mm fan and the higher RPM you get the more noise or Decibels you get. It also depends on what kind of baring system the fan deploys. bye bye



 
Thanks for the replies.

Originally posted by: Jyoung1978
Is your AMD XP 1800+ a Retail cpu or an OEM cpu? If it's a retail cpu then it comes with a warranty and you don't have to worry about damaging it as much (as you will be able to return it if something goes horribly wrong). Anyway, I cannot tell you what is making the shredder noise but I can suggest what you can do to get the HSF off. Do you have a flat tip screw driver? These work best for attaching and detaching stubborn Heatsinks. You should press firmly but not religiously on the latch that has a little pointy metal ledge sticking out from it (it's ment for leverage like a flat tip screw driver) and push down and push outward. Whatever you do don't let the screwdriver slip and engrave into the motherboard ruining the Mobo. That should get the HSF off the cpu.
Click to expand...

Yes it was retail. Yes I know how to remove the HSF, I've built several computers before. My main concern is not HOW to rmove it so much as the pressure required to remove it. I've never had to apply soo much pressure to get a HSF on as I had to with this one.

After you remove the HSF you should inspect it and the fan mounted on top of it for any obvious abstructions like wire or screws in the fan blades or whatever. If you decide you don't want to use that fan you can buy your own HSF but remember if you try your own heatsink and fan combo you will absolutely need Cooling Compound or some kind of paste or your cpu will bite the dust in a matter of seconds.

I suggest any high quality Socket a Heatsink and a low noise 60mm delta fan. Artic Silver 3 is a good silver compound but you can find adhesive stickers that are easier to apply. Never run your AMD processor without a heatsink and fan NOT even for a second.
Click to expand...

Yes I've seen Tom's smoking AMD video and I would never run it without a HSF. As for applying thermal grease I understand that you only need to apply a very thin layer to the botom of the heatsink, like about 1mm or less.

I went off and bought an Alpha 8045 and a Panaflo L1A. Blissful silence Now, I have an AX7 cuz I sold the 8045 to somebody, and my CPU is cooler than ever
Click to expand...

I've read good things about the Alpha 8045 but its kinda overkill for my purposes, though I'll definetly but it high on my list. What would you say to getting a cheaper HSF like a Golden Orb (for Socket-7, Socket-A), I can pick one up here for about $20 CDN.

One question no one has answered is how will I clean up after I remove my curret HSF? I expect a certain amount of the thermal pad will stick to the processor. I read somewhere that you could use a Q-tip and rubbing alchohol to clean it up. Of course waiting for it to dry. Is this safe?
 
"Yes it was retail. Yes I know how to remove the HSF, I've built several computers before. My main concern is not HOW to rmove it so much as the pressure required to remove it. I've never had to apply soo much pressure to get a HSF on as I had to with this one."

Allright then why are you asking us how much pressure to use if you allready know these things? It's pretty much "go by your best judgment kinda thing" So shall I just plop down a convient answer like you must put 5.2 lbs of pressure per square inch or can you pretty much figure it out yourself? There is no answer to your question! It obviously depends on which HSF fan your using and how tight the clip on it is. So what The F ever!
 
Originally posted by: Jyoung1978
"Yes it was retail. Yes I know how to remove the HSF, I've built several computers before. My main concern is not HOW to rmove it so much as the pressure required to remove it. I've never had to apply soo much pressure to get a HSF on as I had to with this one."

Allright then why are you asking us how much pressure to use if you allready know these things? It's pretty much "go by your best judgment kinda thing" So shall I just plop down a convient answer like you must put 5.2 lbs of pressure per square inch or can you pretty much figure it out yourself? There is no answer to your question! It obviously depends on which HSF fan your using and how tight the clip on it is. So what The F ever!
Click to expand...

Perhaps I should have worded it better becuase I was not upset at you. I simply meant that I was worried about damaging the CPU. I know you can not give me a qualitative answer, nor was I asking for one. Hope that clear things up a bit🙂
 
I have been working this summer on making my computer quiet. One of the first things i did was to take off my 60mm fan off and zip tie on a 80mm fan. Wow what a difference. There are some articles on the internet about doing this, it takes 10 min . I have a 1.4 Athlon and i haven't had any problems with it. I have usd Motherboard Monitor and the temp stays in the 50's (C) which i feel is okay since the kill temp for the CPU is around 100(C).

I have also installed rheostats for my case fans and PSU. And now my hard drive can be the loudest part assuming i dont have all the fans on.
 
To get the thermal pad off, use mineral spirits to clean it off, then alcohol to clean it. There are some other cleaners you can use, but their names escape me right now.

Check arctic silver's web site for directions on how to apply thermal grease.
 
I was in the same situation............I had a volcano 6cu.....the clip is a biatch to take on and off! I replaced it with a Swiftech MCX370-0A purchased at newegg for $29 which to me is a STEAL. The clip is super easy to install.............if you dont want to worry about cracking your core then this is it............noise is level is a on par with my volcano 6cu.
 
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
One question no one has answered is how will I clean up after I remove my curret HSF? I expect a certain amount of the thermal pad will stick to the processor. I read somewhere that you could use a Q-tip and rubbing alchohol to clean it up. Of course waiting for it to dry. Is this safe?
Click to expand...

http://arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm 🙂
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, this has been extreamly helpful!

I have been working this summer on making my computer quiet. One of the first things i did was to take off my 60mm fan off and zip tie on a 80mm fan. Wow what a difference. There are some articles on the internet about doing this, it takes 10 min . I have a 1.4 Athlon and i haven't had any problems with it. I have usd Motherboard Monitor and the temp stays in the 50's (C) which i feel is okay since the kill temp for the CPU is around 100(C).
Click to expand...

Hmm thats an interesting idea but 50(C) is getting a little to hot for my comfort. But you gave me an idea, I could simply replace the fan with another 60mm one and not remove the heat sink at all, don't know why I never thought of that! I'll have to think about it.

BTW no one has said anything yet about the golden orb idea, anyone have any good experience with them, or horrer stores🙂
 
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