[XP] This computer cannot be cooled

P4 3GHZ, Intel Board, 3 case fans. It had a generic HS/F, but even after using a better Arctic Cooling fan, I get the same results.

Both Bios, Everest and Intel Active Monitor have the processor running at the high 50's when idle. Under heavy load, it gets to the 70's. With the side cover off and an industrial fan blowing on it, it gets to the mid 60's. The customer has told me that the computer freezes while watching a movie. The Board by the way, runs hot too at 47 and 53 (zone 1 & 2 respectively) when idle.

I've cleaned the thermal paste off and put a new coat with no difference whatsoever.

Short of trying water cooling, is there anything else that can be done? Or is this computer doomed to stay overheated?

Where are you ruinning this computer, Usil? Out in the middle of the Sinai? What is your room temperature? If the room thermostat is set for "London Broil", then it is not surprising that cool air isn't gettting to the interior of the case to cool things down. What is the configuration of the case fans? Which ones are blowing in and which ones are blowing out? How much thermal paste did you put on the chip/hsf? Too much or too little and you will overheat the cpu. P4's tend to run hot, but you can definitely get them cooler than what you are experiencing.

LOL, it's not the Sinai, but my lab. It's not cold in there, but its not too hot. I have a couple of industrial fans cooling it down.
I did manage to get it to stay at around 60 degrees even under heavy load with an industrial fan blowing on the inside with the cover off. This of course is not a satisfactory solution.
As far as the thermal paste is concerned, I reapplied it twice. The first time, I put a little too much. I compensated for it the second time. But that has not made a difference.

I'm starting to think that the this cannot be resolved without some serious cooling in there, which would be worth more than the computer itself. The thing that boggles me though, is what is causing it to run so hot? Could a faulty motherboard or processor make it overheat?

By the way, nice rig!!!

Try lapping the hsf and /or the IHS.

Is the fan speed limited in the BIOS?

What kind of rpm's does it say in computer health?

Crunchie, what do you mean by lapping?

Train, there is only one fan option in BIOS and thats to turn it on when the temps are low or to keep it running at slow speeds when the temps are low. Neither of them make a difference. It's still running at 60 when idle.
The fan is running at 2200 RPM when idle.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary - lapping
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapping

Quote:

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5 a: to dress, smooth, or polish (as a metal surface) to a high degree of refinement or accuracy b: to shape or fit by working two surfaces together with or without abrasives until a very close fit is produced

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Google search: cpu lapping
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

Thanks, I had a read about lapping. Looks way beyond my pay grade :-D

Not the worth the risk of ruining the processor.

Thanks anyway. Looks like I'll return this one unsolved.

I lapped my former Q6600 and my current 9450....really nothing to it. All you are doing is removing the super thin tin (say that 3 times real fast) chip surface to expose the copper beneath. No need to get an absolute mirror finish as some people have touted and it won't hurt the processor as long as you take reasonable care (don't use an electric sander in other words). It might help to bring down those temps a little if you feel it is worth it.

HOWSOMEVER....I am suspecting that board may be defective. It certainly is old enough to be going downhill (but...I could say the same about myself for that matter). Right about now (taking into account the time zone differences of course) I would be advising your customer that it may be time to replace the system.

If it were my own computer, I'd consider it. But doing work like that, I'd have to charge half of the price of a new computer. It wouldn't be worth it for them.

There has been an interesting development though. I put in a P4 2.6GHz CPU, and it is idling at around 48 and 55 under some serious heat. That tells me the processor might be damaged. Can someone concur?

Check the CPU voltage Uri - it has a massive effect on temp. The power increases with the square of the voltage.

There are two readings, neither of which I am very familiar with.
CPU Core - 1.0318
CPU I/O (1.5 V) - 1.471

What does this tell you Nick?

Well I would have said that "CPU Core" was the one, most BIOSes call it "Vcore". However, no 3GHz P4 has a Vcore in that range, whereas the "CPU I/O" reading is in the right ballpark. I have no idea what is meant by "CPU I/O" though :confused:

Do you know the exact model of Pentium?

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Originally Posted by SuperSparks

Well I would have said that "CPU Core" was the one, most BIOSes call it "Vcore". However, no 3GHz P4 has a Vcore in that range, whereas the "CPU I/O" reading is in the right ballpark. I have no idea what is meant by "CPU I/O" though :confused:

Do you know the exact model of Pentium?

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According to Everest, it's a P4 530 3.0GHz.

BIOS has no info whatsoever. I got the voltages from the Intel Monitor program.

Shouldn't a P4 530 be in a 775 socket??? :confused: