lookin for a new heatsink?

I used SiSoftware Sandra today to check my CPU temps and they are a bit steep for my liking (~63.0C at idle, upwards of ~75C when running programs!) Anything special I need to look for when getting a new heatsink in regards to motherboard,etc? Is that what I need to cool down my CPU? Is there a difference between a cooling fan and a heatsink? Im thinking Ill get one by Thermaltake, but Im not sure on the model. Any suggestions? Ive already cleaned up the cables and made the air flow better.

Compaq Presario 5320US
P4 1.5
512 RAM
XP Home SP1
SB Audigy Gamer
GF Ti 4200 w/ 128mb
240+ HD

 

Damn! And I thought my 42 C at idle was high with my ABIT board. Is your fan working?

IMSA

 

Yeah, I leave my side panel off now to help with the cooling and I see the fan still running. Any suggestions on a new heatsink to buy?

 

I wish I could help but being new to this I wouldn't want to give you bad advice. I'm sure someone who knows what their doing will have some ideas but with temps that high, I would think something's going on more than heat sink.

IMSA

 

The heatsink is the big finned thingie you put on your CPU / GPU.
The fan is errr.. on top of the heatsink

They are often sold together and called a cooler, but the heatsink and fan are two very different animals. If your computer is stable I would venture your temperatures are bogus. Just pull your present heat sink, lap it in if it is warped and apply some Arctic Silver. Coompaq sizes their heatsinks reasonably well unless you overclock or stuff them in a closet.

If you still want to change it out, Thermaltake is a good line, but see what will fit. Not all "coolers" will fit in the Compaqs. Go copper and get some speed control in case it is too loud. The three speed Volcano 7+ is a good one.

 

Funny you should mention that. I monitored the CPU temps and noticed that whenever I start a game or program, about 2 mins into it the CPU ends up heating up to about 83C at which point it loses stability causing everything slows down for about 30 secs while the CPU cools back down to about 75C. I think I may just go ahead and get a whole new cooler. Maybe mines dying cause its a few years old? I noticed that when I was looking around for one, that the sizes just depend on the processor, so hopefully I wont be just tossing away $30.

 

Yeah the readings MUST be wrong. 83C would NEVER be stable, its 2C away from the point of death for an athlon and i hate to think what would happen to a P4 at that temp. Youre not getting random bluescreens, are you?

Of course, not to put you off getting a new heatsink, that should make the system run smoother. Just when you get your new one dont get dissapointed when temps are still really high

 

No I dont get blue screens. Any idea why it seems like my processor is getting overloaded then and heating up? Any programs I can use to check to see whats causing the temp rise and the instability? Do you think a new heatsink would fix that?

 

Well, even if its not at 83C its still pretty hot. It sounds like you might want to re-apply your heatsink, or get a new one. If its a stock one its probably made of aluminium with a cheap coolmaster fan stuck on top. If you want to look for a new one get an all copper one, preferabley with a decent fan on the top. Thermaltake ones are good.

Also, get some decent thermal paste. Again, if its stock, it will probably stuck on with a thermal pad, which are pretty dang awful at keeping temps low. You might wanna look at getting some Arctic Silver 3 or 5 (they missed out 4 because its an unlucky number in china ) and connecting them with that.
Check Arctic Silver.com for some instructions on applying it.

 

I found 2 sites that really helped me out just now and am posting them so that they can help anyone else.

First, http://www.computer-chat.com/compaq/Presario_5000_processor_upgrade_98113.html told me that my stupid Compaq mobo doesnt have a normal 478 socket so I cant upgrade my heatsink (at least this time i found out a compaq limitation BEFORE I made the purchase which is a nice change of pace )

Second, http://www.sysopt.com/forum/printthread.php?threadid=154647 is the threads of someone having a very similar problem to the one Im having (I dont know how I didnt find it before considering the hours of research I did...hmm must be getting sloopy in my old age) and Im just going to go buy some compressed air tomorrow to see if that works. Seeing as how I leave the side panel off my case (and have for over the past year) it may be the problem...

Hope those help someone one day.

 

I just got some compressed air and cleaned out my cpu fan and powersupply and now my idle temp is just 40C!!! AMEN!

 

That's a lot of dust man!

 

and put the cover back on, and test the temps. or test them with the cover off, and again with the cover back on.

 

One Word: FILTERS