Computer question /AMD Athlon processor

[Bob Wagner]

Are these processor known for creating a lot of heat?



I purchased a 1600 system this past January and this system runs very hot even after purchasing the upgraded heatsink and larger fan.



The damn computer is loud and still runs hot



Any input appreciated, Hate to go to liquid cooling

 

[Doc Tinker]

BOMB your computer with a window a/c unit



Doc

 

[Shrimpy]

No Trouble here Bob. I am running an AMD Athlon XP2000+. For my use it's like having our good ole straight six in a lawn tractor..... a bit of overkill to say the least. I leave mine running all the time with cable internet access. I run zone alarm as my firewall with no problems... ... ..... But I am so computer illiterate (sp) the Communist could be using my system as a pass thru home base and unless a warning box popped up I wouldn't know:--) .

 

[LSMITH]

Bob, all of the overheating problems I have ever heard are with AMD processors. Keep them cool and they rock, don't and you have trouble. I remember reading that the overheat detection in the AMD is a bit slow, as in it is too hot already when it alarms, and that it cannot slow the processor down to lower the heat generation like an Intel chip can. The Intel chips just don't seem to have heat trouble.

 

[Morphious]

Can we say Liquid cool those pupies and crankup the clock cycles... ... AMD's will run a little hotter than the Ify brand, but will out perform them. I sleep right next to a dual processor system that has 6 fans running full time in it, I don't even notice it.



Morph.

 

[The patriot]

I've heard that theyre OK unless you overclock them. (very easily done, and they run well doing so as long as it's not too much) They do however have tendency to run on the hot side.

I'm computer illiterate too.

Mine is a 1. 4 ghz, if memory serves me.

Eric

 

[Bob Wagner]

thanks for the help

my system is not overclocked.



Maybe the PC Shop sets the Bios temps to low



The setting is



warning 52C



shutdown 60C



Can I boost the temps up in Bios safely?



Are loud fans, cheaply made fans? I have a cpu fan, a case fan and a power supply fan





Thanks again,

 

[KMC]

I have a 1. 4 ghz athlon. It ran pretty hot and caused intermitent crashes until I spent the money for a high quality heatsink and fan. Also make sure you use the dielectric grease between the heatsink and CPU. Also added a chasis fan or two. Now it runs cooler and solid as a rock.

 

[Bob Wagner]

I did upgrade the heatsink and fan and I will do the dielectric grease.



KMC, is your system loud?



Thanks

 

[KMC]

Bob, I initially thought I had a quality fan and it was very loud - couldn't even hear the doorbell. The new heatsink and fan I got at CompUSA in Montlake Terrace. I think it was around $35 or so but it is much quieter and was rated to something like up to a 2 ghz CPU.



My system runs 24/7. I just checked via the Asus MB utility and it is running at 63C. The default alarm threshold is 90C, so I would suspect that you can go higher and your alarm settings are to low. Unless the 1. 6 ghz CPU's are made to run cooler... Often as CPU's develop they are changing the die size and core voltage , etc. which can affect things. Why overclockers have to be careful. You might check out AMD's website for your CPU specs and see what the operating temp range is.



Ken

 

[Bob Wagner]

Thanks KMC That is a wide span from 60c to 90c



I wonder why ther would be such a difference?



I will check out the website



thanks again

 

[dmurdock]

52 is as high as I would let it go... not really going to damage the processor but it could make it unstable...



For heatsink reviews check this out... it's good for starters:

http://www.athlonmb.com/article-display.php?ArticleID=133



*make sure there is thermal compound/paste between the cpu and the heatsink (should be a very thin film, almost transparent)



*make sure the bottom of the heatsink is smooth... you can check it with a straight-edge. . if not smooth it (this is called lapping-do a search on google for heatsink lapping and i'm sure you'll find tons'of how to's)



*make sure the heatsink is seated properly



*use a quality heatsink (pure copper or copper based/aluminum fin are the best... all aluminum heatsinks require a high rpm (loud) fan to work well)



*make sure the case has good ventilation... Your power supply blows air out, the case fan probably does too, so you need to make sure the intakes in the front are clear of obstructions (tidy the cables up)



*make sure it's all clean (no dust farms)... dust is a good insulator (not wanted!)



If this is a new purchase, i'd take it back and have them do the above, and make sure they don't just set the temp threshold higher. 52 is already high in my opinion because this isn't an accurate measurement. . there is a diode under the cpu which is "supposed" to touch it but usually doesn't (and isn't greatly accurate anyway). AMD AthlonXP and future AMD processors contain on-board temp monitors, but the motherboard has to support it (right now I know of only 3 that do, 2 made by gigabyte and one by asus). After june 10 of this year any motherboard manufactured must incorporate this feature if it want's to carry the "amd approved" label. So, something to watch for if your out shopping...

 

[illflem]

Water cooling an Althlon is no joke, many people do it.

http://home.talkcity.com/ConnectionPt/ptcg/athlon3.htm

 

[DRR-24V]

Try CPU Cool !

I run an Athlon 1700 overclocked to 1604mz. My board temps are 24 and cpu temp is 27 running a Glaciator heatsink and fan. I am running the CPU Idle software and it really cools down the Athlon. You can get it here.



http://www.cpuidle.de/

 

[KMC]

DDR-24V, did you mean underclocked ?



After reading some of these numbers I think I am still running way to hot at 62C

 

[DRR-24V]

No Its Overclocked

The 1700 Athlon only runs at 1466 standard. The Intel stuff runs at its named speeds. Confusing I know. Go Figure !.

 

[KMC]

Ok, gotcha. My CPU is a 1. 4 ghz T-Bird. I haven't been following things much since they came out with the XP athlons and it looks like they have changed the nomenclature as you describe. So the 1700 is probably the Intel equiv. speed? AMD processors have always been quicker than thier equivalent Intel CPUs at lower clock speeds. Since they have now gotten over any floating point issues that used to plague them in the past why would anyone even pay more for Intel??? Just some Intel diehards that can't see the light I guess... . Although alot of higher end software AutoCAD, etc. are still better optimized for Intel. However, I run AutoCAD on my Athlon w/o any problems at all.



Ken