Volcano 9 "Cool mod"/EPoX 8K3A+/AthlonXP 2400+

[KaoS]

Hello all.. first post here..

I just got my AthlonXP 2400+ and I also ordered an Volcano 9 "Cool mod"...... In my box I have 5 case fans, 3 pushin air in, 2 pushing air out. Plus I have an Enermax Wisper PSU, with the Dual Fans. My system temp is 93F/34C (my room is prob 85.. damn florida.. heh)

Anyway, my CPU temps are 66C/150F idle.. gets as hot as 75C-80C... I even put my old volcano 6Cu+ on with the 7200rpm fan, and it does about the same maybe a little bit cooler.. My system doesn't SEEM to be unstable.. Do you think the EPoX 8K3A+ could be reading the temps wrong? I have updated to the 10/30/02 beta bios... The CPU isn't overclocked at all?? I dunno I don't want the chip to burn up!!! if you know what I mean... Any ideas? Should I send the V9 Cool mod back and get another heatsink/fan? If so what heatsink fan should I get???? Any help would be great!!!

[gryphyn]

Did you lapp the Heatsink? I just lapped a sink and lost 8'c was 39'c now 31 @ full load, try it you'll like it

[KaoS]

lapp?

[gryphyn]

To make a flat surface is to lapp.

Using 1200 grit wet or dry sandpaper taped to a sheet of glass using circular motions flatten out the face of the heatsink to a uniform finish. BTW I use it wet, and some people use 600 grit others use 2000 grit its a personal preferance thing.

Make sure the surfaces are clean before applying thermal paste

[daMANwithANSWER]

Hi,

I love this new ThermalTake Volcano9, but you have to use it correctly.

As the guyz have already posted above, the copper thermal insert finish is rather disappointing, the lathe marks visible and not truely flat, some ridges exist.

However, after lapping, you can setup the 9 in different ways. With mine as I'm only a slight overclocker, this is the setup:

1. Sensor connected and inserted into the middle fin of the heatsink so the end tends to face downwards to the heatsink surface. (I don't insert under CPU like ThermalTake shows and many reviewers also said NO to this way)
2. Reostat variable speed lead isn't connected and I haven't closed the 2 pins with the JUMPER supplied, this way my fan speeds are mainly 1700rpm at idle, maybe upto 3200rpm when encoding Multi-Media files.
3. I also run VCool from http://vcool.occludo.net/ and at idle, CPU is about 28c, ambient room is about 26c.

Option running Volcano9

1. Fan Speed @ 5000rpm - No sensor connected & other connecter CLOSED with JUMPER.
2. Fan Variable 1350 - 5000 - Sensor connected to HeatSink and other connector left OPEN (no jumper)
3. Fan Variable 3000 - 5000 - Sensor connected to HeatSink and ReoStat set to LOW.
4. Fan Variable 4000 - 5000 - Sensor connected to HeatSink and ReoStat set to MEDIUM.
5. Fan around 5000 - Sensor connected to HeatSink and ReoStat set to HIGH.

PS: The above figures are only to be used as a guide, this is an assumption I have made.

So Kaos, how do you have your Volcano9 setup.

Cheerz

[Alexandrus]

For lapping use the smalles grit sandpaper available, not 2000, 150 if you can or 200. I am using 500 grit because it is the only type I could find, but the finest the grit the better the lapping(and the longer it takes you to lapp it, but who cares).
And be carefull, glue the sandpaper to a piece of very flat glass or whatever so you make sure the base of the cooler stays flat.

[Daniel ~]

Just to mention the obvious, Your using a good thermal paste?

[KaoS]

AS3...


Either way I ordered an SLK-800, and an 80MM Smart Fan II. I think there is something wrong wtih this heatsink... the fan doesn't seem right, and one of the blue led's don't work.... Oh well using my V6Cu+ right now, getting 58C.. Better than the 68-75C I was getting with the V9..

[SPQQKY]

Alexandrus,
150 or 200 grit sandpapaer is a helluva lot more course than 1500 or 2000. 2000 grit is basically a piece of paper and is worthless. I would start with say 200 grit and then move to 400 grit and finally 600 grit. There is no need to use any finer grit than 600. Once the surface of the HSF is flat and and smooth as can be with 600 grit, take some of you thermal paste and rub it into the bottom of the HSF, then wipe off the excess with a paper towel, this will deposit the compound into the fine grooves made by the sandpaper. Then apply a very small amount to the core of the chip and spread it out over the core. Then take your finger and kinda tap the paste to evenly spread it over the core, this will leave a kind of tacky appearance, like a stucko ceiling. Once these steps are done, make sure the HSF is properly center and seated well. This have given me the best results.