I just built an AMD xp computer and the cpu is running pretty hot. The asus pc probe is saying the temp is 160 F. I bought the biggest heatsink I could find that was rated for a faster cpu than what I have. I applied some thermal grease that came with the heatsink. I was thinking about buying some artic silver but I wonder if it will make that big of a difference. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Yes, remove the heatsink and use some rubbing alcohol and remove the thermal compound that came with your heatsink. That stuff is about as useful as a nun in a ***** house. Apply some artic silver thermal compound and invest in a couple of case fans.

Ok I guess you can't say *****, what about *****? Guess I can't say that either. Just use your imagination.

GOT IT!! HARLETHOUSE. There you go.

Stryker_PornStar, wtf are you smoking?

Anyway...patm95, how much of the thermal compound did you apply? You should only apply a thin layer...

Nothing bud.............I'm just high on life:saywhat:

the thing about thermal paste, if applied correctly (very thin layer), this will provide a temp drop of 2 - 10 degrees, and even then this is only after about 24 hours of use. Thermal paste is not going to drop temps from 71 c to a reasonable level.

1. How long was the pc powered up before reaching the temp of 160f, and is that an idle temp reading?

2. what cpu is it?

3. are you able to read the mainboard temp? (system temp)

4. do you have case cooling?

5. is the heatsink secured correctly, is it generic or branded?

I did apply a pretty thin layer. I only applied it where it was over the cpu itself not over the whole heatsink. Should I have applied it over the whole heatsink?

1) Right now it is at about 150 F, It would not take it long to get to 160 if I was doing something that would be doing something to make it work harder

2) It is an AMD 2200 XP

3)right now the mainboard temp is 80 F

I did apply a pretty thin layer. I only applied it where it was over the cpu itself not over the whole heatsink. Should I have applied it over the whole heatsink?

1) Right now it is at about 150 F, It would not take it long to get to 160 if I was doing something that would be doing something to make it work harder

2) It is an AMD 2200 XP

3)right now the mainboard temp is 80 F

4) I have 2 case fans running

5) It is a coolermaster. IT was rated higher than 2200 so I thought I would be ok. I can not see how I could not have it secured correctly. I lined it up over the cpu and used the band to hook it on one part of the mainboard and then clipped it to the other side

sorry for the double post.

ok. you should apply thermal paste directly to the cpu core, not the heatsink.

your ambient temp is really quite normal, so it can only be cpu related.

either the cpu is configured wrong, or you have a bad contact to the heatsink/thermal paste issue, the fan on the heatsink, is it adjustable? maybe set too low?

Originally posted by littlejack
ok. you should apply thermal paste directly to the cpu core, not the heatsink.


Thermal paste works by filling in the uneven contact surfaces of heatsinks and the components they cool. Heatsinks and CPU's have small (sometimes microscopic) grooves in their contact surfaces. These uneven surfaces create air gaps that reduce the contact area between the heatsink and CPU. It may not seem like a big deal, but all those empty spaces add up and decrease the heatsinks performance. The purpose of thermal paste is to fill those AIR gaps with a more thermally conductive substance. The thermal paste fills the air gaps and provides a flat surface between the heatsink and CPU. So you not only want to apply a thin layer of thermal paste the CPU core, but you also want to apply a thin layer to the center of the heatsink in order to fill in the micro valleys and create as smooth of a contact area between the CPU core and heatsink as possible.

well I just ordered some artic silver and I will apply it to the cpu core this time. Last time I just applied it to the heatsink. I hope that it makes a good difference.

Try applying a thin layer to both the cpu core and the area of contact on the heatsink for best results.

But if he dose that he will end up with a thick layer !
You don't want a thick layer of compound , as the compound IS NOT a heat sink .
You should find that with a new tube of compound , you will get a template included .
This template is 'slightly' adhesive .
You stick it onto the heatsink and spread a thin layer of compound onto the exposed section of the heatsink with a plastic spreader that should be included .
Also , if you are running two case fans , the most effective method is to have one at the bottom of the front of the case sucking air IN ,and the other on the rear of the case (below the psu) blowing air OUT .
Use a josstick or a smouldering piece of newspaper to confirm the direction of air flow .

If , when you buy compound , compound is all you get , then you have saved a few pennies .
You should have opted for a propper kit that includes all the bits and pieces , which will save you a LOT of grief .

Just read this (http://www.mysuperpc.com/pc_assembly/computer_install_cpu_cooler.shtml) , you may learn something. That is what I mean by a thin layer.

That's Your opinion . But the thinner the layer = the better .
Don't believe ALL you read .
Otherwise we would all believe in God.

I think Stryker is just trying to point out what the purpose of the thermal compound is, which as he stated, is to fill in the gaps and valleys in the metal and to create as flat of a contact surface as possible. As far as I'm concerned I'm going to have to say Stryker is correct. Thinner is not necessarily better. You have to have a thick enough layer in order for it to do what it is supposed to do.

By thin, i wasn't refering to opaque! of coarse good coverage is required,
with the machineing carried out today, only a thin layer is required to fill in the pits and valleys. When it's all said and done, i don't think that this alone will drop the temps some 20 degrees down to a reasonable temperature. There must be something else contributing to his temps. I mean 160 f, is equal to around 71 c.
he states he has an idel temp of 150 f, thats 65 c.

i had a similar problem before - cpu running about 80 at times - applied thermal compound added case fans and changed heatsink and fan to a temp controlled fan - now, according to my i-panel i am running at 36º

Sorry if I bit ya head off . It's been one hell of a week ............