Heat Issue w/ Boxed Pentium 4 2.4A and heatsink

[raindreams]

We are having a problem with Intel factory/boxed Pentium 4 2.4A processor with Intel heatsink/fan. The processors are running on Intel 865 boards. Temps have been monitored in the BIOS and with Intel Active Monitor.

We have built two machines and both have processors that idle at around 58 degrees celcius. We have left them for long periods of time (48 hours) to allow included thermal sheet/paste to settle in. It does not seem to matter whether or not the case has good airflow -- we have left one running with the side of the case OFF and rear case fan running and the temp stayed the same at 58-59c.

(Other "zones" on the board seems to be overheating -- Active Monitor is giving warnings that "Zone 2" of the motherboard is hotter than the processor at 60c.)

The processor fan is at about 2500 rpms but will go up dramatically to around 4500 if the side of the case is put on and the processor is under any load. It seems that the processor would get into dangerous territory eventually if under a heavy load (80 - 100%). Maybe even above 70c if running a processor intensive program.

We just bought ten bundles -- any idea what is going on? or are Intel heatsink/fans just not good enough?

 

[Jazket]

i suggest you to change the fan/heatsink. Maybe that will solve your problem. check voltage too.

 

[ceh4702]

You shure you are not overclocking that 400Mhz Processor or what? Prescott processors with an A and the older Northwood? or previous cores may have a different meaning for the "A" designation. Make sure you know what you have and you are not seeting it at too high of a speed. I think all the prescott cores are 90nm layer processors. Just because a motherboard says it can handle a prescott processor does not mean it will handle it properly. I think they have been tweaking the BIOS to make it run cooler or throttle it down or something.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[paparazi]

A few things spring to mind:
1) One is these are all the same motherboard the reported temperature is out! as in, reporting higher than it actually is.
A bios flash can often drop reported temps.
2) You say the fan reports 2500rpm and speeds upto 4500rpm, well then, can't you disable smart fan, or whatever is controling fan speed.
3) Case cooling! sounds like you definately need a couple of case fans in each case, typically one in the front drawing IN cool air, another top rear EXHAUSTING.
Obviously it would help knowing what climate/conditions these machines run in.
Air cooling is only as good as the temperature of air being blown, warm climate= warm CPU temps.
Better quality copper based heatsinks would help: Thermalright, Thermaltake, Swiftech, Globalwin etc

Martin


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