Overheating problems on Athlon XP 1800+

[Helmut]

Hi ppl,

Lately i've been having overheating problems with my CPU. It is running at 60 deg celsius (about 140 F), so thats pretty d**n hot! And the MB warning signal comes on.

**Edited for language** Imperion1

It is getting really hot here at the moment (sydney)... but i've had the fan goin all day and opened up the case as well. Still, i get the overheating problem.

Is the weather the cause of this? Do i need a new/more powerful CPU fan?

Any help would be appreciated,

Cheers,
Helmut

[Helmut]

I forgot to add, my motherboard is an Epox 8KHA+...

I've been having problems with the small fan as well (i think its the one that covers the chipset) it starts and stops all the time.

[newclockr]

My XP1800+ with a stock HSF idles at 38c and 40c under normal load. I've never seen it above 44c stressed with SANDRA.

If my temps were yours, I'd reseat the HSF first. Then consider hooking your case fans to the power supply INSTEAD of off the motherboard. My previous Shuttle board had problems when more than the cpu fan was attached.

The only other mod I made was replacing the small (38cfm) intake fan with a 4" 108cfm with homemade louvers. A lot of work for 2 lousy degrees, but the cooler, the better.

[Imperion1]

Welcome to Sysopt.

Is this a retail cpu w/ generic hs/fan? Did you remove the TIM (the pink gum on the bottom of the heat sink). Apply thermal paste?

[Helmut]

Originally posted by Imperion1
Welcome to Sysopt.

Is this a retail cpu w/ generic hs/fan? Did you remove the TIM (the pink gum on the bottom of the heat sink). Apply thermal paste?

I'm assuming the HSF is the processor fan? I bought this PC from a retail store. They installed everything so i'm not sure how they installed the fan, or removed the TIM as you were talking about.

Could buying a more powerful processor fan help?
And also, how do i hook up the fan to the power supply? I think this is a good idea with the real small fan, because it frequently changes speed and stops. I think it might inadequate power.

My system is on a 300W power supply, is this big enough?

[Helmut]

Originally posted by newclockr
My XP1800+ with a stock HSF idles at 38c and 40c under normal load. I've never seen it above 44c stressed with SANDRA.

If my temps were yours, I'd reseat the HSF first.

Reseat.. do you mean take it off and stick it back on again?

[newclockr]

You bought a retail? Name brand or built by an Integrator (someone who builds & sells retail)?

Your temps have jumped "recently"? What else changed?

There's quite a number of resources on cooling your system, including a number of novel ideas.

Before you remove your heatsink/fan from the processor you'd be wise to read up on the proper methods of the procedure. And use Arctic Silver.

[Helmut]

Well the temperature jumps have coincided with the very hot weather here in sydney. So i'm hoping that this is the only reason for the jumps.

Before the weather changed here, everything seemed to be working fine.

The only problem that i've been having for a while has been the small fan on the chipset. It doesn't start on bootup, i have to open the case and give it a little help to start spinning.

I'm not sure if the fan isn't getting enough power from the MB or if its just a faulty fan.

[BillBaldwin]

Hope the fires go out, Sydney . . .

Concern: if the fan on the CPU (the Athlon chip) stops from time to time there is a real potential problem because the CPU can overheat and die in short order . . .

Suggestion: get a new very large heat sink with a hi rpm (7000 or more) fan and have it professionally installed.

I had overheating probs with Athlon 900 (applications would lock) and upgraded the heat sink to a $40 copper sink with hi rpm. CPU ran 10 C cooler.

Am now using the same heat sink on an XP 1800 with no probs, even running games and dvd . . . (put the stock heat sink that came with the XP 1800 on the 900)

Hope this helps and hope you all get some rain there in New South Wales . . .

Bill