Do I need to cool?

[(Shovel)]

Do I need to cool?

Simple question really. I did a new system build for the family in time for Christmas, running nicely, but maybe a little warm:

We have:

Abit KD7 KT400 Motherboard
2x 256 MB DDR333 (PC2700) (No heatsinks)

AMD Athlon XP 2100+ (1.73 Ghz).
Thermaltake Volcano 7+ (Biiig Copper Heatsink) set on "Medium"
AOpen HQ45 Case (300W)

Leadteck A250 (GF4 Ti4200) with it's big wrap round heatsink. Fan points downwards.

Lite On DVD & CDRW
Soundblaster Live 5.1 Plat With Live Drive.

System temp is about 50 dC
CPU is also 50 dC
CPU Core is reported as 60dC
(In BIOS)

Is it too hot? I'm nervous that it is. I don't want to turn the fan up any higher if I can because the noise is doing mum's head in already (the old PC was a P133, not as loud fan wise).

Now, the options as I see it:

1) Get a second "silent" fan in the top on the case and pump some air out from next to the CPU

2) Replace IDE and floppy disk ribbon cables with Coolermaster "round" ones. I don't know how much effect this would have though? The other thing to bear in mind is the presence of a big long IDE cable between the LiveDrive and the SB Live. It's tucked as "out of the way" as it can be, but isn't ideal. Maybe it would be worth replacing this with a better one?

And I know this is just what you want to read on Christmas Day. I shall go back to teh food now.

 

[Will]

You need more air coming out of your case I think. On the other hand, if its stable anyway, I wouldn't worry about it.

My system temperature is about 38C, and my CPU gets up to 70C under load, but its stable, so I don't bother about it.

 

[(Shovel)]

OK, well we're suffering one bug which may or may not be heat related.

During 3D games (namely the Sims, and the Madden 2003 Demo) the system randomly restarts.

It's not happened any other time, but I'm suspecting either heat or a faulty stick of RAM or combination of the two (RAM overheating? it is 333DDR afterall... it's probably blocked in by IDE ribbons too).

Is there a way to test RAM other than by taking one stick out of seeing "if it ever happens again" ?

 

[Will]

If its happening during games, your gfx card is probably overheating. Take the side off the case and see if that improves anything. If it stops locking/restarting, then you know its overheating.

 

[kameleon]

and make sure there are no pci cards in the slot next to the agp slot

it blocks air sometimes

 

[(Shovel)]

There are two free slots next to the AGP.

I've also (just now) removed the PCI slot back plates in those two slots to allow some air flow.

I've also upped the fan speed to "High Speed", but frankly the noise is ridiculous.

I'm wondering about RAM temp. While there are no IDE cables over them, the sticks look a little icolated from any air flow... The case will take a fan at the back, and I have a free floppy drive space at the front for possible fan installation.

Oh, and I'm on "a budget" (TM) so cheap solutions ideally. I notice that "QuitePC" silent case fans are only about £10 so I might consider them, replacing one of the IDEs (the one going over the RAM a bit to the DVD & CD-RW) might help.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Will]

You need an exhaust on the case I think. That should increase the airflow out, and reduce those temperatures.

 

[lecter]

I suggest getting an Enermax powersupply as an interim solution to a better case. This will improve airflow out of the case, give a bit more beef to the powersupply and is quiet too. Start saving your pennies for a decent case too like a Lian Li. I got my pc60 for under 90quid.

 

[Gemma the Dog]

for some good cheap quiet fans

you could look at this YS-TECH fan

free uk delivery as well. you will need to buy a fan grill, and maybe some blow hole trim and a fan fixing kit

all for under a tenner.

and no, I don't work for them, just found them recently and was pleased with the quick service

 

[(Shovel)]

OK, well I'll get the case exhaust sorted ASAP.

The crashing seems to have stopped now that the back plates have been removed, so hopefully (touch wood) the problem is sorted.

There is of course the possibility that the games were buggy!

Out of furthur interest, does anyone know of a utility to measure the temperature of the Leadtek A250LE (Geforce 4 Ti4200)?
And with that the temperature that it should be operating at?

 

[FatBusinessman]

Originally posted by (Shovel)
Out of furthur interest, does anyone know of a utility to measure the temperature of the Leadtek A250LE (Geforce 4 Ti4200)?
And with that the temperature that it should be operating at?

 

[S-Gray]

where do you stick that??

btw, that answers one of the questions