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Why is my CPU so hot?

Anchundan

Anchundan

Anchundan

Associate
Joined
26 Feb 2004
Posts
970
Location
China (Qinhuangdao)
I recently made a visit to UK, and picked up an AMD64 X2 4200 (socket 939). I used to have the 3500 Newcastle.

My idle temperatures at stock are 51°C (core 0) and 47°C (core 1) using Core Temp.
After 2 hours of Prime95, my temperatures reach 66°C. I'm sure the S939 X2 4200 are supposed to run lower than this.

I'm not quite sure why it's so hot. I used Arctic Silver 5, from a tube I bought in 2005 (and it's been lying on it's side as didn't know you were supposed to store it upright). I'm also using a Zalman CNPS7000B-Cu CPU cooler, with the fan on maximum. Also, when I cleaned the old AS5 off the heatsink, I couldn't find any solvent, so had to use Chinese vodka (62% alcohol) - just can't seem to find any kind of solvent out here.

Do you think the zalman cooler is the problem? Their website does seem to indicate it's good enough for the Athlon 64 X2 though.

What temps should I be getting?
 
Your processor should run cooler than that. I would reseat the heatsink after cleaning the surface and applying a new layer of AS5. Make sure you apply a very small amount of AS5. There is a guide in their website of how much to use and make sure the heatsink is seated prolly.
 
You need to remove and reclean the heatsink and cpu. You have either gotten impurities on there from oils in your skin or crap in the vodka. Also check you haven't put too much AS5 on...
 
Chinese vodka!

I've only ever cleaned 4 CPU's of thermal paste so i'm no Vet but each time a dry bit of toilet roll has done the job for me.

Chinese Vodka man, its sounds wrong, it shouldn't even exist never mind splashed on a processor!
 
Thanks for the tips!

I'm on my way back to UK for Christmas, so I'll try to pick up something a little better to clean it with (provided they'll let me back on the plane with it)!

The Chinese vodka's called Baijiu, and is really bad stuff - tastes and smells awful! It was actually a guy in a PC shop out here who told me to use it, I'd searched for hours for something better, but couldn't find anything.
 
My friend brought some Chinese vodka from his trip to Beijing. We used to sip some before going out, it tastes like cleaning stuff lol :P
 
Toilet paper leaves loads of paper bits, kitchen paper is better. Or, as I read on the AS5 website and couldn't believe it until a member on here confirmed it, paper coffee filters!
You still need solvent though.
 
Or maybe Milla Jovovich touched your CPU... that means the only way to get rid of the excess temperatures is to perform a ritual on Hoth while dancing above an AT-AT that is advancing towards a rebel base.
 
Best thing I have foud for cleaning away old Thermal Interface Compound is Sterets (or like) pre injection swabs. the material is way better than any paper Cleaning agent too.

Now the only things that could make that cpu pump out that much heat are the following:

Improper placement of Heatsink. could be at an angle not making full contact with the intergrated heatsink ontop of the cpu (or ISH)

Cpu fan not spinning. Maybe your cpu fan isnt spinning or is spinning very slowly.

The CPU is a bad CPU. Just unlucky AMD or supplyer may replace it but the temps are actually just within spec I think, so I'm not 100% they would.

you could have your cpu vcore set to 1.5 from when you had your 3500+ manchester installed. ) I think thats the 130nm core, yes?) that would indeed send your te,ps up quite a bit as the stock for an X2 is 1.30/1.35 (set it to auto in bios)

The only other thing I could imagen happening is that some times the heatsink and fan manufacturer will place a thin strip of plastic over the base of the cpu and is is not unheard of to hear of people leaving that on. I cant see you doing that though.

P.S. no amout of hand grease or aplying to much or even no thermal compound would account for your idle temps being quite so high. And the chinese Vodca Is most probably a perfectly fine agent to clean with, having that alcahol content.

P.P.S your running temps should be around 35c ish at idle. 50c ish load.

P.P.P.S you mentioned visiting the U.K but not where from. If you did that from a country like ooohhhh i dunno Africa where the sun ****** from the sky I think that could be a deciding factor too.... lol

Hope thats of some help

TMS
 
If you need anything other than toilet paper to remove old paste then you really have bought some real utter crap that's dried out far too quickly.

Would love someone to prove otherwise.
 
dokko said:
Chinese Vodka man, its sounds wrong, it shouldn't even exist never mind splashed on a processor!
Click to expand...

AlfCheesey said:
I'll try to pick up something a little better to clean it with.
Click to expand...


Hornchurch said:
Toilet roll is epic for removing old compound :) Atleast it did wonders for me.
Click to expand...
manveruppd said:
Toilet paper leaves loads of paper bits, kitchen paper is better.
Click to expand...

Haha yes I have bog roll included in my 'essential' PC cleaning kit!

pccleaningkitiw1.jpg


With these four items you will be able to deal with 99% of cleaning tasks that crop up. The Akasa citrus cleaner works really well and I suggest you pick up a bottle as its a few pounds and lasts ages. The spray can of isopropyl alcohol is pure genius, one tin should also last you a year depending how 'busy' you are. The tin costs about £6 although if you buy them in bulk you can get as low as £3. Lastly the 'Lint Free' clothes, cost a few pounds from any big car shop and can be used time and time again, when they get too funky just throw them in the washing machine with your white socks . . . shamoan! :D

Instructions:

  1. Attack the filth with Bogroll + Isopropyl, if it all comes off go to step 3, if the goo doesn't come off go to step 2. If you have just returned from step 2 then follow instructions for step 1 then leave for step 3

  2. Attack the stubborn funk with Bog Roll + Citrus Cleaner, if it all comes off go back to step one

  3. Give the now clean surface a wipe with lint free cloth + isopropyl then go to step 4

  4. You are finished :D
 
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was replacing stock paste on my e6600 but realised i had no proper cleaning fluid so i grabbed a bottle of cd cleaning stuff, contained isopropyl alcohol and done the job very well
 
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