Computer Overheating Problem

[KoRo]

I brought this same thing up about a year ago, and it only happens during the summer when it gets kinda hot. But even so, its still fairly cool in here, only 80's ish inside.

My process always overheats, despite my setup with the side panels off and a window fan set to intake (It sucks air away from the computer and towards the outside) I've even taken off the heat sink and replaced the cooling gel stuff with a supposidly better substance, but that still hasnt done the trick. I dont know what to do. Could it be that the heatsink/fan are defective?

[DeadBreed]

cooling gel stuff.... now assuming this is a liquid cooling system, it could be that the gel is warm/hot.  now thinking that its gel that you put on your computer... i think thats just a bad idea...  then again, i know nothing about computers.  just a few things you could keep in mind.

[Darwin]

Did you really think he'd have a water-cooled rig deadbreed?

Listen man, if you are still having cooling problems and you have replaced the thermal paste with something of better quality (such as Arctic Silver), I seriously suggest you find yourself a better heatsink.

Last time I remember, you had an athlon xp or something like that, right?  So this is a Socket A cooler.  And, if I remember, there is a Fry's electronics in your area, in which you bought your computer components.  So, here is my heatsink suggestion:

Thermaltake SilentBoost for Socket A (100% copper heatsink)



Fry's website has it for $27:  http://shop1.outpost.com/product/377749 ... IN_RSLT_PG


Here is a review of the product.  
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardw ... ent_boost/

And heres the benchmarks when compared to a few other coolers: javascript:popup('http://www.bytesector.com/data/pageview.asp?key=77', 175,555)


OH, AND HEY MAN!  IF YOU ARE APPLYING THE THERMAL COMPOUND WRONG, THAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM TOO!  REMEMBER!  THE COMPOUND THAT IS SPREAD ACROSS THE CORE SHOULD BE NO THICKER THAN A SHEET OF PAPER!

[KoRo]

Holy crap darwin are you a stalker?
Yea i have an Athlon XP, and theres a Fry's about 45min away. I just didnt use the Arctic Silver, even tho i saw it. But it was 15 freakin bucks and the stuff i bought was about 3 or 4 and cuz im frugal in all things, well.....
Maybe i should get a new heatsink rig, but it only overheats in the day, never ever at night.

[Darwin]

Believe me, KoRo, Arctic Silver 5 is definately the worthwhile investment.

Your Athlon XP should look like this when you put any thermal paste on it:



My P4 (northwood core) when combined with Arctic Silver 5 and the stock P4 heatsink gets most any ambient tempertature when idle, and right now it is about 38*C (with 77*F ambient temp).

[Darwin]

A really great cooler that isnt too expensive are the flower-design coolers from Zalman, such as this:


CNPS7000B-Cu

[KoRo]

>.0 wow thats some funky shtuff. Well I just got some grad money, maybe ill spend it on comp stuff...or i'll juts turn on the a/c like i did now and keep the upstairs cool. Aaaah nice breeze