sk-6 problem :-(

[elimcpheron]

please help me!!!!!!!!!

im running a 1.4ghz thunderbird with asus a7m266 mobo

and i always have 65 degrees cpu temp idle, not even load!!!

i have an sk-6 on with an 80mm panaflo L1a diagonally mounted on it....
its set to blow onto hsf and my side is off all the time and the ambient temp is 28. I also have a chassis fan setting to blow out of case on the back of it
i have as2 on the hsf

these temps are driving me insane... tips... suggestions???

 

[Mikewarrior2]

What' s your system temp?



Mike

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Perhaps you have your settings set up for Farenheit. Most people list their temps in Celcius so it would seem you temp is higher, even though it is roughly the same.

 

[WarCon]

I am not sure your going to get enough air pressure from an L1A to adequately cool a thin finned copper heatsink. Copper thin finned heatsinks really do work much, much better with fans that can move air against a load. Its the design of the blade that makes the difference. An SK6 (because of its tightly spaced fins basically represents a solid block, you need pressure to move air down those narrow channels). Also normal Athlon 1.4's run very warm compared to a comparable XP model. One other think to consider is that ASUS typically compensates more for the compressed temps coming from the backside of the chip so they read a little higher than other mobo manufacturers typically. I don't know for sure that ASUS continued with that trend in this mobo, but it seems likely.

Those temps are high, but let me ask you this. Is your system running stable? Do you experience alot of BSOD's or lockup's that would indicate your processor is getting too hot?

Check your clip also to make sure its on the right way. The bend that touchs the heatsink should be right over the core, if not then it needs turned around.

 

[Dan]

A common problem with the SK-6 is improper mounting on the CPU. Double-check to make sure you have good contact between the heatsink and the chip. Also (since you didn't mention it) are you using a good thermal compound like ASII?

 

[elimcpheron]

yes im using celcius

my mobo(system?) temp is 26 degrees

im using asII

i do get somewhat frequent bsod's but it might be cuz of my psu... its been acting up when i turn on my cathode light....

ill try remounting it on the hsf and see what happens and see if the bend is on the chip

thx for the tips guys/gals

 

[Austin5]

elimcpheron,

Have you lapped your SK-6? I had similar temps with mine until I lapped the heatsink. It amazed me once I started lapping it how bad the mounting surface wasn't flat. It took me about 45 minutes to get it flat. I have it flat now with a 80mm 50cfm fan on it now and my temps are 31C idle and 37C under load. It really made a big differance on mine.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

<< elimcpheron,

Have you lapped your SK-6? I had similar temps with mine until I lapped the heatsink. It amazed me once I started lapping it how bad the mounting surface wasn't flat. It took me about 45 minutes to get it flat. I have it flat now with a 80mm 50cfm fan on it now and my temps are 31C idle and 37C under load. It really made a big differance on mine. >>



Not everybody has a lathe or access to one. Or do you mean sanding? That is often mistaken for lapping.

 

[tazdevl]

Perhaps a better question is, do you have the mounting clip set up properly? If needs to go a certain direction or it doesn't put pressure on the correct area and results in poor contact with the CPU. I'd double check that.

As someone else mentioned, a L1A doesn't cut it. Just because it's bigger doesn't mean it's better. 80MM fans produce less pressure which results in higher temps on a thin finned HSF.

 

[elimcpheron]

how would i go about "lapping" my heatsink???

basically it just makes the surface flat???

please expound

 

[Twinjet]

Hello,

I had a similar problem with the sk-6 what you need to do is check the clip becasue it is made with the pressure point offcenter so that it applies pressure over the cpu slug. If the clip is on backwards it will not put full pressure on the slug. With the clip on backwards the temperature would climb to over 60c when the clip was put on correctly it ran at 32-35c. The instructions that come with the heatsink are not really all that clear and the picture is pretty bad but i would check your clip casue i believe that is the problem and not incorrect usage of heatpaste or needing lapping. hope this helps

-twinjet

 

[dgodwin]

I would also second checking the clip. I purchased the SK6, and recieved it earlier in the week. I assembled it (installed clip and put delta "screamer" on) before opening my case. After installing it (which was a pain because the clip was on backwards) I couldn't get my t-bird to run at factory spec. speeds. I actually had to underclock to boot. After checking the installation with a mirror, reapplying ASIII, etc, I still wasn't able to get up to the correct speed and temps I expected. I checked thermalright's website, I decided to check the position of the clip. I realized I had it backwards, causing the pressure point to be incorrect, and making installation practically impossible.

