New CPU / High Temp

[JonnyCam]

Hey,

Just installed a new Celeron D 3 Ghz in a test case, with new MB - and the cpu temp was sitting in the bios at about 65 deg.

The heat sink didnt seem to be very hot (cool enoiugh to touch)- so would the issue be with the temp sensor - or have I not contacted the heatsink onto the cpu correctly?

Thanks

[JonnyCam]

Ok - so what would be considered a "normal" temp for CPU?

the system temp was showing as 25 deg.

Also, the CPU came with one of those thermal stick on pads already on the heatsink - do these have to be heated up to melt before it will work at full capacity?

Would I be better buying some thermal compound and putting that on instead?

Thanks

[JonnyCam]

Thanks for your help.

[herbs]

No, the thermal stick pads are supposed to be better than thermal compound

No strictly true most compound is better especially stuff like artic silver than thermal pads.
Also compound does take time to settle down,you should get slightly lower temperatures after 24 hours, if applied correctly i.e not to thick or thinly.

I doubt that the temp sensor is out, they are pretty much 'always right'.

Again not strictly true there have been many occasions where a bios update has been needed to a motherboard to produce the correct temperature readings. Also a faulty sensor is quite possible but as you said unlikely.

JohnnyCam are you using the standard intel heatsink? if so they are not exactly known to be the be some of the best coolers. If you don't want to buy another heatsink try lapping the cooler (search on google for lapping heatsink) and using a thermal compound like artic silver.

[fuzzweed]

Search the AMD website for info on operating temps. 65deg seems OK from my 2 second glance....

I'd also like to second the commet about paste being better than pads - I've never ever had an issue with paste, but I recently put a pad on my curent CPU and i've had to underclock it to stop it blue screening. As soon as enough time has passed since I was last warned against 'breaking' the 'TV' by my girlfriend, I'll be changing back!

[herbs]

Search the AMD website for info on operating temps. 65deg seems OK from my 2 second glance....

He has a celeron it might be better to check intels site.

[fuzzweed]

:o doh

[rowle1jt]

Paste is better than pads!!! Part of the reason might also be the cooler; I have a P4 3.4Ghz in my Dads box and it runs hotter than hell! The whole reason is the crappy CPU cooler that Intel boxes with the processors. The area between the fan blades and the top of the cooler will fill with dust, therefore further reducing the cooling abilty that was poor to start out with. Pulling the fan and cleaning is possible, but I don't recomend doing it while it is mounted on the board. I cleaned his twice, both times taking the cooler off the board.

Stock Intel Cooler:


If you have the cooler above, seriously consider replacing it. I don't want that to sound harsh or mean but it will affect the longevity of your CPU's life. My fathers was doing the same thing, running hot and bouncing off the 70C* mark! I put in 6 way heat pipe and it fixed it, idles in high 40's and maxes out around the high 58C*. I used a Thermaltake "Big Typhoon":


It does a require a decent amount of room, but it will work wonders on the CPU temps! Coincedently, I have the same cooler on an Athlon XP 2400+ and I idle about 31C. Used to be 28C or 29C but it needs to be pulled, cleaned and re-pasted. I really don't see why you would need such a large cooler as the Big Typhoon (yes thats a 120mm fan on the top!) but it was the only decent socket 775 heat pipe out when I bought it for Dads, now there are a ton more! Here are a few Examples:
Scythe KATANA SCKTN-775
COOLER MASTER RR-LCH-P9E1
Thermaltake SILENT 775 CL-P0092
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro

I just used an Arctic Cooling Freezer PRO 64 (very similar to the AC cooler listed above) on an Athlon 64 3200+ and it was one SWEET cooler! Idled about 29C-30C with only 1 80mm fan in the back and psu fan. I would buy another Arctic Cooling cooler in a heart beat, and their prices are great!

[JonnyCam]

OK - sorted the issue.

it's an LGA775 cpu - so you have to press some clips down into the motherboard to connect the heatsink.

I hadnt pressed them hard enough (the sight of bending PCBs isnt something I like!) - You have to press harder than you think. dunno why they couldnt have stayed with a cooler / cpu mix like the socket 478 - nice mounting plate / hole.

Once I had fixed them, the temp dropped to 41 degress and has stayed there for the past few hours.

Thanks for all of your help.