Serious temp problems, silver compound?

[Renigade]

Im having a ridiculously stupid problem, Im getting 50C+ temps full load at stock voltage, stock FSB after installing a 9700 Pro. I had bad temp problems before, but its getting ridiculous now. My 9700 Pro is at 1.7v with fastwrite off just to keep it from crashing b/c I have a P4G8X. I would run 42C full load before at these settings. My case's airflow is about 60-70 cfm in and 70-90 cfm out. Room temp is around 80-85 F (AZ). I have the worlds worst HSF, but I STILL shouldnt be getting these temperatures.

I have Antec's 99% micronized silver compound installed under my CPU. I am seriously considering getting AS3 b/c I figure I could dorp temps a bit. (Im also getting SLK900 sometime soon too...). But STILL, I SHOULDNT be having temps this bad.

Does anyone have any suggestions? MY HSF is the Thermaltake P4 Dragon 478.

 

[nerdlogic]

Your CPU is getting these temps? Have you tried reseating your HSF? Is your 9700 running at stock? Maybe some better-than-stock cooling for your 9700 might help...How big is that thing? It might be restricting some of that intake...Just a few thoughts and possibilities.

 

[Super Nintendo]

just a question is the 50C your mobo temp or a device that is getting the temp off the cpu

 

[Renigade]

Device that is getting temp off CPU. I installed it between the CPU and socket, as per Thermaltake's instructions. My motherboard is off by a good amount. Before I completed my computer, the sensor read the exact room temperature, so I know it is accurate.

My 9700 pro is runing at stock clock speeds, but not stock voltage b/c it will crash if I dont crank it up. I figure if I get better than stock cooling for my 9700 Pro, I will just dissipate heat more efficiently into my case, in effect raising my case temperatures (but once I get my CPU heat problems worked out I am going to OC my vid card)

I inherited a PCI exhaust fan from one of my friends, and even though people beef about how much they suck, I would still like to find a way to expel the hot air coming off my video card. My problem is that the PCI fan goes below my vid card, not above, so it would decrease the efficiency of my video card's fan because they blow opposite directions. Im consiering replacing the exhaust fan right above my video card with a slightly more powerful fan. (I have two exhaust fans lined up vertically at the back of my case, TT XaserII).

 

[epauls]

Your problem is room temp!! 80-85 is hot for running high end computers. Damn, I'd be sweating just sitting at the computer. Turn on the AC man.
What are your MB temps?
I may be taking a wild stab at this but I'm thinking your room temp has gone up do to spring/summer getting here and yes the Video card has increased case temp a little on top. I run in the mid 40's when normal room temp(71-74F). When I left the windows open and it got much hotter than expected I came home and the house was around 84F, my cpu temps were at 53C. Needless to say AC went on.
Your rooms ambient temp makes huge difference on the end CPU temp. When it was cooler out(40'sF) I would open the window next to the computer a bit and wow, I was running low 30's.
The overall room temp was still around 67-68 but that cool air from window was almost directly fed into case.

 

[sandman001]

Sound to me like th ambient temperature isn't helping much...

 

[Renigade]

Should I just go water cooling instead of investing in the SLK900? I am only hesitant about WC b/c I take my computer to a friend's house 4-6 times a month and I am a bit queasy about having liquid sloshing around in my computer, plus any added weight. I hear I can get a decent WC setup for around $100.

 

[epauls]

You weren't listening.....Turn on the AC!

Get a descent CPU Cooler and problem taken care of.

No, I would not water cool a computer you tote around. Just asking for trouble.

 

[nerdlogic]

I hear that for $100, unless you go buy the parts and build it yourself, you're going to get a crappy WC system.

And what can you do about your room temp? AC would be great. A fan circulating air around the room might help if you don't have AC.

 

[Renigade]

lol, the A/C is on ; )
Plus the A/C is my mom's beef, she must be cold blooded cuz she likes it hot in the house, plus she is cheap cuz over the summer our electric bll is over $300 a month.
Plus I have 3 computers in that room (one being a Mac, so it doesnt generate that much heat ; ) ).
Plus it is upstairs.

Welcome to my life in sunny AZ = D

plus we have a huge fan that is 3 or 4 feet in diameter blowing out of our computer room.

 

[InThrees]

New Thermal Compound is NOT going to solve your problem, but carefully cleaning / removing the old application and trying again might improve the situation at least a little bit.

Also, in that ambient temp, I think a water TOWER would benefit you more than a traditional radiated water cooling setup. If your room is relatively low dust and/or you install good filters on the air intakes on the tower, then you can bring the water temp to below ambient simply though evaporation.

Since it's likely to be REALLY dry in Arizona most times of the year, I'd so you are in an IDEAL location.

It's not cheap, but it's not much more expensive than a good traditional water cooling rig. The most crucial elements to a good evap setup are a pump with good head strength (meaning, a pump that can 'lift' or force water through several feet of elevation change, counting the entire system) and a good dispersal method, like a shower head or a dispersal plate.

Anyway, before you go to that extreme (unless you want to) yank your HSF and use acetone and isopropyl to REALLY clean the HSF and cpu core really well, then apply a new T H I N layer of grease to each, with several sheets of plastic. Use the plastic at first to rub a tiny amount into each surface in alternating circles to grind it into the tiny cracks, then use new clean sheets to smooth and thin the layers until their very nearly opaque. You really don't need much grease, it's meant only to displace the air that would otherwise be there.

Edited to add:

I should clarify, a fairly simple evap setup can be assembled for LESS money than a good water cooling setup utilizing a radiator - and it's performance would be fairly good, bring water to near ambient in either direction (nearly below or nearly above). However, with the addition of a strong pump with high head strength and a higher tower (meaning more distance / evaporation possibility) you can bring the water temperature a significant amount below ambient. Also, the customization possibilities for a homegrown tower are limitless - cold cathode tubes stragetically placed to illuminate the water, LEDs done the same way, a huge reservoir with an automatic float/kill switch to refuse power to the computer if the water level is too low... Really, the sky is the limit.

 

[Renigade]

Thx for the info guys.

Im first going to reseat my HSF, and if this doesnt work then Ill pick up the SLK-900 and Panaflo 92mm (57 cfm 35 dB =D).

May the force be with me... please.

 

[AMDNightmare]

You have AS3 on there right

 

[Excelsior]

Also you should have a slightly higher CFM IN than OUT

 

[nerdlogic]

Also you should have a slightly higher CFM IN than OUT

Now that all depends. Different people get different results with diferent types of airflow. Some people get better results with negative and some people get better results with positive...Some get better results with even airflow....it's all in the experimenting.

 

[Super Nintendo]

I just say go water cooling, thats what I'm doing. Putting it together this weekend for a hobby and to make my computer quiet.