AMD Athlon-XP is hot :-)

[Vladislav Muravin]

Hello Everyone,

First post.

I have been using Athlon XP 2500 Barton for two years.
Everything was good, but recently, after a few hot days with 30+ (I'm in
Canada) the computer started rebooting.

What I can see from my BIOS, is that the fan is running at ~3750 rpm.
Also, it takes the processor about 3 minutes to reach 85 degrees celsius...
this is bad.

So, other than the processor, what else can contribute to this?
Sorry if this question is silly, but I am just not experienced with this.

Any help is highly appreciated.

Thank you
Vladislav

 

[Wes Newell]

I have been using Athlon XP 2500 Barton for two years.
Everything was good, but recently, after a few hot days with 30+ (I'm in
Canada) the computer started rebooting.

What I can see from my BIOS, is that the fan is running at ~3750 rpm.
Also, it takes the processor about 3 minutes to reach 85 degrees celsius...
this is bad.

So, other than the processor, what else can contribute to this?
Sorry if this question is silly, but I am just not experienced with this.

Which cooler do you have? What's the case/MB temp? Case fans? Have you
removed and reinstalled the cpu cooler with new thermal compound? And now
to answer your question. CPU cooler not properly installed including
thermal pad/paste. Fins of cooler clogged up. Piss poor cooler to begin
with (The AMD stock cooler falls into this catagory). Inadequate case
cooling (but probably wouldn't cause the above excessive heat problem).
CPU overvoltage (default 1.65v). Temps not being read correctly by bios
have you changed bios lately).

 

[Vladislav Muravin]

Hi Wes,

No case fan :-(
No case cooling :-( in terms of fan or other
No, I did not reinstall anything. It's been 2 years since I bought CPU in
retail box WITH the cooler, installed then and everything worked so far...
No, I did not modify BIOS.

I will take a look at what cooler I have.
I will try opening CPU & fan cover later this evening.

Thanks!

V

 

[Flint]

Hello Everyone,

First post.

I have been using Athlon XP 2500 Barton for two years.
Everything was good, but recently, after a few hot days with 30+ (I'm in
Canada) the computer started rebooting.

What I can see from my BIOS, is that the fan is running at ~3750 rpm.
Also, it takes the processor about 3 minutes to reach 85 degrees celsius...
this is bad.

So, other than the processor, what else can contribute to this?
Sorry if this question is silly, but I am just not experienced with this.

1> Is the CPU cooler fan/heatsink clogged with dust/dirt?

2> What thermal compound was used on it? Phase change?

3> Have you changed anything recently with regard to cable layout in the
case that might be restricting airflow?

4> Are the case fan(s) working? Are *they* clean/dirt free?

5> Have you done a d&c on the internals of the case? (A 'dust and clean')?


-Rick

 

[Wes Newell]

No case fan :-(
No case cooling :-( in terms of fan or other
No, I did not reinstall anything. It's been 2 years since I bought CPU in
retail box WITH the cooler, installed then and everything worked so far...
No, I did not modify BIOS.

I will take a look at what cooler I have.
I will try opening CPU & fan cover later this evening.

Please don't top post.

My guess is that the cooler needs to removed, cleaned, and reinstalled
with new thermal paste. Case fans are cheap. One wouldn't hurt. Also
wouldn't hurt to replace the AMD cooler with a cheap good one. TR2-M1 or
-M3 would be my choice. They're under $10, will cool a lot better than the
stock cooler and will be a lot quieter.

 

[HBurton]

Hello Everyone,

First post.

I have been using Athlon XP 2500 Barton for two years.
Everything was good, but recently, after a few hot days with 30+ (I'm in
Canada) the computer started rebooting.

What I can see from my BIOS, is that the fan is running at ~3750 rpm.
Also, it takes the processor about 3 minutes to reach 85 degrees celsius...
this is bad.

So, other than the processor, what else can contribute to this?
Sorry if this question is silly, but I am just not experienced with this.

Any help is highly appreciated.

Thank you
Vladislav

 

[Le Rosbif]

Which cooler do you have? What's the case/MB temp? Case fans? Have you
removed and reinstalled the cpu cooler with new thermal compound? And now
to answer your question. CPU cooler not properly installed including
thermal pad/paste. Fins of cooler clogged up. Piss poor cooler to begin
with (The AMD stock cooler falls into this catagory). Inadequate case
cooling (but probably wouldn't cause the above excessive heat problem).
CPU overvoltage (default 1.65v). Temps not being read correctly by bios
have you changed bios lately).

Minor thought - have you physicaly checked the fan is spinning on the
cpu (in case of the bios reading the case fan)

 

[Jason Backshall]

Hello Everyone,

First post.

I have been using Athlon XP 2500 Barton for two years.
Everything was good, but recently, after a few hot days with 30+ (I'm in
Canada) the computer started rebooting.

What I can see from my BIOS, is that the fan is running at ~3750 rpm.
Also, it takes the processor about 3 minutes to reach 85 degrees celsius...
this is bad.

So, other than the processor, what else can contribute to this?
Sorry if this question is silly, but I am just not experienced with this.

Any help is highly appreciated.

That's a little warm.

By chance, is your heatsink on the right way?

When you remove the heatsink, there's a ledge probably around 8mm wide along
one side of the CPU socket - some heatsinks have a groove to match this. The
only time I've ever seen temps that high on an XP unit, is when the heatsink
is on back to front

J.

 

[Dave]

That's a little warm.

By chance, is your heatsink on the right way?

When you remove the heatsink, there's a ledge probably around 8mm wide
along
one side of the CPU socket - some heatsinks have a groove to match this.
The
only time I've ever seen temps that high on an XP unit, is when the
heatsink
is on back to front

Or the obvious, the heatsink is clogged with dust/lint. You have to clean
it 3-6 months if it used about 8-16 hrs/day. More often it the PC sits on
carpet.

Dave

 

[Doug Lynn]

Hi, get a new AthlonXP heatsink rated to 3200+, Antec CPU Cooler is a good
one, use the thermal pad(required on Athlon XP) that comes with new
heatsink. Don't remove it again unless necessary. Thermal paste is not
recommended for small die processors, and you should have a copper based
heatsink for best cooling. Arctic silver only can be used in very thin layer
so it does not run down on the ceramic circuitry but a thermal pad is highly
recommended. Also check your case temp in the bios should not be over 5C
over room temperature. If so, you need case fans, blowing in from the front
and side and exhausting out the back. You can have equal fans blowing in or
out or more blowing out. Never more blowing in. Power supply and rear
exhaust, and front intake fan are adequate for most computers.

Doug
www.lynncomp.com