Help! Athlon XP running hot..

[Wonder]

I posted a message about purchasing a "retail" Athlon XP 2000+ processor the other day. AMD states to use only the thermal pad that they put on the heatsink. They state that it works better than thermal paste.
I installed exactly the way they instructed on an MSI KT4VL mainboard.
With the temp monitoring software that MSI includes, the processor temp goes up to 56c. If I use the "Cooler XP" software that MSI includes, it drops to 40c.
I shouldn't have to start some software program to keep this thing cool, should I? I'm not (and don't plan to) overclocking.
What do I need to do to keep this thing running cool? Anything to look for? BTW, these are idling temps.
Thanks!

[DrDemento]

how many fans ya runnin

[Wonder]

Only one case fan along with the power supply fan. I have the case open as I'm just now putting this thing together. The processor fan/heatsink is the one that came with the AMD processor. These temps are with the case open.

[DrDemento]

well...i run 3 (im paranoid) but if an external prog is keepin it cool...better to run that than have your pretty new processor go "pift" :D

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Cut a blow hiole into one of the side panels, directly over the CPU and mount a 120/80 milly case fan on their and have it blow cool air onto the CPU :)

--Jakk:t

[AlexGee]

Are you SURE the heatsink is flush against the chip. It is not at all uncommon for it to be a bit off a bit and off a little bit is all it takes.
I'd reseat it on general principles.

[leprechaun_40]

Sounds like you need some serious ventilation in that case. I recently built an Athlon XP 1600 system. I used a fan in front pulling in, a fan in back, exhaust ing as well as the PSU fan. Also there is a fan on the mobo shipset. I use a Thermaltake Dragon Orb hsf and a thermal paste with that. My temps were in the low 30's at idle and barely into the 40's under a load. The hsf runs at 7,000 rpm as well, it's a bit noisy, but better than a fried cpu.

Make sure your fan is running correctly, that your cables don't block airflow, and add at least one more fan in that box.

You may need to add a top blow hole or side fan.

This system doesn't have any fan software either, just let em run like they want.

You might want to recheck your bus speeds and such, might have a jumper set wrong causing a bit of overheat.

[ukulele]

A temperature of 56C is not to hot for your XP. It is in fact about average. Fooling around with extra case fans and cutting holes in the case won't make it run any better at all. This subject has been debated to death here. Read some of the other threads on average temps on Athlons. Better yet go to the AMD site and look up the specs for your CPU there.

[TcMatic]

The **** thing must run with case closed.
Only when you speedup things you need extra cooling :-(

[$1500-P4 gamer]

"A temperature of 56C is not to hot for your XP. It is in fact about average. Fooling around with extra case fans and cutting holes in the case won't make it run any better at all. This subject has been debated to death here. Read some of the other threads on average temps on Athlons. Better yet go to the AMD site and look up the specs for your CPU there."

Couldnt agree more!:)

"Sounds like you need some serious ventilation in that case. I recently built an Athlon XP 1600 system. I used a fan in front pulling in, a fan in back, exhaust ing as well as the PSU fan. Also there is a fan on the mobo shipset. I use a Thermaltake Dragon Orb hsf and a thermal paste with that. My temps were in the low 30's at idle and barely into the 40's under a load. The hsf runs at 7,000 rpm as well, it's a bit noisy, but better than a fried cpu."

And there is the proof. I just built a xp 1600+. Only case fan is the psu one. None in front, no chipset fan, Aopen HS has Delta fan running 4k rpm and I got the same temps as leprechaun_40!

Anyhow I agree with him. Check to see if jumpers are right etc. Make sure your not O'clocking the cpu OR the default vcore isnt too high. I've had that already! High temps from a slightly high vcore due to mobo not running the cpu right. Usually cause it doesnt recognize the chip stepping. Prob. not the case here but none the less recheck all the settings in bios and jumpers on mobo also make sure the notch on HSF is not hanging on the socket at all. This can also happen easily.

As far as AMD saying TP is better than paste "what have they been smoking or sniffing/licking etc..."? I've got FACTS that prove other wise and that they dont have! Prove me wrong AMD I got my data where is yours? I've run tests and AS3 aswell as cooler master white paste both kill that TP ****. Plus TP's are one use only. Then you have to scrape that muck off, clean with alchol and then reapply. That is a good 30min. easy cause that tp is hard to get off. Then you dont get all off cause it melts!. Took of the HSF from my Duron 1gig during tests to see how TP held up! It melted entirly off the cpu core and was only puddled up on the ceramic base not even touching the core. Useless is what it was. I could even read duron through it. And it was the HSF and TP that AMD gave with the duron! Like I said I have my proof where is theres? And I still would like to know how Cooler Master white paste can say "AMD approved" and then AMD says you cant use paste!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!


