System too hot?

[Hollmando]

my system is as follows:
athlon 2600+ barton
512 pc2700 ddr
radeon 9700pro
abit KD7 mo/bo
enermax 300w psu (came with new case)

Two days ago I bought a new case and the 2600+ barton mentioned above. I felt my 2000+ palamino was running too hot (around 60C cpu surface, 89C core; it was causing stability issues). When I built it yesterday, I thought it would solve my problems. My CPU runs much cooler than the palamino, but now I am still having stability issues with my video card.

MBM5 reports that my system temperature is at 52C, my case is 57C, and my CPU temperature is 47C at idle. During games, each of these raise about 3C. Yesterday I had been playing a 3d game for about 2 hours when my video card locked up. I have deduced that the cause is overheating. I am wondering, is my barton running too hot? I have been using the default heatsink+fan on the barton, for I have been told that the copper heatsink I purchased for my palamino is inferior to it. The copper heatsink can be viewed here:
http://www.compusa.com/products/pro...578063D7E17F&product_code=50254543&pfp=SEARCH

In the case I currently use, I have one fan blowing out the back and another blowing out the side. My case can be viewed here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...1-124-042&catalog=7&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

Now I am wondering what I should do. Should I purchase more fans (my computer is pretty loud as is, and I do not care to make it any louder if it is an option)? Should I try using my copper heatsink (this is also an undesirable solution, for I do not know how to correctly mount socket A heatsinks without fear of breaking something, but I can ask a friend to do it, which will take more time)? Any other options? Your input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[cubanx]

Somethings not right. 57C case temp? Most case temps are around 25-32C generally.

 

[azntiger0586]

cubanx is right, thats a pretty high case temp. your cpu sounds just about right, but not that case.

see if you can leave the case open with a house fan on it or near a window if its chilly enough and see if you still have stability problems.

 

[pspada]

It's been said many times, but check to ensure that your hsf is on correctly.

 

[Hollmando]

which heatsink should i be using?

 

[0roo0roo]

a good suggestion? the retail heatsink should be fine unless you overclock. slk-800 900 or that other one with the red 3 bladed fan with name that escapes me are ok. a thin coat of good heatsink paste. and most of all you need a better case. let this be a lesson to you, a pos case only wastes money you could have put towards a nicer less troublesome and much cooler case. antec/chieftec dragon etc cases are much better. have loads of fan mounts, allows you to use a bunch of low rpm low noise fans and still have damn good air flow. they dont contain sharp edges, and with a tiny bit more money for aluminum versions are extremely light. tons of drive bays, ease of access, ease of drive removal, looks damn better etc. ~50 for steel ~70 for aluminum. the enermaxcase listed has few fan mounts and the top one seems rather obstructed.

cases last several upgrades. never try to save money by buying a pos generic case. u get what u pay for. while the enermax isn't a generic case, it seems to be an exact copy of my friends generic pos case. a bit of looks and lousy function. the dragon type cases are sold by a buncha companies, various small differences, same basic design. the best part are the front 80mm fans that intake air straight over the hd's, keeping them from baking. you don't want them to die. and the drive door is nice to boot, drive face plates always mar the clean look of a case. door also muffles noise.

in a chieftec dragon case i've cooled a palo 2000+ using a pos celeron aluminum heatsink for previous gen p3 based cellies. it stayed reasonably cool too. the case fed it fresh air and immediately exhausted the hot air.


something like this would have been a better choice. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-125-262&catalog=7&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1
2 front intakes, option of 3rd front intake with extra bracket. two exhaust in rear right at cpu area, one side intake for vid card. other companies make versions of this basic design that have even more mounts, but tad overkill really.

 

[Hollmando]

when I asked about which heatsink, I meant the one I listed above or the default one. the link again is: http://www.compusa.com/products/pro...578063D7E17F&product_code=50254543&pfp=SEARCH
the case i just purchased is a lot better than my old case.

 

[0roo0roo]

the retail heatsink is probably fine. only way to tell if your other one is better would be to test. if theres a noise difference that could be considered too.
there really isn't a point to spending extra money on a heatsink unless you want ultra silence with low rpm fan, or overclock. the ones that come with amd are made by engineers that know what they are doing.