overheating cpu

[matluz1]

HI.
I am running a setup (1800 XP) where my CPU is overheating.66C +. It soon gets this hot>>> I have another pc and the voltage readings are almost the same I AM NOT overclocking... THe fan speed is 4800 which is normal I am told. I have tried another cpu heatsink and fan and these work much cooler. Any suggestions???

My other pc has an xp 2000 and runs at 50C but somehow the fan runs at 9000 rpm is there a setting where I can double the fan speed or something. Thanks very much
Mat
Thank you

 

[Teq]

It sounds like you need new cpu coolers for BOTH machines. In a typical room (20 or 22c) a properly cooled AMD processor should idle in the high 30c or low 40c range and may get into the low 50c temps under full load. While an AMD cpu will withstand 80c temperatures, this may not be true of the socket and the components in and around the socket. Heat is the enemy of all electronics, especially chips and capacitors.

I generally recommend a hybrid cooler (copper bottom, aluminum fins) with a thermal resistence of .6 or less. An example of a decent hybrid is here:
<A HREF="http://www.spirecooler.com/asp/fcc.asp?ProdID=95" target="_new">http://www.spirecooler.com/asp/fcc.asp?ProdID=95</A>
Keep in mind this is only an example, there are several perfectly good coolers that meet or exceed the spec.

I also recommend the use of a non-metallic "shim" to mechanically stabilize the cpu/heatsink assembly. This is to prevent the heatsink from moving due to mechanical or thermal forces and breaking the thermal bond between the cpu and heatsink. I've had a lot of problem with AMD CPUs getting hotter over time and jumping to high temps after being moved. This is almost certainly a result of the poorly designed mechanical attachment method of the socket A heatink. The Shim I reccomend is here:
<A HREF="http://www.casecooler.com/unnonmicshim.html" target="_new">http://www.casecooler.com/unnonmicshim.html</A>
You should also read more information on using shims and the correct way to install them.

Finally, you should look into getting a better thermal material than those silly pads that come stuck to the bottoms of most heatsinks. While they do glue the heatsink into place, they are not the best conductors of heat. You probably should look into a thermal grease that is applied to the cpu, Radio Shack has a good one, Arctic Silver is very popular. The application instructions for thermal grease are here:
<A HREF="http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm" target="_new">http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm</A>
Use the same procedure no matter which brand you buy.





--->It ain't better if it don't work<---

 

[matluz1]

Greatly appreciate the reply I will order these items now and have a go at solving this problem.

Mat