CPU Overheating (I think)

[MrGalaxie]

My case is a Silverstone Temjin 01. Lately I upgraded to a Geforce 5900, Athlon XP 2500+ Barton, WD 80GB 7200RPM, and kept my old LG dvd/cd-rw and Asus A7v8x-x Mobo. Since I upgraded, I was getting lockups at random times while playing games (AAO, Planetside more specifically). So I decided to order some cooling devices. I ordered a Thermaltake Silent Boost, some Artic Silver 5, and a Vantec Fan Card that goes in an open PCI slot and blows cool air via 2 60mm fans onto the video card.... And I still get lockups. My Bios reports my idle CPU temp at ~52 and my temp when I crashed during AAO was reported by bios as 71*C! I think these temps are rediculous, as others who had bought the Thermaltake Silent Boost reported they had idle temps of OCed! 2500s around 35 and 41 under load.

Inside
Back
Inside again

Here are some pics of my case. A friend of mine suggested making either a 80mm or 92mm blow hole in the top of my case, since I only have one 80mm exhaust and theres no room on the back of the case for another. I did the best on wiring as I could and I really don't think its too restricting for airflow.

Any comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated and thanks in advance to everyone who replies.

 

[mechBgon]

First of all, realize that motherboards are calibrated all over the map. The same CPU/heatsink/fan combo may result in low 40C readings on one motherboard and high 60's on another, due to calibration differences. Apples, oranges... yeah.

Secondly, I hope this is a well-duh thing to you, but make sure your heatsink is oriented the right way (how to tell).

Also, looking at the photos, I see that your PSU doesn't have any vents on the bottom, and the rear exhaust fan is trying to cram air through a restrictive stamped grille. If your case heats up inside, those factors probably are contributing. If you're brave enough, simply cutting out the rear exhaust hole to fit your 80mm fan, and using a chromed wire grille over the opening, would really boost your exhaust flow. A power supply that draws air from the bottom side, instead of the front side, could also help to keep the air flowing past the CPU better and result in lower CPU temperatures.

Lastly... what power supply is keeping all that stuff afloat? I can't tell from the photo. The quality of the power supply can make or break a system's stability. If you've been skating by on an older 300W Enhance or something, maybe consider jumping to a good-quality 400W unit or so, and gain the bottom vent setup at the same time.

 

[Delorian]

Go for a 480W (at least 400W) PSU, check your heatsink, check all fans, use Motherboard Monitor 5 (more reliable temp information than bios) and get some friggin wire ties man! Good luck

 

[MrGalaxie]

Okay thanks! My PSU is a 400W nothing special brand I got with a case I used before, it never gave me any problems before so I transfered it to this one and just kept on using it.

And yes, I'm positive my heatsink is on right. Its got a larger end that goes over the fat part of the plastic on the CPU bracket.

 

[mechBgon]

For the heck of it, here's a photo of fairly good CPU-pocket ventilation: dual 80mm exhaust with free-breathing wire grilles plus the power supply's bottom fan drawing air up and away from the CPU. Hot exhaust --ok, it's an Athlon64, so warm exhaust air from the CPU's heatsink is not given a whole lot of opportunity to make a second pass through the heatsink, it's immediately sucked out of the area.

 

[M0NEYSH0T]

Is that your rig, mechBgon? That's sweet and VERY clean and tidy, impressive.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: M0NEYSH0T
Is that your rig, mechBgon? That's sweet and VERY clean and tidy, impressive.

It is! More yummy pics here showing the modifications I did (I bought it with the second fan hole pre-punched, and had them punch the grillework out of the stock rear fan hole too). It currently has only one SCSI drive, not two like shown in the pictures, and is now housing that K8V Deluxe instead of the A7N8X Deluxe... guess I should update the photos.

 

[MichaelD]

That rear stamped grill is killing you, MrGalaxie! you need to chop that out. A Dremel (or "rotary cutting tool") with a cutoff disc is your friend here. You can literally have that thing out in 60 seconds.

Also, getting a PS with two fans (one on the bottom, plus the usual one on the rear)will most definitely help. You have a big case; the bigger the case, the more potential airflow you need to have.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
That rear stamped grill is killing you, MrGalaxie! you need to chop that out. A Dremel (or "rotary cutting tool") with a cutoff disc is your friend here. You can literally have that thing out in 60 seconds.

Also, getting a PS with two fans (one on the bottom, plus the usual one on the rear)will most definitely help. You have a big case; the bigger the case, the more potential airflow you need to have.

Both of these suggestions will help you. This is exactly what I was thinking before I read this post.

 

[MrGalaxie]

Here is an update to my case and my overheating problems which are now stomped and gone!

I found my moms old dremel in her garage so I went to the hardware store and picked up some metal cutting tools. I cut out the stamped grill that was on the back, along with another 80mm fan mount. I also cut out the stamped grills on the 2 60mm fans in the front of my case.

From newegg I ordered a new Thermaltake PurePower 420W PSU (with 2 fans) and two Coolermaster 80mm fans. I got the parts in today, installed them, and no more lockups or overheating. My idle temp runs around 40 with my load temps never reaching over 45. I'm so happy! Thanks to everyone for your help! Heres a picture.

Happy Computer!

 

[QuantumSlip]

wow, nice job! you're truely on ur way to case modding godness...

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: QuantumSlip
wow, nice job! you're truely on ur way to case modding godness...

Well done! After seeing that pic of the before, that is a HORRIBLE cutout for a fan! Great job!!

 

[pspada]

Geez, Mechbogart, you didn't offer me any of that pizza...

Good documentation on a system build, though. You got one of the good Antec cases - I hate the ones with the drive cage twisted 90 degrees. I hope to get around to doing something like that....perhaps in my next life.

 

[pookie69]

Originally posted by: MrGalaxie
Here is an update to my case and my overheating problems which are now stomped and gone!

I found my moms old dremel in her garage so I went to the hardware store and picked up some metal cutting tools. I cut out the stamped grill that was on the back, along with another 80mm fan mount. I also cut out the stamped grills on the 2 60mm fans in the front of my case.

From newegg I ordered a new Thermaltake PurePower 420W PSU (with 2 fans) and two Coolermaster 80mm fans. I got the parts in today, installed them, and no more lockups or overheating. My idle temp runs around 40 with my load temps never reaching over 45. I'm so happy! Thanks to everyone for your help! Heres a picture.

Happy Computer!

Impressive DIY job. Well done. Also your story illustartes how silly some case manufacturers are, and what a good airflow can do for system stability.

:thumbsup:

 

[Sauro]

The link to the case is broken - take out one http:// !