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Thread ID: 75839 2007-01-12 01:47:00 Replacing CPU Fan Help kLOTTiS (7106) Press F1
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515137 2007-01-12 01:47:00 I need to replace my CPU fan with one that its slightly quieter and more efficient. I Have an AMD Athlon XP 2400+ which is overheating, It is currently underclocked to prevent damage but I am a casual gamer and underclocking is causing quite a bit of lag (even though its only underclocked 100mhz)

I have two questions, Number one, What is a good fan to use, I have found one at Dick Smith Electronics for only $25 (compared to higher end thermaltake ect. costing around $80)
Here is the link for the one at DSE (www.dse.co.nz)
Does anyone have any recommendations for a more suitable fan or would this be fine?

Second Question
Would I need to replace the thermal paste?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice/tips that can be offered 		kLOTTiS (7106)
515138 2007-01-12 02:49:00 I think you get what you pay for.
That heatsink/fan unit has a rather small high speed fan and will be noisy:

# Fan detail
# Dimensions: 70 x 70 x 15 mm
# Rated Voltage: 12 V DC
# Rated Current: 0.25 A
# Power Consumption: 3.00 W
# Rated Speed: 4500 RPM
# Max Air Flow: 36.31 CFM
# Max Static Pressure: 5.26 mm-H2O
# Noise Level: < 40 dBA
# Tolerance: ±10%
# Bearing Type: Sleeve ⁄ One Ball ⁄ Z-AXIS ⁄Two Ball
# Life Time: 25,000 ⁄35,000 ⁄ 40,000 ⁄ 50,000 Hours

You dont say what indicated temperatures are being reached.

If you are using an AMD stock heatsink and fan, the biggest improvement that can be made is to lap the mating surface flat.
The stock units are linished, and besides a relatively poor surface finish, they are not very flat.

If you remove a heatsink, then the surface of the heatsink and the cpu need to be thoroughly cleaned (meths or isopropyl alcohol), then a very very thin film of thermal paste applied.

If a new heatsink is being fitted, it may have a thermal pad already there. That should be adequate, though purists will remove it and apply paste.

An 80mm fan can be fitted to stock AMD XP2400+ type heatsinks which will run slower and quieter.

I've got one of these on my stock AMD unit with XP2600+ cpu:

www.dse.co.nz

DSE number XH6437

Add specs:
# Rated Speed: 3000 RPM
# Max Air Flow: 37.27 CFM
# Max Static Pressure: 3.25mmAq
# Noise Level: <27 dBA 		Terry Porritt (14)
515139 2007-01-12 02:59:00 Thanks for all that, Right now my CPU temp is sitting around 47' c but that is underclocked, at normal clock speeds its around 55'c and under load (playing a game ect.) gets up to 65'c (Warning alarm sounds at 63'c)

I will look into the 80mm fan that you mentioned, How would it be mounted on the heatsink? 		kLOTTiS (7106)
515140 2007-01-12 03:24:00 Do you have good case cooling as well? memphis (2869)
515141 2007-01-12 03:37:00 Not at all, The only cooling I have is the CPU fan, No case fans kLOTTiS (7106)
515142 2007-01-12 03:54:00 Well get some case fans then!:rolleyes:

1 at the front to bring cool air in.

1 at the back to take hot air out.

Get 120mm fans if your case can fit them.:thumbs:

Or 92mm/80mm depending on what your case can fit.

At the moment your computer is a oven cooking itself,not bringing in any cool air or taking out any hot air!:badpc:

For right now take the side panel off to let some air in there at least.This is temporary until you get some fans!

And see if it needs a dust out as well.-read the post about dusting.

If its on the floor,put it on a desk/table to help stop dust/fluff getting in it. 		memphis (2869)
515143 2007-01-12 03:56:00 That is the main problem then. The cpu fan can only suck in air at the temperature in the case, so if the inside temperature is say 5-10 deg C hotter than it would be with a good air flow through it, then the cpu will be 5-10 deg C hotter.

Try taking off the side of the case, if that is possible, and see how the temperature behaves. Preferably use a household fan or haidryer on cold to blow air onto the cpu fan and see what happens.

If you get a decent drop in temperature then it shows you need more flow through.

It is hot at the moment, at least in Upper Hutt :)., so temperatures are a bit high.

Edit: well the psu will be drawing some air through, depends on the design.

Edit again: I forgot to say an 80mm fan wont give more cooling, the flow is about the same, but it is much quieter. 		Terry Porritt (14)
515144 2007-01-12 05:06:00 65 aint hot!! Rob99 (151)
515145 2007-01-12 05:08:00 Well get some case fans then!:rolleyes:

Get 120mm fans if your case can fit them . :thumbs:

For right now take the side panel off to let some air in there at least . This is temporary until you get some fans!

I have added a 80mm as a temp fan (Its very noisy) and have had the side off for the last couple of days cleaning it daily
My main concern is noise, Im heading down to dick smith now ill grab a 60mm for the front and an 80mm for the back because thats what the screw holes will fit

Thanks to everyone who helped :) 		kLOTTiS (7106)
515146 2007-01-12 05:29:00 I bought a Thermaltake heat sink and fan some time back to cool an AMD3200. While it kept the CPU happy heatwise it also sounded like a 747 taking off. It works as a paper weight now.

You could just buy some case fans and also change the fan on the heatsink.

One thing occurred to me. Have you checked that the power supply fan is running? 		Sweep (90)
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