Heating problems with my computer -- HELP!

[cdm0]

Hey everyone. I have a custom built system (which I built in October '02) with the following specs:

Soyo KT400 Dragon Ultra Platinum Edition
AMD Athlon XP 2000 CPU w/ Retail CPU heatsink + fan
Antec Case
ATI AIW 8500DV
etc...

This is a non-overclocked system and has never been overclocked. I don't play any games.

This is not the first system built and I am by no means a newbie to computers. I maintain my computer well and generally format every 6 months to keep things running smoothly.

But there's a problem with my computer. Starting a couple months ago, my computer has automatically shut down from time to time. I know it's a heating issue because my mobo has a CPU overheating protection feature which automatically shuts the system down followed by a long tone/beep once the CPU temperature (specifically the temperature of the die) reaches the defined temperature set in the BIOS. The default temperature at which the computer automatically shuts down is set to when the die of the processor hits 85 degrees Celcius.

When I built the computer, I didn't apply any thermal paste to the die of processor to help dissipate heat like the mobo manual stated, so earlier today, I opened my system up and applied it. I checked the temperature of the CPU and it seemed to knock down the temperature by about 8-10 degrees. But then, my system overheated again.

I then raised the overheat protection temperature to 95 degrees Celcius.

The thing is though, on some days when I turn my computer on, it's _VERY_ sluggish and loading basic problems becomes a nightmare! And then on other days, my system works very smoothly without any problems.

Now, I usually don't concern myself with my system unless there's a problem... so this situation has raised a couple questions...

1) What temperature is dangerously high for a processor to be at (the temperature of the die)? What is a good temperature the processor should be at?
2) Can my system's sluggish performance be directly attributed to to this heat issue?
3) What should I do? My CPU fan is the retail AMD fan and it seems to be working fine (~4500 RPM).

Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jon

 

[bandana163]

How many fans do you have? Do you have at least 2 fans inside the case? 95 C is pretty much, considering that all Northwood CPUs turn off immediately at 110 C and slow down at about 85 C. AMDs endure heat roughly the same way.
The temp. should not reach 100 C. I've seen machines working at 80 C for a long time, but this isn't normal. Is your retail fan a strong one? You said the problems appeared a few months ago. Could it be the heat of summer?

 

[Nebor]

You're in trouble dude. You could cook an egg on that bia.

 

[WarCon]

Check to see that your heatsink is on the right direction as one direction should have a lip so it doesn't sit on the socket.

Did you clean off the pad from the heatsink (so that you could see bare metal)? What kind of thermal compound (new radio shack compound dries under the heat of modern processors so its not a good choice) did you use?

If you don't already have them, get some case fans. At least one exhaust fan in the back near the processor.

 

[sharkeeper]

Is there an option in your BIOS called throttling? That can slow you down when the temp gets above a threshold. Many mainboard sensors have great error! Don't be surprised if your CPU temp reading of 80°C is in actuality 58°C. I've seen that on several boards that were incorrectly reporting internal diode temps...

-DAK-

 

[cdm0]

Answers to the above posts...

I have one exhaust fan which came with the case. It is located under the PSU.

Will a second exhaust fan, which can be placed by the front of the case under the HD's, make a big difference? Even when my case is open, it still overheats.

I checked the manual of the motherboard and my heatsink is on in the right direction.

I didn't clean off the pad (the small sticky pink film square) of the heatsink because it is supposed to come into contact w/ the die of the CPU (and thermal compound I believe) according to AMD's CPU installation guide.

But, when I opened my system up, the pink film was like melted outwards so I don't think there was any contact between the pad and the heatsink anymore (which was why I then added the thermal compound).

I check my BIOS and there doesn't seem to be an option or anything that refers to throtting.



Any other suggestions? Also, what heatsink+fan do you guys recommend I buy to replace my Retail one.

 

[cdm0]

Answers to the above posts...

I have one exhaust fan which came with the case. It is located under the PSU.

Will a second exhaust fan, which can be placed by the front of the case under the HD's, make a big difference? Even when my case is open, it still overheats.

I checked the manual of the motherboard and my heatsink is on in the right direction.

I didn't clean off the pad (the small sticky pink film square) of the heatsink because it is supposed to come into contact w/ the die of the CPU (and thermal compound I believe) according to AMD's CPU installation guide.

But, when I opened my system up, the pink film was like melted outwards so I don't think there was any contact between the pad and the heatsink anymore (which was why I then added the thermal compound).

I check my BIOS and there doesn't seem to be an option or anything that refers to throtting.



Any other suggestions? Also, what heatsink+fan do you guys recommend I buy to replace my Retail one.

 

[WarCon]

As far as thermal compounds go, use the pad (one time use, must be removed if you take off your heatsink after its melted) or thermal compound. Never both.....