Help!

[Slurgi]

I am so confused, I can't figure it out!

Ok, here is my story...

http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36918

That is what happened first.

I looked at pictures of my heatsink compared to others and it turns out i dont have the PEP heatsink, but i have the PAL (i got it from 2cooltek.com). This sortof made me mad because the pep is more expensive, but anything should be better than what i used to have, right? Well, you'll see i am getting HIGHER temperatures than i used to.

I got my new processor in the mail, and i was all excited because it was EYHJA, and 4 first letter on the next line. So i put it in, hassle free. Processors arent that hard to get on, anyway. Ok, so next i put on the heatsink. I put on the new PAL one (my old one had wimpy aluminum fins and a much slower fan). I applied the thermal paste THIN (and i mean THIN). I used a small tool to carved with a knife from a peice of plastic to put the sink on this time, and it went MUCH smoother :). I put no pressure on the heatsink at all, and the clip when on much better than with my thumbs (where i broke it last time).

I quick checked all cords/ribbons to make sure i didnt bump something and unplug it, and they were all in slugly. So i plug in everything, and turn the computer on. First thing i do is goto the BIOS and quick goto the temperature guage. It climbs fairly fast from 50 to 60.5, but remains idle there. I was kindof distressed about this, but i remained calm and was going to exit the BIOS when it locked up. So i hit the reset button. Then my screen says

GeForce3 blah blah blah
blah blah blah
(blah blah blah)

64.0 mb

64.0 mb

64.0 mb

64.0 mb

1>4.6 ~!!(*&#$

and locks up. I turn my computer off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. It DOES boot up this time, but sends me to the BIOS, but during the bootup i heard little clicking noises. They stopped when i entered BIOS. On the right side of the screen was a message about how my computer had an improper bootup 'due to improper cpu speed'. I never touched the settings at all, they still sat at 1400, 133 bus, 10.5 multiplier. I leave the settings as they were, and restart disgarding changes.

I think it will boot this time, it goes to the next screen on the bootup and i get.

Improper I/O Primary Slave (or something like that)

At this point, I thought... ok, I will just tighten the cords/ribbons on my harddrive. So I do that, and i turn the puppy back on. My heatsink was slightly warm to the touch ( i checked it) but it wasnt THAT warm, so maybe it wasnt absorbing as much heat as i would have liked. My computer does the same thing it did last time, improper bootup. So i hit the reset button and get the GeForce3 screen and it locks up.

I was not liking this, but i turned my computer on again (i am relentless) and I got that same message about the 'improper cpu speed setting'. I had it on Jumper-Free mode, so i was just like "Hey, I will just change the FSB to 100, maybe that will fix issues if peripherals are actin funky, and i just dont know it"

When i set the bus speed to 100, it WORKED! First thing i did when I got it running was open up motherboard monitor 5. I got 70 DEGREES. I was going to shut it down, but those temps slowly dropped to 68, and remained there. My old heatsink always got readings of 55-60 at idle, 64-66 full load. I did shut it down after doing a little research on asus.com about BIOS updates. Running at 1050 and getting almost 70 degrees must mean something is wrong.

Poor me, it was getting very late, so I went to bed. But my question is, What is WRONG with my computer? Here are some of my guesses...

The GeForce3 might be acting up for some reason or another
explanation: Failure to boot

Hard Drive might be messed up
explanation: Primary slave I/O error

Motherboard doesnt know how to handle Eyhja
Explanation: Never had problem until new processor

Heat is causing the system to lock up and run funny
explanation: 70 degree temperatures!

Heatsink is on wrong/not enough thermal paste
Explanation: My old heatsink had lots of paste, but my new one i put on very thinly. Maybe i need more to ensure correct thermal transfer.


My battle plan for tonight will be to get on my old computer, check results from this thread (I am at school). I will most likely first take off the new heatsink, put more thermal paste on, and make sure there is proper contact with the core, then boot up. If problems persist, I will update the BIOS.

Maybe somebody can come up with a better plan than this?

Please help...


Slurgi

[Thelemac]

First off, your temps are probably not as bad as you think because the PAL (if I recall correctly) pulls it's air fromt he heatsink instead of pushing it in. This means that the insocket thermistor (which sucks for accuracy) isn't getting cooled like it was before.

Secondly, your symptoms show that your temps are too high. You need to make sure you have your hsf seated properly (take it off an make sure you have a nice core shape on the bottom). You have plenty of thermal grease, I'm sure.

If you want to oc, I'm going to suggest that you get a different cooler, because the old Alphas aren't really that great for cooling the new TBirds...they just aren't designed for that much heat.

*Moved to "Cooling"*

[Slurgi]

I took off the new heatsink and put the old one on, and i run much cooler.

I just... dont... understand...

The 'new' heatsink (Alpha Pal) was much bigger, and had a more powerful fan. It was also on the heatsink firmly. There was a slight imprint where the core was, and it had contact evenly.

Now that the 'old' heatsink is on (generic one) it runs MUCH cooler.

I dont get it, those wimpy fins cool better?

[TOMATOMAN]

Well maybe the ALPHA was pulling hot air from the mobo try taking out the cover that it has on it and puting the fan so it blows on it that might help.