Mobo settings/CPU temp questions

[kittykatmax]

I decided to raid my HP Pavilion 763n for parts so I could have a little fun with a nicer looking case, neon lights, etc. I didn't want to spend a fortune, since this is my slowest computer. I bought a socket 478 barebones kit from TigerDirect for $79 after rebates, which included:

Chieftec Dragon Mini-Tower MS-Blue ATX Case with Front USB, FireWire and Side Fans - large windowed side panel

Soyo P4X400 Dragon Ultra Platinum Edition Motherboard
- VIA P4X400/8235 chipset
- Supports Pentium 4 3.06GHz, Celeron 2.8GHz
- Supports 533/400 MHz FSB
- Three DIMM sockets, up to 3 GB
- Five PCI slots, One AGP Pro slot
- Onboard CMI 8738 audio chip

Ultra 400 Watt ATX PS With 120mm Blue LED Fan

To it, I added the following that I removed from the Pavilion:

P4 2.53, 533 FSB processor with stock heatsink equipped with 70mm fan

512MB 266MHz DDR PC2100 SDRAM in one DIMM
(note: I have (2) KVR400X64C25/512 512MB 400MHz DDR PC3200 DIMM CL2.5 on order, as well as memory heatsinks from ThermalTake)

nVidia GeForce4 MX420 graphics card with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM (lame, but I use my PS2 for gaming, not my computer)

FireWire card (mobo came with onboard USB 2.0)

80GB HDD
120GB HDD
DVD+RW drive
CD-ROM drive

I have a blue LED 80mm intake fan in the front of the case with an aluminum mesh dust filter (I have cats), a 90mm fan (ThermalTake w/blue LEDs on the window, and a 90mm exhaust fan on the back - currently some generic that came with the case, but I got a second ThermalTake Blue LED fan for that.

I have rounded IDE cables to aid in cooling.

My questions:

(1) I'm not sure if I have my mobo configured properly for the processor. Suggestions? The manual is listed here: http://www.soyousa.com/downloads/selectresults.php?language=&col1=Proc_Intel+Pentium+4&col2=159&col3=Manual

What CPU multiplier do I want - 19x??? I can set the CPU FSB frequency, CPU multiplier, CPU Vcore voltage, the DDR RAM clock, the AGP voltage and the DDR voltage. I have them all on failsafes right now, as this goes WAY beyond my comfort level. As a sysadmin, I don't need to play with this stuff - I get sent Dells, I Ghost them, and after that, I just troubleshoot anything that goes wrong with hardware or software.

(2) Diagnostic software gives a warning that my cpu fan isn't rotating fast enough. I thought at first it was interference of some sort from the 90mm fan on the window (which is located directly across from the mobo/cpu) so I changed it from an exhaust to an an intake, and it didn't seem to make a difference as to the speed of the CPU fan, or the CPU temp. As an aside, which direction SHOULD it face? If I add another fan to the other side panel (up front), I'm assuming that should also be an intake, to blow cooler air onto the hard drives/DVD/CD drives?

My current cpu core temp was at 38-39 degrees Celsius when idle, using whatever thermalpaste came stock. I've JUST cleaned the heatsink and processor as per the directions for using AS5) and applied Arctic Silver 5, but I've been too busy to run/cool the machine to get the stuff to set. Will that make a huge improvement? Why would the heatsink fan be too slow, or is it just a hypersensitive diagnostic and the fan is fine? Should I not worry about it, OR get a new fan for the existing heatsink, OR should I buy a NEW fan and heat sink? If so, which one would be fairly quiet and an effective cooler if I overclock (which I've been toying with)??? As it is, the darned thing sounds like a freaking jet engine is inside, and I installed sound dampening stuff everywhere I could.

As you can imagine, I don't want to fry my CPU, since this was supposed to be a fun, cheap project, and as it is, I've spent a fortune on EL wire and fans and IDE cables and whatnot. I think I need an intervention - there's too much cool stuff out there.

Thanks for the help.

- Natalie

[Force Flow]

38-39 is plenty cool. What diagnostic software were you using?

I'm pretty sure the stock HSF's don't have a fan speed sensor (yellow cable on a 3 prong connector).

[kittykatmax]

Winbond Hardware doctor says my fan is too slow, and is recording speeds of 3500rpm and above (it varies, but stays in the 3500-3600 range.

My heatsink fan does have the three pin power connector that attaches to the motherboard. I can also check cpu and chassis temperatures in the system BIOS.

[Force Flow]

As long as your CPU keeps cool and the system remains stable, I wouldn't worry about the speed warning at all.

[Redfallon]

I would just leave all of the CPU settings (FSB, vcore, vdimm, vago) since it doesn't sound like you are comfortable overclocking. On Intel processors, you cannot change the multiplier, so ya don't have to worry about that one being wrong. As long as the mobo is detecting everything correctly (p4 2.53 is running ~2.53GHz) I wouldn't worry about the settings.

[kittykatmax]

I'm comfortable with the thought of overclocking so long as I know I don't already have a heat problem. What temperatures are "normal" for a P4 2.53GHz?

[Redfallon]

if it's still idling in the 30~40's C it is more than OK ;) I don't know if the AS5 "setting" will make a noticable difference or not. I have never noticed any significant temperature drop after the "break-in" period. I guess a degree or two is possible, but again your temps are fine.

[kittykatmax]

Thanks.

[glc]

I'm not comfortable with overclocking an Intel processor on a Via board - heck, I'm not comfortable with even *using* a Via board with an Intel processor.

[kittykatmax]

Really? I am fine not overclocking and doubt I will bother to do so, but Soyo advertises it as an overclocker's mobo. Granted it's an older board (hence the cheap price), but it got good reviews according to the research I did....