Heat problem

[Kev]

My PC is in a tiny room (about 5m²) which gets very hot in summer. In
winter, warm air drifts in from the central heating boiler nearby.
Consequently, with a lack of cool airflow, the computer often overheats.
The motherboard (Epox 8KHA+) has an automatic shutdown facility, which kicks
in if a maximum CPU temperature is reached. I need to set the max temp to
65 degrees to get a reasonable working time on the computer. If I take the
side panel off the case, it usually runs ok, but I would prefer not to leave
the innards exposed and vulnerable to damage by my cats. I don't believe
that the problem is with the PC itself, as I have tried it in a different
room with better ventilation and used it for long periods with no sign of
overheating.

Case: Antec SX635 with 4 fans (2 front, 2 rear)
CPU: Athlon XP1800
Also fitted: 3 HDDs, DVD reader, CD writer, Zip-drive.

When I next upgrade, which may be next year, would an Intel rather than an
AMD processor run cooler? Should I get a bigger case? Any suggestions?

Kev

 

[JAD]

what is the ambient room temperature? try for now and cover the open side of
the case with a piece of window screening.

 

[Kev]

what is the ambient room temperature?

I don't know, but I don't think it's particularly high. I think the problem
is due to the fact that the air being sucked in is not cool enough and the
warmer air being blown out does not have enough space to disperse.

try for now and cover the open side of
the case with a piece of window screening.

The side panel is sort-of hinged, so I tend to keep it partially open all
the time.

Kev

 

[Chris Hill]

I don't know, but I don't think it's particularly high. I think the problem
is due to the fact that the air being sucked in is not cool enough and the
warmer air being blown out does not have enough space to disperse.

Shouldn't be a problem. I'd start by checking the mb temp with the
case closed. You can have all the fans in the world, but if they are
fighting each other or don't have big enough openings to let the air
move they'll just make the case hotter. Remember, fan motors generate
heat too.

 

[jaster]

I don't know, but I don't think it's particularly high. I think the
problem is due to the fact that the air being sucked in is not cool enough
and the warmer air being blown out does not have enough space to disperse.

The room temperature adds 2-5C to the cpu temp. I think part of your
problem is that 55C-70C is normal for an XP1800. The higher the room
temp the higher the cpu temp.

For specs try
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_9417,00.html

The side panel is sort-of hinged, so I tend to keep it partially open all
the time.

The SX635 is a good case, cool air should flow in from the bottom fans,
flow up and exhaust out the upper fans and psu fans. Sometimes the
airflow has a negative affect on the cpu fan. IMO, if your PC is 1/2"
off the floor and exhausts 12" or more from a wall you're good.

If you're looking to upgrade the newer AMDs are really quieter and cooler.
Sempron 3000/3100 are good buys ($90 with m/b at Frys/Outpost.com) if
you're looking for budget upgrades.

 

[Michael Hawes]

I don't know, but I don't think it's particularly high. I think the problem
is due to the fact that the air being sucked in is not cool enough and the
warmer air being blown out does not have enough space to disperse.


The side panel is sort-of hinged, so I tend to keep it partially open all
the time.

Kev

It may not BE overheating! XP1800 is Ok to run at 80C. If BIOS will not
let you set high enough shutdown temp, either update your BIOS or disable
the option. If you put a thermometer on the wall I suspect you will be
surprised at the room temp.
Latest Prescot P4s run a lot hotter than Athlon64.
Mike.

 

[Mxsmanic]

I don't know, but I don't think it's particularly high. I think the problem
is due to the fact that the air being sucked in is not cool enough and the
warmer air being blown out does not have enough space to disperse.

Nothing inside the computer can be kept cooler than the ambient air
temperature, and typically components will be well above the ambient
temperature.

Right now, the air exhausting from one of my computers is at 37.2° C,
with a room temperature of 24.8° C; the exhaust air is almost always
13° warmer than the ambient temperature. The processor is at 44° C
(mostly idle), the disk drives are at 31° C, and the temperature
inside the case varies from 27.7° C to 32° C. The video card (also
largely idle) is at 52° C with an ambient temperature of 45° C in the
vicinity of the card. There's one 12-cm fan taking air out of the
case, one 12-cm fan blowing air into the case, and the power supply
exhausting air as well. The temperature differentials tend to stay
the same irrespective of the actual temps (that is, an idle processor
is always about 20° above room temperature).

