p4 running HOT

[haasd0g]

heres the specs:
p4 3.2e
gigabyte ga8knxp mobo
1gig @ dual channel
2 37gig sata in raid0
aspire x-superalien atxa6sw case
(with provided 500w power)

heres the prob:
typical running temp is 45-50c on the proc and 24c in the case; when i use video editing or a serious game i spike to about 70c -sometimes more.

the case has 10 fans (incl 4 in the power supply) and the ambient temp is normal, so im thinking airflow aint my issue... any thoughts?

 

[ski]

Make sure the computer's vents are unobstructed, all fans are running and are dust free, and the CPU's heatsink is secure and dust free.

If those are ok, then remove the computer's cover, and run an external fan.
If that reduces the temperatures, then the system's case fans may not have sufficient airflow capacity.
Also, if the 6 system fans(10 minus the 4 PS fans) do not include the CPU, video card, and chipset fans, then there may be too many case fans, and they may be interfering with each others' airflow.
The recommended case fan locations/airflow paths are lower front/blowing in, and upper rear(or top)/blowing out.

If removing the computer's cover and running an external fan does not cool things down, then the CPU's thermal compound may need to be removed, and a fresh application made.

 

[haasd0g]

thanks ski, im getting new paste today (and crossing fingers)

 

[paparazi]

haasd0g
Ordinary white silicon paste will not do on a P4 3.2e (heat transfer properties not good enough) a higher quality metal partical paste essential ie Arctic Silver.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[ski]

It's also possible that the CPU's fan and/or heatsink is inadequate.

 

[haasd0g]

good point paparazi, thanks, i did pick up the silver paste and will be working with it tonight.
ski, i used the intel heatsink and fan -any opinion on adequacies?

i'll post a follow up ...provided she still boots after surgery -lol (i hope)

 

[ski]

The Intel cooler should work ok as long as the fan is correctly oriented, and the case fans are also doing their job.

 

[rvnguy]

HAASD0G
Here is hoping that your problem is at least improving.

Ditto, on what Ski and paparazi recommended. DO NOT know what you have found upon some of these recommendations,

The science behind cooling with air is multi variate. With a case temp of 25c, assuming that this is the same air that is being provided to the proc fan, cooling is functional to the difference in tgemperature of the air(delta "T"), the heat source temp, the heat capacity of the HS material, the surface area of the HS, the volume of the air being provided over this area, and so on, and so on. Hopefully you see that this is more involved than just adding additional fans. i.e. as ski stated they could be upsetting the most efficient air flow. You might need to detrmine the location of the sensor for your case temp and then determine if this correlates with the air temp being utilized by the cpu fan. If not, attempt to measure this temp and if this is higher than case temp suspect improper air flow. In short what you desire is to provide the cpu fan the coolest air possible. iF you are doing this already, then providing an increase in the HS surface area and the heat capacity of the HS material is one of the options left. I am surprised that your case air temp is 25c as the many heat producing items in a case usually raise this temp to value above the ambient air outside the case and 25c is a normal room air temp. I have found that for my P4 (LGA 775 3.4GHz) gaming box that the only method to successfully provide the coolest air to the proc fan is to duct the proc fan to outside air, please note that I live at just under 2 miles above sea level (9355 ft) and this provides yet another layer of calculations as the air at this altitude is not as efficient as that at lower elevations. what you are attempting to do, essentially, is keep a 100 watt light bulb cool, but the energy is being generated in a much more confined space that that provided by a normal light bulb. Sorry for all the science references but this is and will be a continuing concern for all of us.

P.S. 70c is not outside of this proc's operating parameters but we all like to run as cool as possible.

 

[Frank4d]

If 70 degrees C, you have a problem. I have a P4E @3.0GHz running 39 degrees C normal, 44 degrees C under load. I use Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste and have a Gigabyte cooler

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835128001

which I bought a month ago for it's quietness... it is in my bedroom and runs 24/7 (first choice was a Zalman CNPS7000, but it would not fit my case).

 

[ski]

Another thought is that the CPU temp sensor is inaccurate.
A contact thermometer should be able to determine if that's the case.