Cpu multiplier changes depending on its temprature, help!

[surstroming]

this is my 3rd time trying to ask for help on this site, and I hope my problem will get solved this time.

I have an amd athlon 64x2 2.41ghz 4800+ cpu and whenever it the temprature reaches a high degree (maybe 64c) it multiplier changes and then it starts working more. the multiplier is at 12x normally (2400hz) and when it starts to get warm the cpus multiplier changes to 12.5x (2500mhz). and then its "doing to much for its own good" and the temprature never lowers.

lets say, I'm playing left 4 dead 2 at 50 fps and when my cpu gets overheated the game stars lagging every 2nd sec, and the fps goes to 60 - 20. all the time giving me uneven framerates. the thing is everything is working fine at 2400 and it gets usntable when its working on 2500 mhz, why does it change? why can't it just stay at 12 instead of hopping to 2500.

the multiplier changes but the vcore doesn't its simply working too much and makes everything unstable. theres nothing wrong with my cooling. its just that my cpu has its mind of its own.

now how can I stop my cpu from changing its multiplier? I'm just gonna post some specs here too.

g-force8800gt


2gig ram


amd athlon 64x2 2.41ghz 4800+ (brisbane version)

manufacturer: MSI
Model: MS-7369 1.0
Chipset: Nvidia Nforce 520 rev. a3
Southbridge: Nvidia nforce 520
LPCIO: Winbond w83627DHG


BIOS


Brand: american megatrends inc.
version: v2.0
Date: 06/12/2007


graphic interface


version: PCI-Express
Link-Width: x16 max supported x16
side band: "BLANK"

used cpuid to get this info

 

[arthurh]

It seems you are having a heck of a time here. Sorry about that.

I have read all your posts about your CPU overclocking itself and then over heating.

I am going to assume that you have this mother board.... http://www.motherboards.cod.my/msi-k9n-neo-v3-ms7369-motherboard-nvidia-nforce-560-socket-am2-atx-audio-gigabit-lan-pci-express-k9nneov3-ms-7369-p-503.html unless you find out different.

This was a fairly popular M/BD in its day and was received well.

If you truly have a Brisbane X2 then you should be aware there were 2 versions of it. G 1 and G 2. They both have a multiplier of 12.5 but the G 1 voltage range is 1.25V - 1.35V. The G 2 version voltage range is 1.325V - 1.375V. CPUID should tell you which one you have in the "Revision" space.

Your PC keeps wanting to set a 12.5 multiplier because that is that CPU's default multiplier. You can lower it but not raise it any higher. If you have a G 2 version and you have lowered the Vc too low that can make your CPU unstable. On the other hand if it sets the Vc too high it will overheat.

If your PC resets the multiplier to 12.5 it also will set a default Vc to it and that Vc may be too high. Thus causing it to over heat. As you have noted this is not a good thing. You may need to go to MSI web site and see if you have the most recent BIOS update.

Just for the sake of argument lets assume the default settings are all in spec for your CPU. Meaning proper 12.5 multiplier and proper Vc for the version CPU you have and you still have this over heating problem.

This would be a big red flag that either your CPU HSF is clogged with dust, the fan is wornout and not running fast enough or intermittently and/or the HSF unit is some how not making really good contact with the CPU.

AMD HSF units have a lever on one side that locks the HSF unit to the CPU. If that lever has been accidentally moved from its locked position then it is possible that the HSF unit is touching the CPU but not making good contact with it. That will absolutely cause overheating problems. Actually most of the HSF units would not touch enough or any part of the CPU if that lever is not in the locked position but I have seen some that would make contact with the CPU when the lever was completely unlocked.

As long as we are talking about the HSF unit it has a paste applied to it where it contacts the CPU and it could be dried out and needs to be replaced. A good thermal paste is Arctic Silver 5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007&cm_re=arctic_silver_5_thermal_compound_-_oem-_-35-100-007-_-Product which I use for all my builds. If you take the HSF unit off the CPU then I would say just go ahead and apply a new coating it AS5 to it. By the way if it is too dry it will look cracked or crazed making it inefficient thus causing overheating problems.

I hope this helps you but this could just be the start of a long process of trouble shooting so do not give up!

Good luck to you.