Odd Temperatures With X2 4200

[Peter van der Goes]

I just replaced my A64 3200 Venice (running at 2.5 GHz) with an X2 4200.
The 3200 idled at 32-34C and would go up to 42C at full load.

For reference, case temperature = 27C in a 25C room. Temps apply to all PC's
and CPU's mentioned. Stock HSF on all CPU's.

The X2 4200 idles at 46C at stock speed, and at 48C overclocked to 2.64 GHz.
But, even after running Prime 95 for three hours, The temperature never
exceeded 53C.

The HSF that came with the X2 appears identical to the HSF that came with
the 3200. Plain aluminum block.

Oddly, I have an X2 3800 in another PC that idles at 38C and never exceeds
44C with stock HSF (looks the same as the other two).

The X2 4200 I got is the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 2000MHz HT Socket
939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4200BVBOX - Retail
from Newegg, if that helps.

I guess my questions are:

Why the high idle temp? (I suspect aluminum HSF about maxed out).
Given the top loaded temp, I don't see any danger, but:

Suggestions for a better HSF that won't cost an arm and a leg?

Thanks.

 

[Wes Newell]

Why the high idle temp? (I suspect aluminum HSF about maxed out).
Given the top loaded temp, I don't see any danger, but:

It couldn't be because you are now cooling 2 cores instead of just one now
could it?

Suggestions for a better HSF that won't cost an arm and a leg?

939 or AM2? Not that I keep up with this, but I'd need to know which if I
did. I'd say just use the one you have. Wnat it cooler? Try a larger
quieter fan.

 

[Carl]

re: Suggestions for a better HSF that won't cost an arm and a leg?

I use an Akasa Evo 33. Had it for my single core Athlon, it seems to cope ok
with the X2 4600

http://www.akasa.co.uk/akasa_english/home_page/home_page.htm

 

[Peter van der Goes]

It couldn't be because you are now cooling 2 cores instead of just one now
could it?


939 or AM2? Not that I keep up with this, but I'd need to know which if I
did. I'd say just use the one you have. Wnat it cooler? Try a larger
quieter fan.

All that info and I forgot to say it's Socket 939.
Thanks for your insights.

 

[Wes Newell]

All that info and I forgot to say it's Socket 939.
Thanks for your insights.

I'd just use the stock cooler. It worked fine on my old hammer core even
when I set vcore up to 1.7v. So unless you plan on maxing out vore and
really pushing the thing I wouldn't worry about it much. Just a larger fan
would help, assuming the one you have was like mine which only had a
70x15mm fan on it. A fan adapter from 70-80 or 90mm and a larger thicker
fan that blows more air with less noise should be more than adequate for
about any typical overclock. The one thing I don't like about the stock
coolers is the single clip instead of a 3 hole clip. The stock cooler
broke the tab on one of my boards and the cooler almost fell completely
off. Replaced the cooler with a TR2-M6 ($6.95) and it worked just as good.
There's lots of cooler reviews here.

http://www.amdboard.com/coolers_roundup.html

 

[Peter van der Goes]

I just replaced my A64 3200 Venice (running at 2.5 GHz) with an X2 4200.
The 3200 idled at 32-34C and would go up to 42C at full load.

For reference, case temperature = 27C in a 25C room. Temps apply to all
PC's and CPU's mentioned. Stock HSF on all CPU's.

The X2 4200 idles at 46C at stock speed, and at 48C overclocked to 2.64
GHz. But, even after running Prime 95 for three hours, The temperature
never exceeded 53C.

<snip>

As a bizarre continuation to this strange story, yesterday, for no apparent
reason, the idle temperature reduced itself (HSF not touched, case never
opened) to 36C. The full load temperature still will go up to 52 - 53C.
I'm sure there's a logical explanation for the new idle temperature, but I'm
mystified (happily so).
The new idle temperature as reported in the BIOS, and by SpeedFan and Asus
Probe.
Meanwhile, I found a vendor selling the "better" AMD HSF (copper bottom
w/heat pipes) at a reasonable price:

http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/std/sku=dual_core_cpu_fan_heatpipe.html

Now that I have it, I don't seem to need it