Still Getting Too Hot =(

[oafmaster7]

Today in the mail I got the intake fan I ordered from newegg, and installed it thinking it would keep my temperatures low enough to use my computer for more than 10 minutes at a time. I turned on my computer and looked at the CPU temperature, it was already at 53c. It got up to 55c in about 3 minutes and I turned it off. Thinking I had installed the fan wrong or there was something blocking the airflow, I opened up my case and checked everything. Nothing appears to be in the way of the air, and the fan was installed right (with the arrows pointing up into the case and left toward the CPU.) It was suggested that I get a new HSF last time I asked about the heat in my case, and I haven't gotten a new one yet. I would think an intake, exhaust and HSF would be enough to keep the temperatures at or below 50c. Am I wrong and shoud accept a temperature of 55+? Is my HSF not enough and I need a new one? Would Arctic Silver help any? This problem is really frustrating and any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Heres my cooling situation:
Antec Solution Series HSF (it says for up to XP 1800+)
Silicone heatsink compound (came with HSF)
2x Antec 80 mm Case Fans (one intake and one exhaust, they are different fans; I think the exhaust is double ball bearing and the other is single, could there be a problem with that?)
AMD Athlon XP 1600+
The wiring seems to be clear between the exhaust and intake fans.
There are feet keeping the case off the ground, but I thought they may not keep the case high enough to allow enough air to be pulled by the intake fan, so I raised the case up another 1/4 inch, but that had no effect.

[Cricket]

Hi oafmaster7,

Yes, using Arctic Silver will make a difference in the temps you're seeing.

Getting a really good heatsink like the Thermalright AX-7 will do wonders for your CPU temps too. I understand the Antec isn't a very good cooler.

Of the two Sunon fans, make sure the one that spins faster is the exhaust fan.

The temps you're seeing will also be affected by the ambient room temperature the computer is kept in...the hotter the room, the hotter the temps within the case.

:) Cricket

[Charger]

Sound like you have efficent cooling. Where are you getting your readings from? BIOS? Software? Probe? I'd trust the readings in BIOS. Some probes and software show inaccurate readings.

Oh, you're in AZ! Yes, the room temperature could be a factor. Your CPU should not be more than 10'C more than the Motherboard (air in case) temp. If so, you have a CPU cooling problem. If it is within that range, you have a case cooling problem. You should be running 30-50'C

[tenkawa_akito]

The amount of bearings in your fans won't play a factor in the amount of air they displace. Bearings affects the life span of the fan. A good rule of thumb is that you should have the fans in the front of your case be equal to the fans in the back so you keep an equal amount of air being pushed through the system. Also, you might want to consider putting a filter onto the front of your case. In your area, dust would probably be a killer more so than other places due to the ambient temperature around the computer. I built my rig in Austin, TX and lucked out because the temperature never went over 100. I was hoping for hot temps so I could test out the thermal solution in a naturally hot environment.
One more thing, I agree that the antec HSF isn't the best to go with. I would consider getting a Thermaltake Dragon Orb. It's a solid HSF if just a tad bit on the noisy side.

[brentconn]

I am a newbie but I just built my first a few days ago. I have a stock HSF on my AMD XP 2000+ and only installed an exhaust fan on the back. Ventilation is essential, so I opened up a couple of the face plates of the PCI slots I wasn't using. You don't have to leave your side panels off the way some hard-core gamers do but opening a few more unused access plates makes the world of difference for thermal build up. Also bundle your wires together for optimal airflow. I have learned a lot from members here and my own experiments(and failures!). If you keep your house "stuffy", you will run higher temps. Just have your MB shut down if temp gets above 75*C if you are running a MB with software capabilities.

