Temperature Probe for Prescott?

bleuiko

Golden Member
Feb 22, 2001
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I have a Dell Dimension 8400 3.4GHz Prescott...

The CPU fan is not loud, but it is defintely not quiet enough to sleep with it on. I am thinking about replacing the CPU fan and if needed, a new heatsink bracket and a after market heatsink.

But before I do that, I would like to know what the temperature the CPU is running at. Dells mobos do not come with any temerpature probe on the motherboard, and the CPU fan is controlled by a internal temperature probe inside the CPU itself. As far as I know, there is no way to read the temp off the CPU if the motherboard has no such support.

So is there any temperature probe you guys would recommend? I know this sort of thing is somewhat in the past, as most mobos now have temp probes (stupid dell). Also, I think my biggest problem is where to put the probe. The Prescotts have the die covering the whole chip, unlike the older chips, so I can't tape a probe to the chip.

Also, if I taped it to the heaksink, wouldn't the temperature be off?

Thanks for all the help, I'm almost ready to sell the computer... quietness is very important to me.