Silverado temperatures

[Guest]

I'm using a Pentium3 Cu 933 mhz processor on an ASUS CUSL-2 motherboard. I previously used a Thermaltake Golden Orb heatsink/fan, and then my temperatures were approx. 34'C idle, 45'C under max load. Recently I purchased a NoiseControl Silverado. Surprisingly, the temperature rise was dramatic. Idle temp is still an acceptable 39'C, but under heavy load the temperature rises to up to 65-70'C, although I haven't experienced any crashes afaik. I've tried all the different voltage settings for the fans, and the difference is only a few degrees. I even tested disabling the fans completely, which had almost no impact on the heat either. The heatsink doesn't feel warm at all, nor is the air blown out by the fan any warmer than the ambient. I've removed and installed the heatsink many times, trying two different types of thermal compound (the one delivered with the Silverado, and Arctic Silver). I know the Vcore is correct. I am almost positive I have installed the heatsink correctly, and used the thermal paste in the same way as I did successfully with my previous heatsink. Any ideas on this?

 

[bum_jcrules]

What setting do you have on the Silverado?

The Silverado is shiped with various adapters that provide different voltages for the fans.

The settings are 12V, 10V, 8V, and 6V.

The more juice you give it the better it will cool. See <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/cooling/showdoc.html?i=1532&p=2" target="_new">Anandtech's CPU Cooler Review</A> for some results.

See <A HREF="http://www.noisecontrol.de/" target="_new">here for Silverado's Homepage</A> and <A HREF="http://www.noisecontrol.de/international/oversea/eng_info_page.htm" target="_new">here for it's stats.</A>

<b>"The events of my life are quite inconsequential.." - Dr. Evil</b> :lol:

 

[knowan]

One thing that I've noticed about the Silverado is the lack of reliability. For some people it works great, the best thing since watercooling. For others it is almost as bad as using nothing at all. There's no in-between with this HSF.

If you're getting 70C under load and the heat sink isn't warm to the touch, it's likely that the HS isn't making proper contact with the CPU. You've removed and re-installed it severla times, so there's not much advice that I can offer you.

Take it all apart and clean it all with a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol. Next apply a very small drop of artic silver and use a toothpick to spread it evenly over the CPU. The layer should be so thin as to be almost non-existant, about 2 molecules thick . Next attach the heatsink. It should take some force to attach it.

If you remove the HSF you should notice an imprint of the CPU embedded on the bottom of the copper heatsink (assuming it is copper. Copper is a very soft metal. If it's aluminum or silver ignore the above). That's how firm the attachment needs to be.

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Knowan likes you. Knowan is your friend. Knowan thinks you're great.

 

[Guest]

The bottom of the Silverado is made of silver, hence the name
I've heard though, that it makes an imprint on the heatsink anyway. I've noticed that the imprint is slightly uneven, as if there was more pressure applied to one edge of the processor than the other. Maybe the little hooks on the socket are worn out on one side?

 

[Tankman]

I couldn't agree more about the lack of reliability with the Silverado. I have a 1.33 T-Bird that has never run below 52C with the Silverado. I kept thinking it was the case or maybe how I applied the ASII. After days of experimenting, I came to the conclusion that either the Silverado was not living up to its rep or my CPU (retail version) was running hotter than everyone elses. Haven't the time or desire to find out which of the two it is. I just run at the higher temps. Ambient air temp is 24C. CPU is generally 53C idle and 58C under load. Silverado running at 12V.

-Tankman

 

[Guest]

Right, now I know what the problem is. I was looking at the heatsink attached to the socket while the mobo was out of the case, and I noticed it is definitely not sitting flat on the processor. I think it could be because of the plastic holders on the socket not being quite as they should. It looks like the heatsink barely touches, or does not touch the cpu core at all on the side which is towards the DIMM slots. Is there any way I could adjust the socket's little hooks, or the clamp on the heatsink to make it lie flat?

 

[Tankman]

Are you sure the problem is the clamps? Check very closely to see if your Silverado is centered on the CPU. If it is centered, then I would try adjusting it to the point where the silver plate sits flush on your CPU even if it is not centered. Having the plate flush on the CPU is more important than having it centered. This may not be a perfect solution, but it should get your CPU a bit cooler.