Cooling Issues..

[Laggen]

I play alot of games...such as EverQuest...those of you know its a hell of a game...Lately i've been experiencing sudden re-boots while ONLY playing games..I think its getting too hot. I only know that I got a Athlon XP 1.67 gHz processor. What do you guys think? Im not real sure about computers. And i installed a Radeon 9000 128MB Video Card (If that matters). Let me know what I should do.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Welcome to the PC Mech forums! :)

After having a reboot, immediately go into the BIOS and check the temps. Post them here, plz.

[Laggen]

Ok. When I went to sleep I left my computer on (as always) and read your post this mornin and rebooted...The temperatures it said were: CPU Temp: 141 F and System Temp: 86

Hope this helps

[crjdriver]

If that was the temp while just idling and not playing games or anything like that, it is too hot. Open the case and make sure all fans are running. Blow out the case with a can of air [available at any comp store] you should have at least two case fans in addition to the cpu fan. One fan at the bottom front blowing air into the case and one at the top rear blowing air out or exhausting air from the case; in addition try and tie up cables and wires so you get good airflow. Check the fan in the power supply as well; good cooling is a must with AMD chips.
As a test to see if the problem is heat related [it more than likely is with those temps] open the case and set a small desk fan next to the computer blowing air into the case. If the problem ceases, you have found overheating to be the cause.
Just as an example I am using an XP2000+ with the same video card you have; cpu temp right now is 36C system temp is 25C. After running UT2003 for a while the temp goes up to 40-43C depending on ambient temp.

[Cricket]

Hi Laggen,

Sounds like you either don't have the heatsink on correctly or your case doesn't have good ventilation...or a combination of both.

Run your system with the case sides off and check the temps. If they both go down a lot, you have to improve your case cooling. If the CPU temp doesn't drop much but the system temp does, your CPU heatsink isn't installed properly.

Check that the heatsink is sitting flat and level on the CPU die, the part of the metal clip that touches the heatsink should be centered over the CPU die. If you make adjustment and the temp still doesn't go down, you can try using Arctic Silver (if you aren't already) instead of the thermal pad (if there is one). If the CPU temp still doesn't go down, you can try a better heatsink...the Thermalright SK-7 is a good choice.

:) Cricket

[glc]

Agreed - that's 60 C at idle - and I bet that under load it's pushing 70 or more - which is inviting instability. The case temp converts to 30 C which is fine - so my bet is on the CPU heatsink/fan being improperly installed or woefully inadequate. At that case temp I would expect to see the CPU idle at no more than 45.

[Laggen]

Going to run computer for an hour with case off and will post when i get temp's...and when I was at the CMOS PC Health Display ir ses the Fan RPM's and where it said System Fan it said 0...Which fan is that? Looks like all fans are working...

[Nuclear Krusader]

How many fans do you have? And are they connected to the mobo headers or to normal molex connectors?

[Laggen]

I have 4 Fans, (5 if ya count video card). And what the hell ya talkin about connectors?

[Laggen]

And I took the side off and ran EverQuest for 1 hour and and runnin cooler that before just idling...What you guys think now?

[Laggen]

Only running 10 degree's cooler but its still cooler plus i was runnin a game

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Laggen
I have 4 Fans, (5 if ya count video card). And what the hell ya talkin about connectors? Are your 4 fans connected to the power supply power connectors (the white 4 pin connectors) or directly to the motherboard? Are they case fans? How are they installed? 2 in front bringing cold air in, 2 in back blowing warm air out?

:) Cricket

[Nuclear Krusader]

Yep. Where do the fans you have take the power for? From the connectors on the mobo or the ones that come out of the PSU?

[Laggen]

Fan on my processor, the fan in back of the case and one small fan right on the motherboard all plug into the motherboard..The on in the front cant tell where it plugs in

[Nuclear Krusader]

What are the orientation of the fans?

[Laggen]

Orientation?

[Nuclear Krusader]

Yep. Exhaust or intake?

The one on the back must be an exhaust fan (blowing hot air out), and you need one in the lower front in intake orientation (blowing fresh air in).

[Laggen]

Yes, I have one in front blowing in air and one in back blowing it out. 1 Directly on the motherboard, A big on on a heatsink on top my processor.

I was thinkin since only one side of my computer case comes off instead of the whole things...Go buy 2 fans and run them off of a power outlet and mount them directly on the side so they would both blow right on the motherboard...What you think? I dont have much money

[Nuclear Krusader]

Before doing that, I'd advise to buy Artic Silver III, remove the HSF, clean the remains of the thermal compound it has and applying AS. Then mounting the HSF again.

See if that helps.

[Laggen]

Ok...Undersyand who your talkin to....can you repeat that in english to me please?!

[Spyda]

lol

Artic Silver is a make of thermal compound, this compound goes on your processor, then the heatsink and fan goes on top of the compound

he said clean all the old compound off, apply the Arctic Silver and re-mount the heatsink,

seeing as Artic Silver is like, one of the best you can get, it should make your processor run cooler than it is

[Alienware_Dude]

Full instructions for Arctic Silver can be found at http://www.arcticsilver.com Use no less then 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol to clean off the old thermal grease.