Hey guys.

I've recently got a 120gb hard drive to replace an aging 3.2gb hard disk in my computer.

However, since then my computer seems to be getting very, very warm, to the point that Motherboard Monitor (a very cool program) is reporting that my system is reaching in the region of between 80 (on start up) and 120°c, averaging at about 109°c.

I've got a 1.4ghz Athlon with a fan thats designed to fit a 1.8 (~ 7500rpm), a new Antec silent PSU (dual fans ~1500rpm), and two spare case fans sitting in the case (~2000rpm with one attached to the front mounting panel, while the other is sitting at the back, attached to an exhaust grille).

Before putting in the 120gb, the system used to run fine with the 3.2gb in, without the two extra fans, so I'm trying to work out exactly what is causing the temperature to get this hot.

Unfortuately I don't have a picture of the case to show you, but I'll get a diagram of it up as soon as possible.
Does anyone have any idea's as to what I could do to get the temperature down, because this is really starting to worry me.

Thanks

If your PC was averaging 109C, you wouldn't be worrying because it would already be toast. Looks like you have the wrong sensor selected for MBM. Go to the MBM website, look for a link that says motherboard support, and find yours. Select the proper sensors that way.

109 CELSIUS??? Are you sure it's Celcius and not Farenheit (sp) ?

Yeah, those sound more like farenheit temps.

The worrying thing is, I've checked the MBM website and the sensors are correct.

When I first boot up my machine and go into the BIOS, it even reports in there that the CPU temperature is 51°c, and climbes by 1°c for every 30 seconds the machine is running (booted up 3 minutes ago, and in the BIOS it is reporting that the CPU is running at 57°c/134°f).

I've checked these against what MBM says is the initial temperature of the CPU and they match (both say around the 50°c mark when the PC has booted up)

System temp is currently being reported as 41°c, but is still going up - not as quickly as the CPU temp, but its still going up.
CPU fan speed is reported @ 8437rpm, while the System Fan Speed (connected to the PSU) is reading a stable 1360rpm.

Now, either MBM is lying, I can't read, or there is something serious weird going on in my PC.

[edit] A friend has just recommended I reset the sensors, and they're now reading 17°c, 62°c and -55°c respectively, and I've got no idea if thats good, bad or what

those are high, but within limits, if it were my computer i would reseat the heatsink. that seems to be the prob to me.

Quote: Originally posted by Snyper I've got a 1.4ghz Athlon with a fan thats designed to fit a 1.8 (~ 7500rpm), a new Antec silent PSU (dual fans ~1500rpm), and two spare case fans sitting in the case (~2000rpm with one attached to the front mounting panel, while the other is sitting at the back, attached to an exhaust grille).

• What kind of heatsink are you using?
• Did you use thermal paste OR a pad?
• Does it look like it is mounted correctly when looking at the mobo horizontally flat, from your line of sight?

Quote: Originally posted by TekXoID What kind of heatsink are you using? Did you use thermal paste OR a pad? Does it look like it is mounted correctly when looking at the mobo horizontally flat, from your line of sight?

TekXoID - to answer your questions one at a time

• Asaka Silver Mountain fan for AMD Athlon
• Thermal Paste
• Yes, it does look balanced, however, I did not have a direct LOS to the processor, but it looks balanced

also, I should have mentioned that I took out the second 40gb hard drive, which I was told might have been the reason the computer was falling over/restarting (was getting so hot that the processor/mobo was automatically restarting).

I was wondering earlier if I used enough thermal paste when I set the heatsink onto the processor - is there any good guide as to how much I should have used, as I was told 'just use enough to cover the die'.
Should the entire CPU be covered, or is that information correct?

just enough to cover the die..put a drop about the size of a BB. then spread it around using a clean straight edge...razor blade or drivers license (that's what I used). When you're done the die should be covered in a thin layer.

Right - about 20 minutes ago, after nearly 2 hours my computer just died again, and reset itself

I've also just had a look under the cooler, and I must not have put enough down the first time, as there were some area's of the die that were not covered, so, I recovered them.

Reading about the fan on the internet, someone mentioned about changing the fan setting from 'blow' to 'suck' - how would I do this - just by flipping the fan over?

blow to suck...yes - just by flipping the fan over...however, I would hold off on doing that until you get some thermal paste on that CPU die! You're lucky it hasn't 'died' already - pun inteded