Keeping my athlon cool?

[oniq]

I need a new solution to keep my athlon cool, lately its been running hot. I can't play any games because it freezes and I have to hard reset. If I look, right after the reset, at the temperature the CPU is running at 55C! Thats just not good . I need a GOOD fan/heatsink solution, not worried too much about the price as long as it is reasonable. Any ideas? Links would be appreciated to reviews, as well. I'm also wondering if there is a way to check the temperature with a program of me Geforce 3? I only have the stock fan on there, and am wondering if I should throw something else on it. I'm not looking to overclock my system, just need to be able to play some games at stock level. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SouthernBred]

In my opinion, if you're only seeing 55C after reset, then the heat is not what's causing the problem. The cpu should still be stable at that temperature, which is high by enthusiasts or cooling "gurus", but certainly not outside the spec of the cpu.

That being said, there are tons of places on the web (in this forum actually) that discuss the heatsink/fan/etc... I'm using a Dr. Thermal heatsink with the fan that came on it (70-mm I think), and Arctic Silver II, and it's running beautifully.

However, my guess is that heat isn't causing your problem.

 

[2Cool]

That symptom could be for many problems, not just heat. Install any new hardware/drivers lately? Run a defrag and clean your system any time within the past couple of months?

Also, if you think its heat, take the side panel off, blow the dust out of your heatsinks. Then put a big room fan on the open side. Play your games... if they still lock, its probably not heat.

 

[oniq]

The thing is, I didn't change anything other than taking out 512mb of ram, and now it freezes when I play games. I used to be able to play counterstrike for hours with no problems. Then it just started to freeze out of no where, I don't know if it was before or after the taking out of the ram -- I believe it was after. I'll try the suggestions you guys gave me tomorrow. Thanks for the responses!

 

[Lichee]

funny. i am having the same problem! I lock up at 55C.

in my situation, i know it is a heat issue. I've opened up my case and let a fan blow in with no probs. I think i just need some fans blowing air into my case. I have a coolermaster atc-210 which has no fans sucking in. just two blowing out.

my solution so far has been to upgrade the fans to ahigher output and to change the top fan to blow air in. if that dont work, i might get a hd cooler and just let that be my airintake. anyways, gl on your solution...

 

[CubicZirconia]

might get a hd cooler and just let that be my airintake

Why not just get a regular case fan?

 

[Lichee]

because my case doesnt have an airintake in the front.

my case

 

[UnseenRocker]

I've heard the OCZ Quicksilver is a good thermal paste to use. I have Artic Alumina on my XP, and it does ok.

 

[CheapGator]

I'd take the back panel fan and turn it around and make it an intake, I only have 1 spot for a fan in my case and i made it an intake, (ps is out) blows right on cpu and it's keeping me at 33C idle right now, course my mobo is probably nuts(asus). Still looking for a cheap thermometer unit for my case to prove my claim.(Any suggestions??)

With that suggestion from what I can gather on your case you'd have some mysterious output on the top panel(blow hole?). This should make a nice loop of cool air comin in and hot air goin out. Bernoulli should help with heat from the bottom of the case in a limited fashion.

 

[CubicZirconia]

A plain old hdd cooler isn't going to lower case temps.

 

[Lichee]

well, not just any plain old hdd cooler. it's gonna have airflow baby...

but im open to suggestions... keep in mind i dont have a case with a front fan.

 

[SouthernBred]

I added a 120mm intake to the side of my case, by buying a window with a pre-cut hole. This helped my situation a good deal. I have a front intake, but it's ducked from the bottom of the case and wasn't pulling very much in. The front is curved pretty heavy, and I didn't think I could mod the front bezzel to make it work.

I put a 120mm fan intake on the side (Sunon Quiet 68cfm/30dba) with a chrome grill and aluminun mesh filter. You'll want a filter for intake to keep the dust out.

 

[Lichee]

see the thing is, I would love to mod my case and stick a window on the side, but i dont have the tools (nor guts) to cut my case up. is there any place that sells premodded side casing? im not gonna hold my breath for an answer..