:t

[lptech]

You should use Arctic Silver 2 or Arctic Silver 3 Thermal Compound. It is the best performing Thermal Compound available! I've used it and it works really well for interfacing the CPU to the Heatsink and has dropped the overall operating temperature as claimed by Arctic Silver! Also, as was previously poined out, you have to make sure that the Heatsink is properly seated on top of the CPU! If it is tilted or not securely on flat, it will raise the temperature because of poor interfacing! If you follow what I've outlined above, you should get quite a significant drop in temperature! Good luck. :)

[Bigjakkstaffa]

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

here on furthur details for applying thermal paste

--Jakk:t

[AlexGee]

AMD explained their reasons, over time the paste gets 'pumped' out - paste is better at first but over time it gets squeezed out, that's what AMD says anyway. Personally I don't know. You could always just put paste on periodically. On the other hand why not trust the experts at AMD?

[smithdw]

I have an Athlon XP 1700+ that runs about 56*C all the time. I use a SwiftTech 462-A cooler with the Arctic Silver II paste and have 3- 90mm fans in the tower case (1- intake at the bottom front and 2- exhaust at the top back of the case). I also run Seti@Home 24/7 so the CPU is under full load all the time. I wouldn't worry too much about the 60*C reading.

[Giblet Plus!]

Originally posted by Bigjakkstaffa
Cut a blow hiole into one of the side panels, directly over the CPU and mount a 120/80 milly case fan on their and have it blow cool air onto the CPU :)

--Jakk:t

A great idea. I did this on an old case, and it dropped my temps 8-10 C! :)

[Bigjakkstaffa]

I got two 80millies side by saide blowing straight onto the CPU :D

--Works a charm .. if a little noisy :(

--Jakk:t

[Giblet Plus!]

You don't even really need a cpu fan with jak's setup. :)

[smily_03]

I have an 1800+ with a thermalright sk-6 heatsink and a thermaltake 5000 rpm fan up top, with two temperature-controlled 50cfm fans in front, a blowhole fan on the side, and two exhaust fans in the back, not counting the two fans in my enermax psu, all in an antec 1030 case. the case inside runs at whatever temperature the room outside is, and my cpu runs at about 38c idle and 44c wide open in gta3. oh yeah, i use type 44 thermal compound too. i made a custom fan control so after the thing goes to sleep at night, i can shut off all but one intake fan, the cpu and chipset fans, and the psu fans, which helps with the noise.

[lptech]

If you're really into making improvements, then I would suggest getting rounded cables for the floppy and IDE drives. Making sure that there are no obstructions to airflow internally and making sure that the inside is dust and dirt free! Those are the first steps in helping keep the internal temperature lower. All you really need is to make sure that all of the AGP and PCI cards have proper spacing for proper internal airflow. Placement and routing of cables to ensure that there is no blockage or heat build-up (hot spots)!!! And of course, like I mentioned on the previous post that using Arctic Silver 2 or Arctic Silver 3 Thermal Compound and making sure that the Heatsink/Fan placement/alignment is correct! Again, good luck in your endeavor to make it run cooler! :)

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Originally posted by AlexGee
AMD explained their reasons, over time the paste gets 'pumped' out - paste is better at first but over time it gets squeezed out, that's what AMD says anyway. Personally I don't know. You could always just put paste on periodically. On the other hand why not trust the experts at AMD?

Didnt you read my previous post???? I had taken the HSF off my duron after like 6 months of use no O'clocking AT ALL and all the Thermal Pad had run off the core of cpu to point where you could read the print!!!!! Now thats pumping out. Same with my P4. But after about 7months of use on p4 it still had ALL the AS3 still on the cpu. Explain that! Point is that TP is just WAX people. WAX melts evertime it gets hot. You have less and less on the cpu after every useage. Whilst AS3 and other pastes THICKEN when heated! So as to resist running away from core.

SO-

TP gets hot melts away from core leaving you with next to nadda!

Paste THICKENS when hot so every use DROPS the temps more and makes it more resistant to runs!!!

They are just doing this cause of the moroons that cant use paste without killing their cpu's. THats all. Its dummy proof-NOT better. Thats all they have to admitt. These lies they pass of as fact are **** and its just like politics. Bunch of half truths. Like I said I have my proof-my facts. My tests run-where are theirs to prove me wrong? Just saying it pumps away -DUH- it all eventually pumps away and the product they tell you to use does it even faster yet. Just causse they are AMD doesnt mean **** to me. Taking somthing as fact just cause "they SHOULD know" is just stupid. Spair us the lies AMD and let the truth come out.:rolleyes: