Can you run a K6-2 450 MHz without heatsink?

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi there,

As some of you may know, I'm gathering old computer parts and putting systems together, as a charity project, and sending them to poor families in Eastern Europe.

I recently obtained an almost complete (no RAM, no HD, no optical units) system with an AMD K6-2 450 MHz CPU... and not only that there was no heatsink/CPU fan on it, but the metallic shield on top of the CPU looks so clean, it seems there never was a heatsink to begin with.

I can't ask the owner of the system whether he ran it like this, but I'm wondering: can these CPUs work without a fan? I think there should be at least a passive heatsink on these things...

 

[biostud]

needs heatsink

 

[Jimmah]

I fried my old k6-2 350 when the heatsink popped off.....100% needs HSF.

 

[stevty2889]

Definatly needs a heatsink..

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
Definatly needs a heatsink..

^^^

 

[Chef Brian]

I still run my webserver on saidsame processor Definitely needs a HSF lol..

 

[Pabster]

Heh. Sure, you can. Keep a stopwatch handy to see if you can best the record time for a fried K6-2 chip!

Seriously, the K6-2 runs pretty hot.

 

[thegimp03]

All of those early processors from AMD ran very very hot. I just remember my old 800 mhz Athlon and how hot it'd get while playing QIII.

 

[filibusterman]

QIII the good old days!!

 

[TuxDave]

The last processor that I could recall not needing a heatsink was something along the lines of a pentium 90MHz.

 

[MDE]

Absolutely needs a heatsink.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

I have a nice big heatsink, should I look in my spare parts box for a fan as well?

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
I have a nice big heatsink, should I look in my spare parts box for a fan as well?

If its a large heatsink, you may get away without a fan but look all the same.

 

[Alkali]

I'm going to put this quite simply...


If they didn't need a heatsink when they were originally sold as new, AMD would not have shipped any of them with heatsinks and fans. Its really quite obvious they require the heatsink. My DX2-66 used a heatsink.

 

[BitByBit]

Absolutely not!
I have a K6-2 500 clocked at 525, and it routinely hits 60C when gaming (as much as I can game on that), and that's with a faster fan.
AFAIK, only Via chips can run with passive cooling, but they still require a heatsink.

 

[phaxmohdem]

You could always throw it in a tank of mineral oil

 

[The Pentium Guy]

As some of you may know, I'm gathering old computer parts and putting systems together, as a charity project, and sending them to poor families in Eastern Europe.

You know how sad these families will be when they realize they get an overheating computer with no heatsink :frown:?

Edit:
Sorry for the sarcasm. You're doing a good job donating this stuff to help people in need. Keep it up bro :thumbsup:.

 

[jswjimmy]

ive burnt my hand on a k6-400 mhz heatsink. it needs it. ive seen 386 and maybe a 486 with out heatsinks.

 

[exar333]

you could possibly run a 1.2 or 1.3 @ 400 or so and MAYBE get away without a fan, but always a heatsink... basically any stock CPU is gonna need one unless it's downclocked a lot...

 

[bREwIn dOdgEr dUDe]

i have a k6-2/475 in a compaq sitting right here next to me and it has a heatsink/fan... it does get pretty darn hot... for what you're doing i know extra expenses will add up, even for good causes:thumbsup:... do attempt to cool it somehow for it to be functional...

 

[mindwreck]

definitely requires a heatsink. a fan maybe not. I remember using my old k6/2 thats oced to 500 from 450 for testing parts. when i came back like 30 minutes to check on it, I noticed i forgot to plug in the fan!!! Mine is deplated and it may have helped it from frying.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: mindwreck
definitely requires a heatsink. a fan maybe not. I remember using my old k6/2 thats oced to 500 from 450 for testing parts. when i came back like 30 minutes to check on it, I noticed i forgot to plug in the fan!!! Mine is deplated and it may have helped it from frying.

The heatsink on my Dad's old K6-2 400 @ 425 got so clogged with dust that no air from the fan actually reached the heatsink, but it was relatively stable. Sure it ran 60C+ but it still worked.

 

[BitByBit]

That's exactly what happened to my K6-2's heatsink, and curiously, it stayed stable. I wasn't able to overclock it however, until I cleaned it.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Thanks for your replies, guys... I'll dig for a fan to go along with the heatsink.

 

[Jeff7181]

Of course it needs a heatsink. Even my old 486 DX2 had a heatsink. A large case fan pulling warm air away from a heatsink without a fan might work... but it would be best to have a heatsink and fan mounted on the CPU.