Weird temp reading, AMD 3200+ and nForce2

[news]

My old AMD 1600+ and mobo tended never to get above 40C.
But this "new" chip and board have been hot ever since I got it.

AMD Athalon 3200+ and Epox EP-8RDA3 (nForce 2 Ultra 400)

Just sitting on for a while, the BIOS temp readings at rest will often
be 48C/46C. In the 50's while in a game. And I think games like Worl of
Warcraft keep crashing on me because of the temps.
I have a copper Thermaltake 9 (?) on the CPU with proper silicone
paste, in intake fan in front and an outgoing in back (all working) in
addition to the power supply. Which, I don't really feel any air coming
out of. (It was a $50 Sparkman (?) supply, not a cheap one..but even
so...sould that be part of the problem?)

But here's another concern: Using SpeedFan, while the BIOS shows 2 temp
readings, SpeedFan shows 4. Temp2 and 3 matches my BIOS readings, but
temp 1 shows 67C. Actually, 69C after being OFF for hours, and then as
the machine heats up, that temp creeps down to around 62C. Does that
makes sense to anyone? Any idea what temp it's looking at? The only
info about that sensor, is the same as temp 2 and 3:
Winbond W83627HF ISA $290
The only one that's different is the SECOND "temp 1", which stays
around 20C:
ACPI ISA $0

Anyway, if anyone has anysuggestions regarding what that hot temp 1 is,
or what I can do to better cool my system (I don't think adding MORE
fans would help, would it?) I'd appreciate it!
Liam

 

[Wes Newell]

My old AMD 1600+ and mobo tended never to get above 40C.
But this "new" chip and board have been hot ever since I got it.

AMD Athalon 3200+ and Epox EP-8RDA3 (nForce 2 Ultra 400)

Just sitting on for a while, the BIOS temp readings at rest will often
be 48C/46C. In the 50's while in a game. And I think games like Worl of
Warcraft keep crashing on me because of the temps.
I have a copper Thermaltake 9 (?) on the CPU with proper silicone
paste, in intake fan in front and an outgoing in back (all working) in
addition to the power supply. Which, I don't really feel any air coming
out of. (It was a $50 Sparkman (?) supply, not a cheap one..but even
so...sould that be part of the problem?)

How do you have the TT Volcano 9 wired? IOW's what's the fan speed?

http://www.dansdata.com/coolercomp_p7.htm#ttv9

 

[news]

How do you have the TT Volcano 9 wired? IOW's what's the fan speed?

http://www.dansdata.com/coolercomp_p7.htm#ttv9

Ah, I have a Thermaltake 7, not 9. Mine is the three-position switch.
Up until last night I had it on medium as long as I had it. I tried
last night at max, which is what, about 4800rpm? And it's freakin'
loud! It actually started to caused my ears to ring after a while. I'll
be going back to medium.

Liam

 

[Felger Carbon]

Do I correctly understand that you have two AMD XPs? Both with bare
die?

In that case, what you are seeing is most likely an artifact of the
much smaller die your new CPU has. The Palomino die of your XP 1600+
has an area of 129 sq mm. Your XP 3200+ not only has a faster clock,
but a much smaller die - around 81 to 86 sq mm (depending on the exact
die). If the same HSF is used to dissipate the same power on CPUs
with these differing areas, the CPU with the smaller area will run
hotter.

In the old days, if you wanted more cooling, you bought the same
passive part of the heatsink, but with a faster-rotating (and thus
much noisier) fan. There's a new generation of good, quiet HSFs out
there now. Lots of companies make them. Non of them are called
"Volcano"! ;-)

Mine happens to be a Cooler-Master Vortex Dream 7. _Very_ quiet,
acceptably cool. But I wouldn't get a new HSF just because of game
temps in the 50s, which isn't at all excessive. It's just more than
you're used to with your old CPU. Now, buying a new HSF to get a
lower noise level I can see. ;-)

I believe thermally controlled fans are becoming commonplace in PSUs.
As long as the PSU is cool, the fan will be very quiet and not move
much air. This is an indication that all is well.

If you're developing a desire for quietness, do you have 92mm case
fans? Check out the Thermaltake A2013 as replacement(s). Very very
quiet. ;-)

 

[Vince Morgan]

My old AMD 1600+ and mobo tended never to get above 40C.
But this "new" chip and board have been hot ever since I got it.

AMD Athalon 3200+ and Epox EP-8RDA3 (nForce 2 Ultra 400)

Just sitting on for a while, the BIOS temp readings at rest will often
be 48C/46C. In the 50's while in a game. And I think games like Worl of
Warcraft keep crashing on me because of the temps.
I have a copper Thermaltake 9 (?) on the CPU with proper silicone
paste, in intake fan in front and an outgoing in back (all working) in
addition to the power supply. Which, I don't really feel any air coming
out of.

