OUCH!! That chip is hot!!!

[PrObLy]

Guys, I am running into probly the most common problem in the overclocking world, the main problem about my instance is that my cpu aint overclocked (thats why I've come to the hardware board). My chip is running damn hot, I've got an XP2100+ with a volcano 7 (not going much lower than 4000 rpms when cpu idle) attempting to keep him cool, I had been running with the sides of the case sides off since I got it last week (just incase I had to fidgit with more things inside) and its temperature seemed slightly high (43 idle, 48-49 load), now with the case sides on it idles up at 48 and loads at 54, I am slightly alarmed by this number....it's not overclocked at all, and my house isnt very warm either (we have the air on), I know part of it is because I dont have a big case fan, just an exhaust fan and a little fan in the front. I am running this on an abit kx7-333r motherboard with its stock bios. I tried that tweak for idle cooling using WPCREDIT (an article posted up on viahardware.com) , which worked great when the cpu was idle, but the load temperatures shot right back up and it actually cut the performance of my harddrive in half. Do any of you guys have any recommendations for fans, or articles on getting more ventilation through a case or simple tips? Thanks a bunch.

[coleslaw]

It is likely that your HSF is not mounted properly. An inadequate junction for heat transfer from the CPU core to the heat sink may be the cause of your high temperatures. Be sure to use thermal paste in the recommended quantity and apply it as recommended by Artic Silver et al.

[PrObLy]

thanks coleslaw, I'm planning on undertaking an unlocking project on the chip next week, and since I got the system barebones they had the chip and heatsink/fan on the mobo already when it came so that could definately be part of the problem, I'll be sure to buy some arctic 3 and a case fan.

[Speedfreak]

Actually, those are not bad temperatures. I have a 1.2 that IS overclocked running @ 1330. Mine idles @ 47c. So, with yours being faster than mine (whether it is overclocked or not) and staying the same as mine idle, that is fine. Athlons run hot. It is nothing to worry about. My friends runs even hotter. He has had it for a year now without any problems.


It would be a good Idea to get some better air flowing through your case. Your temps are fine as they are, but the cooler the better. It's funny how my cpu is 47 idle, yet my case temp is 30-34.

[PrObLy]

Thanks speedfreak, I let out a sigh of relief. I was just kinda worried because I hear a few of my friends talking about how their thunderbird or xp runs at like 30 degrees, I had previously just assumed that their probe was installed wrong or something because that seemed awefully cold and was curious on why mine seemed so hot. lol, yeah my case temp is usually 32 also, that is a pretty big difference.

[Speedfreak]

Well, that is pretty dang cool. What kind of cooling do they have and what chips are they exactly?

[PrObLy]

lets see, the guy who says his is running at about 30 has an xp1800+ with a volcano 7 on it and he says its upstairs in a cabinet with a limited amount of ventilation, so I dont understand how that could run that cool. The other fellow says his motherboard reports 21 degree board temp (and some other low processor temp) on his thunderbird i think 1.4ghz if I'm not mistaken, he believes that his motherboard is lying because his house is often warmer than that tempterature. lol

[Hoser]

I've got a 1.3GHZ Thunderbird that usually runs at 39C at idle. It gets a couple degrees hotter when playing games or during heavy usage. I've got a copper heatsink from CompuUSA, but I replaced the stock fan with a higher speed fan. I have one fan in the front and one fan in the back of the case for ventilation. My Enermax power supply also has a exhaust fan. The air from this fan is quite a bit hotter than the air coming out the other fan. I think having an exhaust fan on the power supply makes a difference.

[PoloM1]

PrObLy, I think your temps are fine, I'm running a 1 Gig athlon that I overclock up to 1.5 and at load I think I hit around 56C, but with my old heatsink that I could only overclock to 1.33 I was getting temp readings of 70C so your temps are quite cool compared to that one.