DazV

Is it me or are the AMD range of chips running much hotter than their equivalent Intel competition ?

I put an Athlon 1.6GHz into a mates computer (nothing flash), along with an MSI KM2M mobo. The machine has now started to reboot itself (seemingly when running at its hottest, eg 52deg)

I'm using a stock AMD cooling fan that came with the chip.

I'd be keen to hear any recommendations for:

a) An alternative cpu cooler (brand, model)
b) Recommended case inlet & exhaust fans

What could I get the temp down to from 52deg ? Don't want to spend big bucks, just something efficient ?

zhastaph

Not particularly useful I know, but I've got an Athlon 64 in my notebook and I'm still in complete disbelief about how cool it runs

SCOOBYG

Check that the motherboard does not have a core cpu temperature cut out. I have an AMD XP2000+ in mine and it will happily run at that sort of temp. Check the AMD web site as I am sure that these chips should be able to run warmer than that with no problem. IIRC there is a temperature rating on the CPU.

BlkKnight

The palomino cores ran very hot & took a lot of cooling.

Bare in mind that the CPU temp shown isn't that accurate (allow 5-10 deg).

Your processor *should* be able to run upto about 65 easily.

I am assuming your PC has only just started to be flakey? and prior to this has been ok? If this is the case it's probabily an accumuation of dust & cr*p in your case, which will affect cooling - or it's another fault.

Try running with the side of the case off & clean out the stock cooling. If that fixes your stability problems then consider adding case ventilaition - 2 x 80mm (fairly low powered) fans - one blowing air in from near the bottom (I drilled an 80mm hole in the side of my case), and the other sucking out from near the top (usually below power supply).

As for "air" cooling I have used, and will only use Thermalright. The only stockists in the UK are www.overclockers.co.uk

suba

i was using my thinkpad 760ED on my laptop (coz it's a laptop?) and it was HOT! it's only a P133!!!

BlkKnight

Case wise, I like Lian-Li

cheapest place in UK to get em from is www.cclcomputers.co.uk try and get one of the modles that can take 4 CDROM's as they allow for better air circulation - you wil need to use your existing PSU

PhilA

My XP2800 runs at 50 degrees on the desktop no problems.

Simon C

I have an 1800Xp Athlon chip in a full tower. My heatsink and fan are about the size of half a house brick, I kid you not. I didn't like the readings my motherboard sensors were giving me so put in 2x80mm case fans in and it did drop the temp

BlkKnight

as your missus tells you. . . . size isn't everything!

Thermalright (not to be confused by the crap thermaltake - although they do good fans) make the IMHO best copper heatsyncs out there. Many of the larger Alu ones & some of the copper ones just aren't up to the job.

My case has 4 80mm thermal sensing fans that run at about 1500 RPM and can't be heard I have an identical one on the CPU which runs from 1700RPM to 2600RPM depending on activity. The temp of my XP3000 stays at 44 degrees regardless of what I'm doing (heavy gamer), and while playing movies and low cpu stuff the fans can't be heard.

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

my XP2500 o/c'd to 3200 runs at 50 idle and 60-65 under load. Although now we're in 'summer' I do run it with the side of the case off

DazV

Thanks guys - some interesting comments.

OVER-HEATING
I can confirm it IS an overheating problem - I placed a large office desk fan blowing cool air INTO the case and it runs perfectly stable. Without it, it reboots.

BIOS
Checked the BIOS and it does provide temp related settings:
"CPU warning temp" - set at 60DegC
"CPU auto-shutdown temp" - set at 70DegC

COOLING SOLUTIONS
I now fully intend to put a cooling solution into the machine - both case inlet/outlet fans and also a better quality cpu sink/fan. I'll have a look through the thermalright stuff thats been suggested. Noise is a consideration - are all the Thermalright range quiet or do you have to pay more money for the silent stuff ?

Thanks again,
-DV

BlkKnight

Thermalright (not thermaltake) heatsynks do not come with a fan - you add your own one to suit your needs..

The setup I uses 5 x "Thermaltake Smart case fan II" fans (4 on the case & one on the CPU) The best place to get them are Dabs, and a Thermalright SK8 (not available now) heatsync from overclockers.

If you mount the CPU fan's sensor on the base of the heatsync as close as you can to the CPU without touching it it'll speed up and slow down automaticly as needed.

It's also worth buying some "artic silver V" to put between your CPU & Heatsync

BlkKnight

As a side thought, have you seen if your other components are getting too hot?

additional things to check are:

HardDisk
North Bridge
Graphics Card
memory

1. Familarise your self with your machine layout (IE you can find everything)
2. Get your machine to the point where it crashes
3. Quickly pull power out & open up side
4. Have a grope about to see if any components are "too hot to touch" - including heatsync on CPU.

BlkKnight

FYI

http://www.dabs.com/uk/productview?quicklinx=23BF

DazV

thanks guys

Can the motherboard be a factor in the system overheating ? eg. a badly designed motherboard ? The one in question is a Microstar KM2M Combo-L. Onboard sound, lan, usb2, gfx - the combination of which all in close proximity could be a reason for increased temps inside the case.

BlkKnight

I doubt it, Microstar are on the budget end of mobo's, but they are fairly good quality for the money.

They know what they are doing (apparently).

On many boards (aged between between 1 & 2 years) the cooling on the north bridge was insufficient & caused instability. Most suppliers have since introduced active cooling on the north bridge - or a bloody big passive cooler to resolve the problems.

get your system to crash again and check the temps.

Come to think of it I've actually sold 2 or 3 systems based on that motherboard without incident.

I usually install an extra fan or two to help with case air circulation.

DazV

so I could pick up a heatsink for the north bridge, or better still sink+fan ?

BlkKnight

www.overclockers.co.uk

changing your northbridge can void your warentee.

Was it that what was hot?

DazV

I've ordered a pair of 80mm vantec fans ( inlet/exhaust ) for the case. I'll whack these on and see if it makes any difference.

Failing that I'll buy a top quality ThermalRight heatsink with fan.

Have to say in comparison, my little Shuttle XPC with Athlon 2800 runs super cool - pro'lly thanks to the great little bespoke heat pipe it uses for cooling.