My First Overclock KR7A 1700+, i need cooling advice and suggestions

[Asheron]

Hi everyone!

This is what I have:

Abit KR7A Non Raid
Athlon XP 1700+ CPU
2 Sticks of Crucial 256mb
ATI 64mb DDR Graphics Card
Maxtor 40gig 7200 Drive
Thermaltake Volcano 7 Heatsink
1030 Antec Case with 2 Intake, and 2 Exhaust fans
350Watt Enermax Psu

I recently increased my FSB to 150x11 and it has been stable.
I have my memory configuration as auto detect. I tried it with the faster settings but it wasnt stable. It kept rebooting at faster settings.
My CPU speed is set to fast, It couldnt handle Ultra.

I had to increase my Core Voltage to 1.85
I had to increase my Ram voltage to 2.75
My I/O voltage is still at 3.50

Using Winbond Hardware Doctor that came with my KR7A these are my current temps and voltage:

System 22C
Idle 43C
Full load 50C

Vcore 1.89
Vio 3.52
+5v 4.86
+12v 12.41
AGP 1.52
DDR 2.8
VSB 4.99
Vbat 3.20

What i'm concerned about is if my temps are acceptable or should I try to lower them somehow but keep my system as fast. I know it is pretty much as fast as it can go with what i have. Some of you guys have really low temps and im wondering if i can go any lower without water cooling.

I have read from some of your threads that a low +5v is bad, is mine bad? Considering my overclock method and my 350wat ennermax, should i adjust it? Is it safe?

Also if anyone else is using the KR7A maybe we can compare bios settings to achieve the best overclock. I have everything pretty much default for it to run at 150 x 11 fsb, but i would like to use faster ram settings if possible or just tweak it for optimal settings.

Any complaints, suggestoins, please respond with anything that is useful. Thanks for reading!

[nihili]

I've never used that board, so I'll only speak to the issue of temps. Your temps are a bit higher than *I* like, especially the load temp. I don't like anything over 45 and prefer to stay at 40 or under if I can. On the other hand 50 isn't putting you at a risk of meltdown.

Three ideas for better cooling.

1. Upgrade the Heatsink. The Volcano 7 is a good heatsink, but not absolute tops. You'd get some improvement moving to an SK6, 8045, or Swifty (I forget the model of the swifty). This of course means more cash, so I'd try the other suggestions first.

2. Ducting. If you can duct your heatsink to the outside of the case, you'll generally see an improvement in temps. A simple duct can be made cheaply and easily. Mine cost less than 5 bucks and took me about 20 minutes to make. Of course it doesn't work quite as well as a more elaborate one would, but it works a lot better than no duct at all.

3. Take a good hard look at the airflow in your case. What kind of fans are you using? How much air do they push? Try to figure out where the dead spots in the case are. A dead spot near the cpu can significantly increase temps. Make sure your cables are tucked out of the way


nihili

[Asheron]

Thanks for the quick response.

I originally ordered a Alpha but for some reason my vendor replaced it with a Volcano. Half the price but i may be regretting it now. Im not familiar with heatsink installation so that may be on hold for a bit. I dont want to damage the CPU.

As for the Ducting I have seen that in some case pictures. Is that like aiming airflow from the outside in? Or is that airflow going out.
How exactly does that work for my Cpu. I know it smeant to aim airflow more directly but does that mean i will have to cut my case?

The Fans i have installed are Thermaltake 80mm, 37 CFM
The case is fairly big, i have 2 installed in the back and 2 in the front where they have spots for them.

I have spent sometime cleaning up the wires but there isnt much else i can do for now. I have seen some of you having a coil around your wires, maybe i will try that.

[Yodums]

I've heard the thermal diodes of the XP isn't accurate at all and you should be using a digidoc or something or an external LCD temperature probe.

The temperature are fairly high where it should be only 40-43, 44 or something. First look at airflow how much cfm is going through your case? Considering like 350cfm+ going through the case of all the same kind of case fans where the dead spot won't change.