[Texuspete00]

I just put in my AX-7 today w/evergreen's Thermagic. My Temps have gone from it's previous 51 idle, 54 or 55 load, to it's now happy 42 idle 44load (w/52 CFM fan at full speed). I'm excited. By the way, it only once restarted b/c of high temps in the 3 months I've had it. I think that the temps may not be that far from the norm if you are using a cheap aluminum heatsink. Mine would go to about 54 or 55 and then stop climbing. I would not shut my computer off b/c of those temps, they are to be expected. I decided it was too high to keep that way forever. See if it approaches 60 or something like that. I would not cease to enjoy computing as my athlon was in that range for quite some time myself, but you may want something better in the long run.

1 intake and 1 exhaust fan, try to keep some wires out of the way of circulation and you'll be fine. By the way crazypc.com was the Thermalright AX-7 for $23.95

[mike breck]

A good rule of thumb is that you should have the fans in the front of your case be equal to the fans in the back so you keep an equal amount of air being pushed through the system.

I've had better results with Hal's theory of Negative Air Pressure

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25365

[oafmaster7]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys
I forgot to mention this, though: before adding the intake fan, my temperatures started off around 46c and slowly climbed up to the point where I shut it off (55-56c.) Now, after adding the intake fan, my temperature starts off at 53c and reaches 56c within 3 minutes. This doesn't seem right at all to me. I am using the BIOS and motherboard manager 5 to measure the temperature. I can't get mbm5 to tell me how hot anything but the vcore is, so I'm not sure what temperature everything else is getting up to.
So it's all right to have a temperature above 56c? I've read that it's not best to have the temperature above 55, is 75 a better shut off point?
I will work on getting that AX-7 and Arctic Silver, but it could be a while, I'm just a poor 14 year old kid =)
Thanks again

[Fastfly]

60C is a good shutoff points :)

Are you sure your fan is pointed the right direction?

take off your Heatsink and check the compound for toomuch of it . and reclamp making sure the HS has good contact.

[oafmaster7]

I can feel air coming out the back pretty strongly, and I opened up my case and there is air blowing into the case. The arrows on the intake fan are pointed up into the case and left towards the CPU. I'm sure I didn't put too much HS compound on there, it looked exactly like half a grain of rice to me. The HSF didn't slide around during installation and it looks level. I let the temperature get past 56c right now and it only gets up to around 57 or 58 with a load. It stays at 56 while surfing the internet, performing a virus check, and chatting on the instant messenger. I think if I get the AX-7 and Arctic Silver I could bring the temperature down around 47 or 48, possibly even lower. Thanks for all the help, I couldn't have built this computer without you guys. :)

[Cricket]

Hi oafmaster7,

Seeing as you're in Arizona and you haven't mentioned any real heat related problems (freezing, lockups or reboots), your temps may not be anything to really worry about.

You could upgrade your heatsink to something better, but I don't think you'll see that much of a drop in CPU temps unless you can really get your room temps down.

What kind of room temps do you have anyway?

Set your shutoff temp at 70C.

:) Cricket

[fc3646]

oafmaster7

I just put together my upgrade (see signature) and I have a cpu temp of 27 c, according to my VIA Hardware monitor.

I do have the case open about 2".

I think I'd get another Heatsink and fan.

Scott

[oafmaster7]

I have no idea what my room temperatures are, the temperature here is still in the high 90's and I only have a swamp cooler (no AC) The temperature is might be in the mid-high 80's... I'm really not sure. The vcore temperature of 56c seems to be just fine; I haven't had any lockups or anything of that sort. I still think I should get a better HSF because the one I have right now is so loud and I think that an AX-7 or something like that might keep it cooler.

[Cricket]

Hi oafmaster7,

The Thermalright AX-7 with a Panaflo L1A fan is a good choice for CPU cooling duties...this combination will give you lower temps and will probably be a lot more quiet than what you're using now.

:) Cricket

[oafmaster7]

I have also been looking at the Thermaltake Volcano 9 HSF. It is around the same price at newegg, but it comes with a fan unlike the HS-only AX-7. Should I just get the AX-7 and attach a fan to the top or go with the Volcano?