Post-upgrade computer concern

[AZRedhawk44]

I have 2 computers in my house.

1:  AMD5000 dual core cpu, 8GB RAM, dual ATI Radeons in CrossfireX mode, all the goodies.
2:  AMD3000 single core cpu, 1GB RAM, NVidia 8600GT, tolerable computer.

I bought goodies a few days ago so that computers became:
1:  AMD8650 triple core cpu and all the rest stayed the same.
2.  the 3K inherited the 5000 dual core into a new inexpensive mobo, and 2GB of RAM.

I'm not happy with the cooling performance of the fan that came with my retail AMD triple core CPU.  According to the BIOS, my cpu fan is spinning at 3900+ RPM and the CPU core is at 51* C.  That's way too hot.  This is on the same motherboard that the dual core ran fine on... it used to run about 35* C with the fan around 2000RPM.

This case is a nice case.  It has a 120mm fan up front bringing in fresh air and sweeping it over the HDD's, an 80mm exhaust fan in back, two 60mm side fans.  The PSU is 700 watts and has two large fans in it providing more exhaust.  The north bridge has a heatsink and fan on it, and both Radeon 3800 GPU's have large heatsinks and fans on them.  I think there's like a dozen fans total in this box all working in concert to bring air from the front/bottom of the case to the top/back.

The other computer has an inexpensive old case of mine.  One 80mm exhaust fan, stock CPU fan for the AMD5000 CPU, power supply exhaust fan.  CPU currently is running 45* C in it.

All I can figure is that I have a CPU heat sink that isn't in full contact with the CPU surface, or doesn't have enough thermal compound on it.

My house ambient temp fluxuates between 78 and 80 degrees F. 

Anyone have recommendations for a reasonably priced replacement CPU heatsink?  I'd like to upgrade a bit so that the fan shuts up (It's loud at 4K RPM right now), and so I don't burn out my new CPU.  Industry has moved away from shipping copper heatsinks in retail CPU packages, which irks me... the one I have now is aluminum.  I'd like to get some copper into the solution to increase efficiency.

Socket type is AM2 in both computers.  If the solution is cheap, I wouldn't mind getting two just to protect both computers.

Ideas?

[Nick1911]

Tell me:  Does the heatsink get decently warm to the touch?

It sounds like you don't have good thermal connectivity between the heatsink and the proc.

[Thor]

Did you change the heat sink compound?? I prefer to use Arctic Silver. I also use this heat sink: http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQ3 Of course, my processors are older AMDs.

[Gewehr98]

Big believer in Arctic Silver here, too.  You don't need much, and too much is just as bad a problem as not enough.

I'd think about Zalman heatpipe copper coolers, with integral 80mm or bigger fans.  Bigger fans can turn at slower RPMs, moving enough CFM but keeping the noise levels down where the system doesn't sound like a jet engine.

Oh, and install SpeedFan or MotherboardMonitor to track the temps.

My big IBMs were bumping into 60C, and I configured SpeedFan to adjust fan RPM to keep temps down.  They sounded like they were alive or something as the fans cycled on and off, but it saved my processors from being fried until I finally got my Koolance water cooling kit installed.

I can only imagine what some kid with a dual quad-core system generates in pure BTUs of heat... 

 

[AZRedhawk44]

Heatsink is definitely warm to the touch.

I'm not sure what 124* F / 50* C feels like, but the heatsink is definitely a lot warmer than ambient temp of 80* F.  It appears to be collecting heat, and the fan is running... it just can't seem to shed it quickly enough.

Appears I have either airflow drama or transfer of heat to air drama...

I pulled the case out of the desk compartment it sits in, and temps dropped about 5-6* F.  CPU Fan RPM also dropped down to 3500.  

That sucks.... I don't want to buy a new desk!  

I'm still limping along right at the break-line for cooking my CPU, too.  My core case temp is 85* F and my house air temp is 80, so I wouldn't mind trading some of the extreme CPU heat into core case heat.

Put the case back in the compartment and wait a few minutes, the core case temp is 86-87* and the CPU temp is back up 5-6*.  CPU Fan RPM back up to max of 3900+.

[Cromlech]

Re-applying new thermal compound does sound like a good bet. I use Arctic Silver 5 and MX-2 myself.
If you are feeling up to it, you could even lap the base of the heatsink. All you need is a few grades of wet & dry paper and a flat surface, like a mirror or a sheet of glass.

Then again, a shiny aftermarket heatsink often does wonders. I have an E6600 under a TRUE cooler, and an i7 920 under a Noctua cooler.

[AZRedhawk44]

I'll get new thermal compound this evening then.  It did all get smeared around when I popped CPU's from the respective motherboards.

I'll probably buy 1 new cpu heatsink as well for my main station.

G98:  Zalman... I've read about them today and they seem nice, but a bit overpriced.  $50 for their CNPS9500 product.  Am I being too chintsy in my outlook?  How are they superior to a $30 copper/aluminum hybrid with comparable surface area, fan size and air flow?

I think I need to go absurdly large with my replacement heatsink.  More surface area equates to more transfer to air.  The case has room for it.

[Cromlech]

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler $31.49

Something like that should do the trick.

[Perd Hapley]

My house ambient temp fluxuates between 78 and 80 degrees F. 

   Move the computers someplace where human beings would be comfortable.   

[AZRedhawk44]

 

Expensive to keep a house below 80 degrees in AZ.

Expensive to keep a house below 100 degrees in AZ, actually.

It would cost me another $100 a month to go from an 80 thermostat to a 75 thermostat, I think.

[Regolith]

Computers don't like enclosed places.  At all.  Make sure it has good ventallation.  That may be a large part of the problem right there.  Also, check to make sure that the case fans are providing a proper airflow;  you may need to add a new fan or two, or declutter the inside of your computer case if cables are blocking the air flow. 

[RocketMan]

Be sure to read the instructions for applying the Arctic Silver 5.  They have them for different CPU types on their website.  It is critical that you apply the right amount of thermal compound.  As others have said already, more is not better.
On my Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors, IIRC, the amount of compound is equal to about one long grain of rice, applied dead center in the proper N/S orientation along the heat spreader.
Yours may be different.

[AZRedhawk44]

CPU dropped about 10* C after installing a CoolerMaster Hyper TX3.  Got it at Fry's Electronics for $20.  Put a dab of arctic silver 5 under it and life seems good.

[Gewehr98]

Good to hear.

I'd still worry about the airflow in your computer cabinet. 

My mom's computer hutch has a front door hiding the system, and her Dell Dimension got quite warm to the touch when I was visiting.

I had to remind her to leave the door open when the computer was running, and I knocked out the faux paneling behind the hutch to allow complete airflow front to back. 

[AZRedhawk44]

Yeah...

I may re-arrange my home office after this. 

[Thor]

I'm not sure why the designers made a desk where the computer is hidden. Every single one I've seen has had computer problems. Arbitrary BSODS, slow running, etc. Most of the time it is due to poor airflow. If you MUST keep it there, you really need to make some serious modifications to the desk and it's computer compartment.