So like 4sets of 120mm YSTECH 131cfm case fans would be good for like 500cfm in the case and with even exhaust and intake and its always good to be above recommended especially for AMD.

Zip tie PSU wires, if your using flat IDE cables cut them up into round cables and stick the hanging wire in the bay or tape them to the side or something, take the panels of the case off.

Thats for airflow.

Next the heatsink: Not really top of the line heres my suggestion for improving maybe near 10 degrees if sucessful.

First fan mod: The Volcano 7 doesn't always run on 5K RPM to get maximum performance you should use this method:

Tools: Wire strippers/cutters, electric tape.

Where you see the diode on the fan snipe it as close as possible leaving lots of wire lenght then strip the wire connect them cut the electric tape and then secure the wire carefully. Fan mod done.

Lap the heatsink to get a flat surface. Get wet sandpaper from 220 grit(should get 2 of these), 400grit, 600 grit, 800 grit, 1000 grit, 1500 grit,2000grit.

THIS HAS TO BE WATERPROOF SANDPAPER and it'll be used wet AND BE LAPPING ON GLASS.
Get glass if you don't have it take the fan off the heatsink and then wet the heatsink and then wet the sandpaper start sanding the heatsink copper base down with 220 grit until it is flat then move on to the next set. The start of lapping is very important if you don't finish the 220grit with flat surface your other lappings won't make it flat as they get smoother and smoother.

Note: You should wet the heatsink and the sandpaper every 30secs the 220grit start should at least take an hour or 1 hour and 15-30mins. The whole procedure may take 2-2.5 hours. Do it while watching tv and stuff it goes by fast don't rush it its for its own good and don't apply too much pressure as you don't want to scratch it. YOU ARE LAPPING ON GLASS BECAUSE IT IS THE FLATTEST SURFACE POSSIBLE TO GET THE BEST RESULTS.

Lapping means taking off a layer to make the next layer flatter thus less thermal compound use and more contact. Lapping may shave 3-6,7 degrees if you do a very good job your heatsink at the end should be like a mirror.

Use ASII as a thermal compound if you don't, if you don't then theres a reduce of another 2-7 degrees.

Make sure your heatsink is dry before putting it on and make sure you clean the core with alcohol and the heatsink(The metal is on it clean everything off)..

Thatshould REDUCE ALOT OF HEAT TRUST ME IT WILL IF YOU GET A LAPPED HEATSINK, 500cfm of airflow and ASII compound.

[Asheron]

Thanks, Im going to try to make my volcano run faster in about 5mins.

[ButcherUK]

Originally posted by Yodums
I've heard the thermal diodes of the XP isn't accurate at all and you should be using a digidoc or something or an external LCD temperature probe.
Do you mean the in-socket thermistor or the built-in XP diode? The thermistor is utter trash misleading at best, positively dangerous at worst. The diode is the best measuring device for a cpu, significantly better than a digidoc probe or similar on the side of the core. Unfortunately motherboards don't seem to have native support for this (but do support irda, wtf?), so an external monitor chip is usually required.


Thatshould REDUCE ALOT OF HEAT TRUST ME IT WILL IF YOU GET A LAPPED HEATSINK, 500cfm of airflow and ASII compound.
Yeah and make your ears bleed. Go water, it's the only way :D

[Asheron]

This is so depressing.

I just got my system all configured and now really looking at it, i should of invested in a water cooling system! lol

Oh well, i will make due with what i have unless someone wants to do buy what i have :)

[ButcherUK]

That feeling hit me about 18 months ago, it took me over a year to actually get a watercooling rig going. :) And it's the sweetest thing ever, so quiet :D Next step for me is peltiers :)

[Yodums]

Ah write this down in the journal:

First Mod: Volcano 7 Fan :D

Lap it and use ASII now and add more airflow!!!

Yodums

[Yodums]

PS: do you feel the NEED FOR SPEED

[Asheron]

I probably sound stupid but how do you install the larger size fans, when my case can only hold 80mm fans.

Do i have to cut holes?

[ButcherUK]

Generally yes you need to cut holes :)