Why is my CPU so hot?

**Bread1134** · May 20th, 2003, 07:17 PM

Okay, I got my new system this past week, and for the love of god I cant figure out why my CPU is so hot.

Ive got an

Athlon XP 2700 (NOT OVERCLOCKED)
Volcano 9 fan/heatsink
2 case fans, the front one blowing IN, the rear one blowing OUT.

now, even with the Volcano 9 running at 5440 RPM, my processor is 60-62C. While working hard, the temp rises to ABOVE 70C. (My mobo temp is about 47C)

For those of you who have never heard a fan running at over 5000RPM, it sounds like a FREAKING HAIR DRYER running in my bedroom. If I turn down the fan even slightly my CPU temp goes up a few precious degrees.

I tried removing the Volcano 9, cleaning off all the thermal compound, and reapplying the Arctic Silver 3.. and still there seems to be no difference.

SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG HERE!!
What could be the problem?

**PyroSama** · May 20th, 2003, 07:27 PM

What mobo? Sometimes systemboard bios read temps wrong with bad BIOs versions.

PyroSama

**kramerica** · May 20th, 2003, 07:29 PM

Yeah... my Asus A7V266-E reads temps way too high. Im at 75C right now

**sKiT** · May 20th, 2003, 07:31 PM

the 47C your talking about.........is that your inside the case temp your reffering to? If so...I would say that is your problem right there. You need to get your ambient case temps to around 30C especially with an AMD CPU. check your case air filters(if you have them clean them) and add maybe another input and output fan to get that case temp down. Your CPU temp will follow it almost exactly degree for degree.

Also.....string up your wiring inside the case to allow for the better airflow........bread ties and case fans are much cheaper than CPU's!

AMD XP2100+
Soyo KT333 Dragon P/U Mainboard
TT Mini Copper Orb HSF
4 Enermax 80mm case fans(2 ins and 2 outs at about 3800rpm each

idle temps CPU = 40C Case = 27C

100% CPU load temps CPU = 51C Case = 31C

**Tomteriffic** · May 20th, 2003, 07:36 PM

Both your CPU AND your system temps seem abnormally high. That makes me wonder if your monitoring system is out of whack?

Also, from the dept. of OOOPS!... I've done this before, and that's to put the HSF on bacwards. It makes contact, but not very well and you can see temps like that.

**Bread1134** · May 20th, 2003, 07:44 PM

The mobo is a Gigabyte G7-VAX1394.

I made sure the heatsink/fan wasnt on backwards

I honestly dont see any place else i can install a case fan..

is there a way I can make the case fans I have run faster?

RicheemxX · May 20th, 2003, 08:03 PM

is there a way I can make the case fans I have run faster?

no but you can buy faster fans allthough that hair dryer will spout wings and turn into a jet. Try d/l a program like speedfan and see what temps it gives. Also might want to try taking of the side panels and see if that lowers your temps any

oh and welcome to techIMO

**Bread1134** · May 20th, 2003, 08:10 PM

Okay, so as an experiment, I tried to run the system with the Case OFF. My CPU temp is 51-52C (Down like 10 degrees!)

The case temp is now about 40C. (Down 7 degrees)

So it would seem the case temp may be my problem.. but the problem is now, what can I do about it? I already have 2 fans installed, I cant fit any more (i think)..
How can I make my case cooler?

RicheemxX · May 20th, 2003, 08:17 PM

drill some holes and add more fans?? feel your ps and see if its gettin too hot it will cause your case temps to go up. I've ran into that problem several times. What type of case are you using... might need another one

**EndobioticChaos** · May 20th, 2003, 08:17 PM

Buy a couple Vantec Tornado 80mm fans. Those will move air. But if you get fans like those, I'm fairly certain you'll want a fan speed controller as well. Those things are loud. I know from personal experience. Just one is loud enough... four is definitely worse.

**Kuasimodem** · May 20th, 2003, 10:01 PM

What's your case? What's your ambient room temperature?

You might want to look into installing an intake fan in the side cover of the case directly over the processor, with a short duct directing the fresh intake air right into the HSF fan.

**KJ0055** · May 21st, 2003, 09:26 PM

my cpu temp read 220C with a hardware monitor that came with my board, but when i updated it went down to 43C

**Bread1134** · May 22nd, 2003, 12:16 AM

wow... thats messed up kj00.. should i flash my bios?

**RobRich** · May 22nd, 2003, 12:48 AM

BIOS updates sometimes include firmware updates for hardware monitoring, though these types of updates are rare because most m/b manufacturers could care less about these mundane types of fixes.

Are these temps being reported from a software app or from the motherboard BIOS setup? Check for differences. Some monitoring apps use a skew value that must configured to agree with the BIOS, or else the readings are way off.

Even if the thermal sensor is correct, you are still below the kill temp for your chip. I've ran Athlons at 65+ before with no problems, though overclocking would be completely out of the question.

What is the air temp in the room? What is your case type? What type of case fans do you have? Is the power supply hot?

Bad software is also another possible problem. Winbond's Hardware Doctor that was bundled with my latest motherboard purchase often reports my processor's vcore at 1.9+ volts, though it is definitely a stable 1.8v via the BIOS monitor and other software monitors.

Robert RIchmond

**Bread1134** · May 22nd, 2003, 11:01 AM

Is there a way you can make a power supply run cooler?

i have a 400W PS.

What software monitor do you recommend for temperatures? I've been using HMonitor... it seems to agree with my BIOS readings.

**RobRich** · May 22nd, 2003, 12:33 PM

I have found Motherboard Monitor to offer the best support of any app available.

http://mbm.livewiredev.com/

Hot power supplies can really only be cooled with additional fans.

I have one more idea, what is the reported core voltage for your processor? An Athlon running at 1.85+ volts could easily produce the temps you are experiencing.

**Bread1134** · May 23rd, 2003, 12:06 AM

my athlon is running at 1.67 volts..

I think i am going to buy a quieter CPU fan, perhaps an AVC Frost (Z6M330).

This Volcano 9 is unbearable, I cant even take phone calls in my room while my computer is running. Anyone know of a heatsink-fan thats both quiet and still powerful?

**Wizzard~Of~Ozz** · May 23rd, 2003, 12:35 AM

I'ld suggest the Vantec Aeroflow, I have one, nice and cool (currently @ 38c) on an XP2100@2.16Ghz and it's also very quiet... I was very impressed with the performance (and quietness) of the TMD fan (looks cool too

)

**Bruneau** · May 23rd, 2003, 06:14 AM

Cut and hole in the side panel and put in a Radio Shack 120mm that you can plug into the wall (no PS drain).

does wonders

**zidane182** · May 23rd, 2003, 06:54 AM

Bread, didn't your volcano 9 come with a speed adjuster? Mine came with a little wire with a knob at the end that you plug into a wire coming off the fan. That way you wouldn't need to buy a new fan.