Athlon XP temps?

[Redroar]

Hey, I just got around to putting my old Athlon XP 2600+ into another case. When it was in my main rig it idled around 35-40 C and load at 45 C, but now, in the new case, it's giving load temps at 60-65 C, and idles in 50 C. The case temperature is around 35 C, but the case temp in my main rig tended to be around 30 C, so I don't see how it is getting such a higher temperature. I will try running it with a desk fan pointing into the side of the case to see if it really is airflow, but somehow I doubt it. The airflow isn't that bad, and I made sure that the cables were securely out of the way.

Do you think that my mobo just went crazy, or that it really is getting that hot? Also, according to the BIOS, the CPU fan is running at 4000 RPM. It's a stock fan, and at stock speeds.

[Samuknow]

Did you take the HSF off when you changed cases?

If no, does the new case have similar air flow?

[Redroar]

Heatsink has never been removed since I built it. And the ventilation isn't as good, but here's an odd thing. I opened up the side and blew a desk fan into the side of the case at full power and the temps only dropped 3-4 C. When I touched the HSF after it had been running Memtest (I hadn't installed windows yet), it wasn't uncomfortably hot. I had no trouble holding my finger against it.

[Samuknow]

In theory, you HS should be warm. This shows that it is absorbing the heat from your cpu. If you have a good fan, it should remove the heat from the HS. Maybe it is time for a reseat. Clean her up and smear on some goo and slap her back on.

[Gizmo]

The heatsink shouldn't be HOT to the touch unless the fan is not doing its job. However, the heatsink SHOULD be noticably warmer than ambient, especially at the base.

I'm guessing that you moved the mobo from one case to another? It is quite likely that the move jostled the HSF enough to break the bond of the thermal compound between the HSF and CPU. Do like Sam says, pull the HSF off, clean both it and the CPU, reapply the goop, and see what you get.

[Redroar]

Well, it is rather hot. I felt it, then a pipe with 115 F water going through it, and it felt slightly cooler than the pipe. I think that it is seated properly, though I might try to put some AS5 on it. Ugh, I forgot what a pain Athlon XP HSFs are to remove. Better break out the screwdriver....

[Samuknow]

Originally Posted by Redroar

Well, it is rather hot. I felt it, then a pipe with 115 F water going through it, and it felt slightly cooler than the pipe. I think that it is seated properly, though I might try to put some AS5 on it. Ugh, I forgot what a pain Athlon XP HSFs are to remove. Better break out the screwdriver....

Be vewwy vewwy cawfuwl...

[Redroar]

Originally Posted by Samuknow

Be vewwy vewwy cawfuwl...

No kidding. Just to make sure of what I'm doing before I start pulling stuff apart, I want to double-check the procedure for cleaning and setting thermal paste. I've put down thermal paste a few times, but have little experience at taking it off. Tell me if this sounds right:

1) Remove the heatsink by pulling upwards, maybe twisting it slightly to break the seal?
2) Use a lint-free cotton cloth and 96% Isopropyl Alcohol to remove the old thermal paste from both the heatsink, and the core.
3) Spread a very thin layer of AS5 over the core, just enough so you can't see the top of it.
4) Reattach the heatsink, then hope like crazy it does a good job.

[Wolf2000me]

Originally Posted by Redroar

No kidding. Just to make sure of what I'm doing before I start pulling stuff apart, I want to double-check the procedure for cleaning and setting thermal paste. I've put down thermal paste a few times, but have little experience at taking it off. Tell me if this sounds right:

1) Remove the heatsink by pulling upwards, maybe twisting it slightly to break the seal?
2) Use a lint-free cotton cloth and 96% Isopropyl Alcohol to remove the old thermal paste from both the heatsink, and the core.
3) Spread a very thin layer of AS5 over the core, just enough so you can't see the top of it.
4) Reattach the heatsink, then hope like crazy it does a good job.

The part that's very often left out is to be very careful when loosening the screws on your mobo for removing the heatsink. As I've read you're using a heatsink with is attached with a backplate on the mobo and screwed on. After a while, depending on how you attached the heatsink in your first build, those screws could be rather stuck. Make sure you don't use excessive force as you may slip up and damage your board.
I sent a mobo to the eternal mobo lands that way.

For applying the thermal compound I always apply it only to the cleaned heatsink. It's very easy and much faster that way.
Use some light plastic tape and tape it around the area of the heatsink where you want to apply the thermal compound. It should be shaped in a rectangle which should be a little bigger area than the CPU core. Then place a bit of AS5 in the middle of the rectangle and use some kind of flat object, like a credit card, to even it out. When the AS5 surface is evenly distributed in the rectangle and the layer is not higher than the plastic tape you're good. Of course you will also need to remove the plastic tape.
This is of course only a suggestion

When attaching the heatsink again you need to make sure you don't apply too much pressure with one screw at a time. The best thing to do is to evenly distribute the pressure points with the screws. Otherwise you might chip your core or even break it. Fasten the screws until you need to make a reasonable effort to fasten them even further. Don't go too far or you'll crush the core.

The rest of your procedure is very much okay. Good luck and have fun

[Redroar]

No, it doesn't have a backplate. You remember, the stock Athlon XP heatsinks, where you have to put a flathead screwdriver into a little notch, then bend the clip out with the leverage from it. That's why I'm so apprehensive. Because if that screwdriver slips, it's bye-bye mobo. Or, you can bend the clip too far out and be unable to use the heatsink again.

I'll apply the AS5 to the heatsink then. It's just that the only times I've used AS5 is on Athlon 64s and a video card, so I tend to apply it to the GPU or the IHS.

[Samuknow]

You have it right Redroar....

Use a big enough driver to fit securly in the slot on the spring clamp...

Nail polish remover with acetone works great for goo remover also...

Make sure you attach the HSF flat against the die....

[Redroar]

Well, tomorrow I'll have results. Wish me luck!

[Samuknow]

Luck...and my the force be with you...