Retail boxed t-bird runs too hot? then crashes.....

[djcomp]

Hi guys, i can't figure out what to do here, but i might already know (get a better cooling solution). I just got a new t-bird 1133 266 AVIA in the retail box. After installing and loading into windows(at fac. defaults), my comp freezes shorty after. It might be the temp, it idles @ 116f/47c and when i put a load on it, it goes up to 127f/53c (maybe higher, using mbm 5) then locks up, and this is with the case cover off (122 idle with cover on)! I lowered the voltage, left the multiplier @ default (8.5x133) to keep my comp from locking. Is this because the stock heatsink fan is inadequate? i thought amd would package it with a sufficient hsf. I upgraded from a t-bird 850 200 which oc'd up to 1000, but never locked up at high temps of 128f/53c. Any suggestions? I am assuming i should get a better hsf. Thanks.

[djcomp]

After trying a few more configs (anywhere from 850-1333 with either 200 or 266 fsb) It doesn't seem to be so much the hsf cuz this proc won't idle below 109f/43c. it seems to be more of an instability issue because it locks up sometimes b4 mbm even reads 118f, and we all know the t-birds can tolerate more than that. i might just send the proc. back for a replacement, but i totally want to avoid that. I'm open to any suggestions. This is really annoying and i am tired of seeing scandisk..

[Rob Cork]

If you haven't changed anything other than the cpu since you had the tbird 850 then you can't blame the crashes on anything like driver instability. Definitely sounds like it's the cpu, for whatever reason. It is hard to see why temps like that would cause it to lock up, especially at default speed. The only explanation that I could see is that your mobo temp probe is drastically underreporting the temps, and they are closer to 60C (my tbird 700 used to lock up at about 58C according to the mobo probe). I think that's unlikely, though it could be possible with a retail hsf. I'd say get a much better hsf first, cos you will need one - the retail thingy just ain't gonna cut it. If that still doesn't solve the problem, then there's most likely something wrong with the cpu, and you'll need to send it back.

A better hsf would be pretty much any hsf - but the Glaciator or Thermalright SK6 are the best out there, so I'd check those out. There's a comparative review here (http://www.overclockers.com/tips519/).

[wild_andy_c]

Sounds very much like a badly mounted HSF - not 100% integrity between HSF base and die cap.

Remount the cooler, ensuring perfect thermal conductivity in order for the HSF to have an effect. If the HSF is not 100% flat, your CPU will overheat, and moreover will burn out in many cases.

[djcomp]

I would agree that it seems to be the cpu. When i had the 850 in (at it's default settings or @ 1000 mhz) it hadn't locked up with the same temp readings, so maybe it's not the mobo probe? I did try that proc with the hsf that came with the boxed proc. (no it's not a very good hsf), but it remained stable. Anywayz, a better hsf is inevitable for me. I couldn't find the Millenium Glaciator on a site, could you point me to a site that sells it? The one i was considering to get is either the Vantec CCK-6035D, or OCZ Gladiator (golden gate) with the delta 38. Thanks for any advice.

[Rob Cork]

You can buy the Glaciator direct from Millenium Thermal Solutions (http://www.millennium-thermal.com) or from PCNut (http://www.pcnut.com). It is a bit more expensive, but if you want the best you do have to pay for it - and it is cheaper than the swiftech MC462 :)