I reinstalled the clip today, and am able to overclock my athlon 1.4 to 1.518 running at 39 degrees celcius. Nice!

Daniel

 

[amdskip]

I also believe it is the clip, the sk-6 is an awesome heatsink.

 

[WA261]

<< 80MM fans produce less pressure which results in higher temps on a thin finned HSF. >>



you have not tested this, have you? ;-) my temp dropped about 5c when i put on my 80mm

 

[WarCon]

Just curious WA261, are you using the L1A Panaflo? And what did you replace?

...........edit............
Just looked at your signature and I see your using an Enermax fan. I bet it pushes more air than the L1A by far. Is it very loud?

 

[elimcpheron]

hey, i tried switching the clip around and it raised my temp even higher!!!! argh..!!!!!!!

 

[NathanD]

<< Not everybody has a lathe or access to one. Or do you mean sanding? That is often mistaken for lapping. >>



What the hell are you talking about? How do you lap with a lathe? Maybe you could rig up something like a flycutter, but what would be the point of that? A lapping machine that I've seen pictures of looks nothing like a lathe.

 

[WA261]

its not loud at all....i think its 34db...i replaced a 7k rpm 46db delta.....so it was a great reduction of noise

 

[Twinjet]

 

[Twinjet]

Hello Again,

Back to the clip. When you took it off did you notice if the pressure point was directly over the cneter of the cpu? This is critical because of the four rubber pads on the Athlon. If the clip is off center it will compress the two pads on the back side more and cause the HS to not be paralell with the slug. If that happens only the back side will contact on one edge of the slug.

The only way that you could be getting temps in the 60s with a non overclocked cpu at idle is if the heatsink is not making even contact. Getting the sk-6 clipped on in the right direction and the clip over the slug with a light smear of any old paste should have you at least in the 40s.

There is one other possibility though. Are you sure the temp is really 60C? Maybe you're getting a false reading???

Keep it under 70C and good luck.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

<< There is one other possibility though. Are you sure the temp is really 60C? Maybe you're getting a false reading??? >>



you have to realize that differetn motherboards read temps higher than others... a "high" reading doesn't mean a false reading, often times, a lower reading is the real "false" reading.

however, your other advice regarding the clip is well-based... EliMcpheron, check to make sure the clip isn't off, and neither is hte heatsink... there are numerous cases of people with sk6's where the sk6 catches hte "lip" of the actual socket-plastic piece.


Mike

 

[SinfulWeeper]

<< What the hell are you talking about? How do you lap with a lathe? Maybe you could rig up something like a flycutter, but what would be the point of that? A lapping machine that I've seen pictures of looks nothing like a lathe. >>



My bad, A Mill then. Although a precission lathe would work just as good as a Mill. Lathe's, Mill's, and I forgot what the last one is usually comes in a three-in-one tool set. You were probably thinking I was talking about a wood lathe, not a metal lathe. (It can be converted, but than it would be just as worthwhile to buy a metal lathe right off the bat.)

In either case, sanding is usally mistaken for latheing. People will sand and feel the surface thinking it feels smooth. most of the time that is correct. However one side can be sanded more than the other and the surface could come out lopsided or bowl shaped. The metal lathe spining the heatsink around with the proper cutter would slowly take off say .0005 of the surface evenly accross the bottom. Or however much you want it to take off. In every case it comes out with a smooth and flat surface unless the poor thing gets mounted wrong.

But as I said. Hardly aybody has the tools around. It would most likely have to be brought to a auto/metal shop for the proper latheing.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Here is an example of one of the beasts I was talking about.

 

[aphex]

Im wondering if it could be the Mobo. I have an Asus (A7A266 thought for me) as well and it runs a HELL of alot hotter than all my friends simular systems. Case temp is 27C and my CPU is 54C (idle).

 

[Mikewarrior2]

AphexII,

it is partially the MB. Differnet motherboards interpret the socket-thermistor temperature differently.... Asus' tend to read "higher" than other motherobards (not to be confused with too hot). Your temps are likely normal for your motherboard, and this is precisely why cross-motherboard temperature comparisons can't be done with any consistency.



Mike