CPU Heat

[Tommer]

Hiya guys.

I've been looking for ways to regain some of the old performance on this machine. At the moment i'm noticing the CPU appears to run quite slowly even for it's model.

The CPU is a P4 3.2 Ghz Presscott 2M and seems to be running constantly at 67C with the usual applications open EG Firefox with 10 tabs and a few explorer windows open, avast, rainmeter and no other "Bloatware" since i'm very careful about what background processes are allowed to run on the system.

After reading from the Intel site I found that the maximum operating temperature of my CPU is 70C .. Hm.

I observed doing some CPU intensive task like creating/loading a minecraft map in single player is causing the machine to lock up, the fans rise and the cpu pretty much stops doing anything to stop from getting any hotter so I assume it's aware that it's getting near critical temperature.

I've had the system since 2006 and I've done a reasonably good job of keeping dust out of it and making sure nothing is blocking the airways - But i'm wondering if there's a way to help cool it down? I'm reading that other people's P4 3.2 ghz would operate at around 50C normally and I get the feeling mine should be operating like this too.

One of the things I was considering was checking the thermal paste on the cpu but I don't see why this would be a problem considering i've never touched this area of the computer before?

The heatsink onboard my PC is a dell specific one and thus I doubt I will be able to change this. :/

[Johan.]

After a year of what or 1.5 - 2, the old thermal paste will be .. old. I know quite a few people who change their thermal paste every half year, or every year.

Don't forget however, that the Prescott can be quite a hot-headed CPU. I've had one running 90 degrees stressed, and still working pretty fine. If I'm right, the absolute the Prescott will survive, is way past 100 degrees celcius.

Also, about the heatsink on your CPU.. Its socket-specific, not brand-specific, so if you really want, you can get a new heatsink + fan for it. (Isn't the P4 Prescott socket 775?)

[Tommer]

Ok, well in which case i've ordered some thermal paste and some remover to get rid of the old stuff. That'll arrive in a couple days will reply to this thread if still getting problems.

[[TC]►Bez◄]

I really hope you bought Arctic Silver 5 !

[Tommer]

Haha. I just brought some cheap kit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Thermal-compou...3f14d9fca2

Maybe if I had a more expensive PC I would be willing to splash out on more expensive maintenance supplies.

[[TC]►Bez◄]

Yikes.. Good luck xD

Cheap crap:

Thermal Conductance: >300,000W/m2 °C (0.001 inch layer)
Thermal Resistance: <0.005°C-in2/Watt (0.001 inch layer)
Average Particle Size: <0.49 microns <0.000020 inch
Extended Temperature Limits: Peak: -50°C to >180°C Long-Term: 50°C to 130°C Both 1.5 gram packs contains enough compound to cover at least 5 to 10 small CPU cores, or 5 to 6 large CPU cores, or 1 to 2 heat plates.

Arctic Silver 5:

Thermal Conductance: 350,000W/m2 °C (0.001 inch layer)
Thermal Resistance: 0.0045°C-in2/Watt (0.001 inch layer)
Average Particle Size: 0.49 microns 0.000020 inch
Extended Temperature Limits: Peak: -50°C to 180°C Long-Term: -50°C to 130°C
Performance: 3 to 12 degrees centigrade lower CPU full load core temperatures than standard thermal compounds or thermal pads when measured with a calibrated thermal diode imbedded in the CPU core.

---

Also at the moment they have lowered the price massively.. 69p O.O

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arctic-Silver-Ar...929&sr=1-3

Id buy some if I was you tommer xD

[Tommer]

Quote: £0.69 + £4.76 UK delivery

[[TC] Brad]

(2012-08-12 11:39)Tommer Wrote:  

Quote: £0.69 + £4.76 UK delivery

Or choose free delivery (3-5days) ?

[[TC]»Elmo«]

That seller doesn't do free delivery. Either way, AS5 is usually about £5 and well worth it - it can be equivalent to buying a new, more efficient cooler.

Most thermal compound, with the exception of the top quality stuff like AS5, will massively lose performance after a few years. AS5 and the like is different, because it melts every time it heats up, which means it's very unlikely to dry up when old. It does lose performance, but nowhere near as much.

Also, the AS5 website has comprehensive instructions of how to apply it to practically every type of CPU. Good luck finding out how to use that cheap stuff properly.

Also don't forget that you can (and should) use your good quality compound on your expensive, high performance PC(s) as well. You'll find that you won't use much of it and it stores well (unlike the sachets) so it should last you a good few years. My original syringe still isn't empty after reseating at least 7 CPUs.