Its getting hot in here

[Chrispr]

I just put together an AMD 64 3000+ computer with an MSI Neo-FSR mainboard. I have 512 MB DDR 400 RAM and a radeon 128MB card and 2 HDD, nothing out of the ordinary. The board comes with a utility called core center that basically tells you all the info you would fine about your computer in the bios in windows environment, CPU temp, fan speeds, voltages etc. I check in the bios and as well as the core center to verify that the info is correct, and as soon as I boot up my computer the CPU temp is reading about 53 C, and when I load XP and all my programs, the temp gets up to around 60 C. I am using the original heatsink and fan, as well as two case fans.
I know these temperatures are about 10-15 C too high for this system, what am I doing wrong. I also felt the heat sink and it feels warm to the touch, but not hot like you would expect it to be if the CPU temp was around 55-60 C. I also have the latest version of the bios installed, so I don't think it is a case of reading the incorrect info, which I know is an issue with some MBs.

 

[nh39]

50-60 C is OK for the CPU. Normal temp inside a pc is about 30s~40s C; 20s C is great. Never seen one at 10s C.

 

[SDMguru]

Okay so you want to lower temperature?

1. Check your power supply fan. I know it sounds silly but I was in your situation with 2 case fans and a high dollar heat pipe heat sink and still hitting 60. The power supply fan was blowing but just barely. Heat rises so the PS fan is the most important for cooling your system.

2. Did you use the adhesive thermal pad that came with the heat sink or did you use paste or arctic silver? The thermal pad is not a very good conductor and only serves to make sure there are no air gaps between the cpu and heat sink (air is a worse conductor). Try some arctic silver or even some good old thermal paste.

3. Is the heat sink on correctly? The surface of the heatsink should be perfectly flat and not at an angle. It needs to be parallel to the CPU surface or it will make good contact on only one side. The heatsink will fit on two directions but will only seat properly in one.

And if all else fails try upgrading the stock heat sink with something copper and maybe heatpipe.

Good luck.