IMHO it would be very foolish not to acertain, for a certainty, whether the
PSU fan is actualy spinning.
A slow baked PSU may cause a number of horrible conditions that may be
somehwat difficult to isolate.
Not that I believe this has anything whatsoever to do with your other
observations.

Vince Morgan

 

[news]

IMHO it would be very foolish not to acertain, for a certainty, whether the
PSU fan is actualy spinning.
A slow baked PSU may cause a number of horrible conditions that may be
somehwat difficult to isolate.
Not that I believe this has anything whatsoever to do with your other
observations.

Vince Morgan

How prophetic.
I turned the PC on yesterday and very shortly the PC temp started to
overtake the CPU temp. Not a good sign, I started to move the case out
to open the side and take a look at the fans, and the case was hot to
the touch!
Shutting down and pulling the plugs immediately, opened it up, and the
PSU was too hot to even touch at all. The fan in it was completely
siezed up.

I clean out my PC every 4 to 6 months. It wasn't terribly dirty inside,
a little film on the blades...but I guess it was enough to combine with
whatever problems the PSU fan was happening.

So, the temp never got above 58C, even at the very end there. But over
the last few weeks, the CPU and case have been maintaining around the
low to mid 50's.
Think there may have been any damage from such long term high temps?

I'm out today to buy a new PSU. I doubt I'll be able to see any
responses on here before I go out, but hows these stats to run a nForce
400 mobo, AMD (Barton) 3200+, ATI 9600 XT, and two HD's:

Coolmax CX-350B (350 watt)
3.3v = 28a
5v = 35a

 

[Vince Morgan]

How prophetic.
I turned the PC on yesterday and very shortly the PC temp started to
overtake the CPU temp. Not a good sign, I started to move the case out
to open the side and take a look at the fans, and the case was hot to
the touch!
Shutting down and pulling the plugs immediately, opened it up, and the
PSU was too hot to even touch at all. The fan in it was completely
siezed up.

I clean out my PC every 4 to 6 months. It wasn't terribly dirty inside,
a little film on the blades...but I guess it was enough to combine with
whatever problems the PSU fan was happening.

So, the temp never got above 58C, even at the very end there. But over
the last few weeks, the CPU and case have been maintaining around the
low to mid 50's.
Think there may have been any damage from such long term high temps?

I'm out today to buy a new PSU. I doubt I'll be able to see any
responses on here before I go out, but hows these stats to run a nForce
400 mobo, AMD (Barton) 3200+, ATI 9600 XT, and two HD's:

Coolmax CX-350B (350 watt)
3.3v = 28a
5v = 35a
----------
200 W

12v = 15a
----------
180 W

Thanks for any feedback!
Liam

Hi Liam,
IMO you may not be in need of a new PSU. It is likely that it's overall
life may have been a little diminished as the electrolitic capacitors may
have dried a little from the overheating. Personaly, I would only replace
the PSU fan, if the capacitors didn't show an obvious bulge at the top, or
any signs of leakage. The reason I say this is that PSU's tend to be
probably one of the least reliable components of a PC, and I tend to stick
with what isn't realy brocken, especialy PSU's.
However, that is only a personal observation and I'm sure others would have
a different opinion on this. I tend to remove and refurbish fans rather
than replace them when it's practical myself. Usualy if you take out the
center rubber plug, remove the circlip, clean the shaft and bush thoroughly,
and apply a little machine oil they will perform as good as new for a long
time. Don't forget to refit the plug though : )
However, if you aren't comfortable with this I think the Coolmax should
certainly be adequate.

HTH
Vince Morgan

 

[Vince Morgan]

How prophetic.
I turned the PC on yesterday and very shortly the PC temp started to
overtake the CPU temp. Not a good sign, I started to move the case out
to open the side and take a look at the fans, and the case was hot to
the touch!
Shutting down and pulling the plugs immediately, opened it up, and the
PSU was too hot to even touch at all. The fan in it was completely
siezed up.

I clean out my PC every 4 to 6 months. It wasn't terribly dirty inside,
a little film on the blades...but I guess it was enough to combine with
whatever problems the PSU fan was happening.

So, the temp never got above 58C, even at the very end there. But over
the last few weeks, the CPU and case have been maintaining around the
low to mid 50's.
Think there may have been any damage from such long term high temps?

I'm out today to buy a new PSU. I doubt I'll be able to see any
responses on here before I go out, but hows these stats to run a nForce
400 mobo, AMD (Barton) 3200+, ATI 9600 XT, and two HD's:

Coolmax CX-350B (350 watt)
3.3v = 28a
5v = 35a
----------
200 W

12v = 15a
----------
180 W

Thanks for any feedback!
Liam

As for the CPU, anything under 70C is very unlikely to have caused any
damage whatsoever. I think Bartons can run up to around 85C before there is
much chance of damage.

Regards,
Vince Morgan