Help Please

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

Lots of problems here. Appreciate some answers to the following:

When you apply the thermal paste just how much do you put on? Do you just
put a film over the square that sticks out of the processor? Or do you put a
big square over the back of the heatsink?

At just what temperature is an Athlon XP 2000 Palomino core supposed to run
at? Is 66C too high (its a very warm day here today).

Why is the CPU usage permanently 100%? Running 256MB of PC133 SDRAM on a MSI
KM2M combo. Windows XP Pro.

Think I will go up the pub now......aaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhh.

Cheers people.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 19:38:09 +0100, "archierob" <archierob@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Lots of problems here. Appreciate some answers to the following:
>
>When you apply the thermal paste just how much do you put on? Do you just
>put a film over the square that sticks out of the processor? Or do you put a
>big square over the back of the heatsink?

A paper-thin layer only on the core (middle of CPU). That is for an
Athlon XP. For a P4, even a paper-thin layer may be too much, it can be
better to only put a tiny bit in the middle of the heat spreader and press
down firmly, evenly, carefully while installing it to spread out the
compound slightly.

>
>At just what temperature is an Athlon XP 2000 Palomino core supposed to run
>at? Is 66C too high (its a very warm day here today).

66C is pushing it, borderline. Some motherboards report temp too high and
others more accurately, in addition to variations in each CPU's max stable
temp, so even now it could be instable or have another 10C to go. If the
motherboard is using an early bios version you might even find that a bios
update changes the reported temp. Even so, given you report a "warm day',
presumably a high ambient temp, it might be necessary to increase case
airflow and/or replace the heatsink.

If in doubt try running Prime95's "Torture Test" for at least half a day.
If there are errors, it's too hot.

>
>Why is the CPU usage permanently 100%? Running 256MB of PC133 SDRAM on a MSI
>KM2M combo. Windows XP Pro.
>

Perhaps you have background task keeping it busy.
Disable everything loading at boot, and see what services are running.

Your system might be a lot faster if you removed the 256MB of PC133 and
used 512MB of PC2100 (or maybe buy PC2700-3200 for more future viability,
reuse). The DDR memory will be even more beneficial with your motherboard
having the integrated video.

 

[alex]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

66 is a little high. I personally don't like mine getting over 50. Have a
look in task manager to see what task is taking up the processor. You're
not running SETI or anything like that are you? ;-)


"archierob" <archierob@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ca2cn8$q4f$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Lots of problems here. Appreciate some answers to the following:
>
> When you apply the thermal paste just how much do you put on? Do you just
> put a film over the square that sticks out of the processor? Or do you put
a
> big square over the back of the heatsink?
>
> At just what temperature is an Athlon XP 2000 Palomino core supposed to
run
> at? Is 66C too high (its a very warm day here today).
>
> Why is the CPU usage permanently 100%? Running 256MB of PC133 SDRAM on a
MSI
> KM2M combo. Windows XP Pro.
>
> Think I will go up the pub now......aaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhh.
>
> Cheers people.
>
>
>
>