Hi...

I'm tweaking one of my older pc's (I built it about three years ago) and
the cpu seems a bit hot to me, does anyone know what the usual
temperature limits are for an AMD Barton 2500+ cpu?

The cpu is stable at around 54 degrees C at idle, and when pushed to
sustsianed 100% loads (using "CPU Stress Tester" program) the temps rise
to around 77 degrees C.

Every now and again though lately (eg: last four to six months or so),
and usually when I'm playing high end demanding games like flight sims
or driving sims (eg: MS Flight Sim 2004, GTR2, GTL, GPL, TOCA RD3, CMR4,
etc) the pc just reboots without warning.

I've checked everything I can think of and the only thing that might be
a problem could be temperatures (or possibly voltages, but the PSU is
fairly new).

The pc spec is as follows:

AMD Barton 2500 cpu (clocked to 2.1Ghz using 200FSB)
Asus A7N8 Deluxe M/B (v2)
Antec Neo HE 550w PSU
Gigabyte 256Mb Nvidia 7600GS (AGP) GFX card
2Gb Kingston Ram (using 2.5 - 3 - 3 - 7 timings)
2 x 120Gb H/D's (SATA)
Antec Case with 3 x 80mm fans, eg: 1 x front fan (low level) and 1 x
rear fan (high level) and 1 x side fan.

NB: the 7600GS card is fanless and has a large heatsink, but my side fan
in the case does blow cool air onto the card.

I don't think its the fact that the pc is overclocked, cos its been
overclocked ever since I built it 3 years ago, and i've had it running
great at 2.2Ghz with no probs, when this problem started I turned the
cpu down to stock settings and the random lockups were still occuring.

Since the lock ups started I have replaced the memory modules, replaced
the GFX card, replaced the PSU, checked all connections, leads, etc on
the M/B, replaced fans, and am now out of ideas?

Any info would be appreciated, thanx....

8-)

Thanx

the only thing you have not done is reseat the heatsink on the CPU......
What are you using as a heatsink/cooler for that chip??
peter
"P G" <peterjohn.gagg (AT) ntlworld (DOT) com> wrote

"P G" <peterjohn.gagg (AT) ntlworld (DOT) com> wrote

be a function of the case and room temps.
You definitely have a cooling issue. I have the same CPU running in an Asus
A7N8X-Deluxe in an Antec SOHO tower.
It idles at 38-40C and never exceeds 55C, even in 100% CPU stress tests.
Case temp is 26C. Room temp is 23C.
You don't mention what CPU cooler you're running, but if your temps are
higher now than they used to be, check the following:

1. Dust/crud in the fins of your HSF and on fan blades.

2. Check and remount the HSF, using decent thermal compound applied
sparingly and evenly. Depending on type, thermal interface material can dry
out and lose effectiveness.

3. Check airflow in your case if the case temp is high. Move/reroute cables
so airflow is not blocked. If you can mount a second rear exhaust fan, do
it.

4. Try reversing the side fan to suck the hot air from the video card out of
your case.

My room temp is only about 25 degrees C

I have a cooler master heatsink and fan (I replaced the stock HSF that
came with the Barton CPU with this one when the cp was built).

But as its been on the pc for a while, and you are right, maybe it needs
reseating or more thermal paste. I have some Arctic Silver here as I've
just built another pc.

I'll try reseating the HSF and cpu and see how it goes.

Air flow in the case is pretty good, I have round cables rather than
flat and loose ones are tied up out of the way, and all fans are working ok.

I might try reversing the side fan as you suggest.

Thanx for the info....

8-)

Yep, gonna give this a try and put some new thernal paste on and maybe
reverse one of the fans (side).

Thanx

peter wrote:

"P G" <peterjohn.gagg (AT) ntlworld (DOT) com> wrote

CPU temps are given your room is only 2C warmer than mine. Check for
dustbunnies, they really affect HSF's.

Ok, Have done a V.quick strip down of this pc this afternoon, gave it a
quick clean (lots of dust in the cpu heatsink) and the old thermal paste
was bone dry and flaky.

Cleaned the cpu and heatsink, put new (Arctic Silver) paste on and
re-assembled the whole pc, also put a newer cpu fan on, crossed my
fingers and pressed the "on" button...

Temps are much better, now mine are very similar to yours Peter, idles
at bewteen 35 and 40, and never goes above 55 under sustained 100% cpu
load (using CPU Stress Tester program).

Have also run a couple of the gams that also stress the pc and no lock
ups so far.

Thanx for the help and advice.

8-)

"P G" <peterjohn.gagg (AT) ntlworld (DOT) com> wrote