 

[fj]

Shouldn't be a problem. I'd start by checking the mb temp with the
case closed. You can have all the fans in the world, but if they are
fighting each other or don't have big enough openings to let the air
move they'll just make the case hotter. Remember, fan motors generate
heat too.

For example, my CPU temp went up 1C after adding a front intake fan.
Case is an Antec SLK2700BQE. Started with the 1 120mm exhaust in the back
[and, of course, the PS fan].
CPU temp at idle was 40 - 41 celsius. Added 1 120mm front intake, idle temp
went to 41-42 celsius.
Antec tech support and I surmized that the intake fan actually isn't adding
any net air flow. It's cfm capacity is the same as the exhaust fan already
in the case. Either the heat from the intake fan caused the temp increase
or the intake fan was disrupting the air flow inside the case.

 

[Chris Hill]

Shouldn't be a problem. I'd start by checking the mb temp with the
case closed. You can have all the fans in the world, but if they are
fighting each other or don't have big enough openings to let the air
move they'll just make the case hotter. Remember, fan motors generate
heat too.

For example, my CPU temp went up 1C after adding a front intake fan.
Case is an Antec SLK2700BQE. Started with the 1 120mm exhaust in the back
[and, of course, the PS fan].
CPU temp at idle was 40 - 41 celsius. Added 1 120mm front intake, idle temp
went to 41-42 celsius.
Antec tech support and I surmized that the intake fan actually isn't adding
any net air flow. It's cfm capacity is the same as the exhaust fan already
in the case. Either the heat from the intake fan caused the temp increase
or the intake fan was disrupting the air flow inside the case.

Makes sense. Throwing more fans at the problem sounds good, but you
have to check temps before you assume everything is improved; all the
fan may be doing is making more noise.

 

[johns]

Move your PC to a better room. Reminds me of the people
I support ... forcing their dimwitted ideas on a piece of
hardware that is built to a reasonable standard, but they
can't adapt. Nonsense! I have one lady who learned DOS
about 12 years ago, and it presented her with a login
right at bootup. She even learned to "type ahead" so the
login would go past the login screen. NOW, she keeps
right on doing her "type ahead", which locks up the
computer at the ram test screen, and no amount of
telling her to stop it, works. Just amazing.

johns

 

[Kev]

IMO, if your PC is 1/2"

off the floor and exhausts 12" or more from a wall you're good.

Unfortunately it's more like 30" off the floor and 3" from the wall.

Kev

 

[Kev]

The room temperature adds 2-5C to the cpu temp. I think part of your

problem is that 55C-70C is normal for an XP1800. The higher the room
temp the higher the cpu temp.

If 70°C is acceptable, then all I need to do is set the shutdown temp
higher. But would this be safe?

Kev

 

[Kev]

I don't know, but I don't think it's particularly high. I think the

problem
is due to the fact that the air being sucked in is not cool enough and the
warmer air being blown out does not have enough space to disperse.

Shouldn't be a problem. I'd start by checking the mb temp with the
case closed. You can have all the fans in the world, but if they are
fighting each other or don't have big enough openings to let the air
move they'll just make the case hotter. Remember, fan motors generate
heat too.

For example, my CPU temp went up 1C after adding a front intake fan.
Case is an Antec SLK2700BQE. Started with the 1 120mm exhaust in the back
[and, of course, the PS fan].
CPU temp at idle was 40 - 41 celsius. Added 1 120mm front intake, idle temp
went to 41-42 celsius.
Antec tech support and I surmized that the intake fan actually isn't adding
any net air flow. It's cfm capacity is the same as the exhaust fan already
in the case. Either the heat from the intake fan caused the temp increase
or the intake fan was disrupting the air flow inside the case.

Makes sense. Throwing more fans at the problem sounds good, but you
have to check temps before you assume everything is improved; all the
fan may be doing is making more noise.

Or perhaps I should consider replacing the CPU cooler with a better one. At
least it would take more heat away from the processor. At present I've only
got the one that was supplied with the XP1800.

Kev

 

[jaster]

If 70°C is acceptable, then all I need to do is set the shutdown temp
higher. But would this be safe?

Kev

If the bios shows 70C then it's good to go. Bump the bios setting to
75C-80C if you're gaming. IIRC, a Tomshardware article listed cpu temps
around 70C using the stock AMD fan with 40db noise.

A CoolerMaster Xdream III (20 USD) is working very well for my XP2000+