Advice on CPU heatsink/fan

[Underwood]

I have a computer with a 3 GHz P4 CPU.. the CPU came with the Intel included heatsink/fan but I accidentally broke a little plastic clip off of it when I was removing the heatsink to troubleshoot another problem. I went to CompUSA and bought a MadDog heatsink that would work with the CPU but ever since I put it on the computer seems to overheat and restart. I have been looking at some other heatsinks online and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions...

Thanks

 

[Thor86]

Do yourself a favour and get a Zalman ALCU 7000B. It only requires a philips screwdriver and uses the existing motherboard hsf bracket. Works great and is dead silent.

 

[Mucker]

As Thor said: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de...839848?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846

m

 

[charlietee]

Having complete system specs really helps when asking for information and guidence.

What thermal paste are you using ???

Sounds like you are having mounting issues...If it starting doing all this business after you installed the new heat sink especially.

Mount the heat sink and remove it to make sure you are getting good contact between the heat sink, processor and that whatever thermal compound is spread out evenly.

Have you changed any BIOS temperature shut down settings ??? Something you might want to check.

But it really sounds like a mounting problem.

 

[Underwood]

I'm thinking it is a mounting problem too. The thermal paste was bought at CompUSA too, I don't remember the brand. I have taken the heatsink off twice since I added it and both times the thermal paste has evaporated (which gave me more reasons to think it's a mounting issue).

As far as system specs...
3.0 GHz P4
Elite Group PT800CE-A Mobo (Think that's the model, bought at Fry's)
1 gig Corsair RAM
160 Seagate HD
GeForce 128 mb VC
Sony 12X DVD-rw
Generic 52x CD-rw

 

[lordbob99]

Thermal paste really shouldn't evaporate, even if you do have a bad contact. I'd agree with Thor and Mucker to get the Zalman, but also recommend geting some arctic silver or equivalent.

 

[charlietee]

I looked at CompUSA's site and could not find the MadDog heatsink you are reffering to.

If you can please link me to it.

Do your self a favor and read THIS

You need to mount the heatsink and check to see that the TIM is being spread like the last picture...Sounds like your heatsink is not making contact with your processor...Intel is pretty good with their thermal protection...But it cannot be helping your processor to continue to have it shut down.

Has the heat speader cap been removed from you P4 ???

You really need to stop booting your computer until this problem has been resolved before you fry something up.

 

[Underwood]

I went to Fry's today and bought the Zalman ALCU 7000B heatsink, but I think I made my problem worse. When I tried to remove the heatsink that was attached to the CPU... the heatsink came off but pulled the CPU off with it. After I cleaned off the CPU I tried to put it back on the mobo but it wouldn't sit right so I looked at the pins on the CPU and noticed that two of the outside corner pins were bent... I'm guessing from pulling the heatsink off. So now the CPU won't fully lock in to the mobo, I think I've probably ruined it. I'm probably going to have to buy a new CPU so I think I might toss the cheap ass mobo that came with it and get something better.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Nope, if you bend the pins one way, just bend em back.

 

[Underwood]

I would if the pin hadn't bent all the way over so it almost looked like a loop. Now the CPU doesn't sit level