Rookie AMD Heating/Overclocking Questions

[JCLJorgenson]

I have an AMD AXIA Thunderbird 1.33mhz with a MSI K7T266 Pro and 256 MB DDR memory. I use an ASUS 7700 GeForce 2 GTS video card. I believe the bios core voltage for the CPU is at 1.85, but it seems to run at a voltage below that (according to PC monitor). I am not overclocking the CPU right now and the CPU temperature is usually in the low 50s Celsius. However, if I play a processor intensive game, the CPU temp goes up to 60 C. (My room temperature is about 74 Fahrenheit). I have a Thermaltake Volcano II heatsink/fan and I am just using the thermal tape - no thermal compound. I already installed two 80mm case fans - one blowing in from the front and one out in the back. My case is inside a space of my desk built for tower cases. It only has about 5 inches of airflow space above it so a little bit of heat collects in there. When I remove the tower case from the enclosed desk cabinet, my CPU temp doesn't reduce much, if any.

1. I haven't had any problems with crashes, but is the CPU running too hot or is that a normal temp for that speed Thunderbird?
2. Is the MSI K7T266 Pro CPU temp reading accurate?
3. Does DDR Memory and 266 FSB increase CPU temperature?
4. How much in Celsius do you think Arctic Silver II will reduce my CPU temp (vs. thermal tape)?
5. How does the CPU's core voltage impact performance and temperature and how should it be adjusted?
6. If I wanted to overclock my CPU, is my CPU already unlocked for the multiplier?

Any advice or personal experiences will be much appreciated. Again, I don't have any crashes, so I am wondering if I should even be worried. To be honest, I think a lot of the overclockers seem very excessive in modifying their PCs, and I would like some low cost recommendations. In other words, I don't want to drill a hole in my case and run my A/C duct into my computer. : )

 

[Ferg]

Ok first of all if you upgraded to a better hsf and artic silver 2 thermal paste then you would drop a whole bunch of degrees. Like maybe as much as ten. There was a recent thread in this forum about a 20 dollar OCZ Gladiator which is a great hsf. They call it the Golden Gate. If you dont mind the noise for only 4 bucks more you can get it with a delta fan which would really improve performance. And they have artic silver paste cheap.

 

[Cowtown]

It's not that bad, but if you want to ensure that your system runs at complete stability, I would really ditch that Volcano II heatsink and fan. They are not very good at all. The advertised 36cfm fan (or whatever the claim on the box) is actually a 26cfm fan, hence why the DB are so low. If you plan on overclocking slap on a better heatsink and fan (look around the cooling forum to see what people are using for 1.4+ systems and let er rip! Also, I would remoe that thermal tape and replace with some Artic Silver II compound. Doing that alone would probably drop you down several degrees and help keep your overall heat underload more consistent with it under idle.

Shawn

 

[e_storm]

What are your case temps? High case temps will obviously contribute to a hot cpu.

1. I haven't had any problems with crashes, but is the CPU running too hot or is that a normal temp for that speed Thunderbird?

60C sounds pretty hot, should be cooled more to lengthen life of processor and give potential for overclocking, if desired. In the 50s seems to be somewhat normal for aircooled T-birds, but those are coming from overclocked systems, so 60 for a stock system is pretty darn hot.

2. Is the MSI K7T266 Pro CPU temp reading accurate?

Haven't heard anything to the contrary...but I think a lot of boards thermistor's are off by at least a few degrees...perhaps others more familiar with your board could help?

3. Does DDR Memory and 266 FSB increase CPU temperature?

I wouldn't think so any more than usual because the chip was designed to run at that speed...could be wrong tho. It would however, heat up the board more (ie. northbridge, etc..).

4. How much in Celsius do you think Arctic Silver II will reduce my CPU temp (vs. thermal tape)?

It's hard to say exactly...depends on how good the contact is now, but I would guess 5-10+ C...thats just a guess.

5. How does the CPU's core voltage impact performance and temperature and how should it be adjusted?

How far is yours off? Is it only like 1.83 or 1.87 (think this is relatively normal), or is it way off? If your gonna be adjusting to overclock, you would adjust upward. To answer, more voltage = more heat. Usually if your gonna OC, you try to run the target speed at stock voltage and if you get errors and if all other factors are eliminated, up the voltage...you don't wanna go too far tho, unless you really know what your doing and your temps are ok. You can fry a chip by upping the voltage without doing your homework.

6. If I wanted to overclock my CPU, is my CPU already unlocked for the multiplier?

Some are and some aren't from what I've read. You should be able to tell that in Bios or however you change the multiplier for your board. If you can't change the multiplier in bios but the option is there (just greyed out), then you have a locked one. Read the mobo manual for that one.