Problem with new 1.4 tbird

[Starseed]

I just got a brand new 1.4 tbird and an MSI K7 Master mobo. When I first boot, it detects the clock speed as 1050mhz... When I go into the BIOS and check the CPU temp, it says it's running at around 158 degrees farenheit! I'm using an Alpha PEP66 hs/f with plenty of thermal compound, and my case has fairly good airflow, so I know that that's not my problem... Also, I tried changing the bus speed to 133 and the multiplier to 10.5 to get it to clock at 1.4ghz, but it ends up hanging soon after it posts, and then after that it won't even post. I don't think this is a voltage problem, as I've tried different voltage settings with generally the same result.

There has to be something I'm missing here... anyone have any ideas?

 

[Nakaji]

Maybe check to see if your HSF is mounted correctly, and get rid of the factory compound on the HS, and use AS2. But, other than that, I dont know what it could be, good luck to you.

 

[LanEvoVI]

Did you change the bus speed in the bios? Sometimes there is a jumper on the mobo for selecting the default bus speed. Try setting that to 133 if you have that jumper on your mobo.

 

[acejj26]

1. make sure your hs is mounted flush with the core
2. "plenty of thermal compound" - you don't want TOO much...just a little dab on the core and even less on the heatsink...just to fill in gaps
3. doesn't the pep66 have the little feet? if it does, it's probably not sitting flush with the core. make sure you remove them if they are on there
4. about it booting at 1050...it's because there should be a jumper on your motherboard that tells it to run at 100 MHz bus or 133 MHz bus. make sure it is on 133.

hope you haven't burnt up your proc.

 

[ukDave]

i have also just upgraded to a 1.4ghz system. I however have the Gigabyte GA-7DXR motherboard. After reading the manually carefully i found out that you have to change a jumper on the motherboard (as mentioned above). My CPU also registered as 1050mhz because it is running at 100*10.5 rather than 133*10.5. By the way, my CPU runs at 73c at full load! Also check your RAM is in the correct slot (see manual ( i have to put mine in DIMM3, not DIMM 1). post back!

dave

 

[acejj26]

73C full load!!!!!! geezus, you're doing something wrong too! i'm running 1533 and at full load i only get 51C. you might want to check your heatsink setup as well

 

[CTweak]

If it won't boot at 1.4ghz it's proably heat related. Especially if it's at 158 deg when booted to 1.05! You mention you used 'plenty of thermal compound' that proably your problem there.

Remove the HSF, clean all the goop off of it w/ rubbing alcohal or fingernail polish remover. For best results use sandpaper on a flate piece of glass to sand the HSF to a smooth flat finish (search the forums for the word 'lapping' for detailed info on this.) This will ensure the HSF is perfectly flat and free of goop, finger oils, etc. Don't touch the bottom of the HSF after doing this. Clean the top of the CPU very carefully, best probably to just very carefully scrape the thermal coupond off with a credit card or similar plastic.

Next apply a very thin layer of thermal coupon to the bottom of the HSF, and scrape all excess off with the credit card/plastic. Do the same with the top of the CPU, leaving a paper thin (or less) coating of goop on the CPU. Seat the HSF squarely on the CPU and while holding it squarely on the CPU (DON"T let it rock), apply the clips.

The goal is to have metal to metal contact between the HSF and the CPU. The thermal coupond is only to fill those tiny gaps/crevases in the surface of the CPU/HSF and ensure there is no air between the 2. Air is a poor conducter of heat (compared to metal or thermal coupond).

As I type this my CPU temp is 91(F)/33(C) on a TBird 1.3.

 

[Starseed]

When I said "plenty of thermal compound" I didn't mean I smothered all over the heatsink and CPU, I just meant that I applied thermal compound, so I'm pretty sure that isn't the problem.  I'm using Arctic Silver II, and I was sure to follow the instructions on their site very carefully when applying the compound.  Nonetheless, I tried wiping it off and cleaning it off thoroughly, then reapplying the compound, but it's still running at excessive temperatures..

I also read through my mobo manual again to make sure there aren't any jumpers I need to change on the motherboard, and I'm positive there aren't any.  I can switch the bus speed easily to 133 in the BIOS, so my only problem now is heat.. I can't even get it to boot at 1050, let alone 1400.

I can't think of anything else to try aside from using a different hs/f, even though I know my Alpha PEP66 is more than capable of the job.  Anyone else have any more ideas?