Thermaltake Volcano &+

[nshon]

HI all,
Got a problem hoping you guys can help out with. I'm running BD7 + 1.6A at the moment with stock cooler @2.19G@1.55V. The stock cooler runs at 45C and all is fine.

I replaced the stock cooler and kept the settings and temp is now around the 80C mark and the siren sounds soon after XP boots.

Questions
1) What's wrong here? I've made sure all four clips are in place
2) Thermal compound has been applied and I've since removed the Volcano and noted that the excess compounds has been squeezed to the side of the CPU so I 'think' I've got the installation in.

Anyone faced similar problems before? It's just wrong that the Volcano 7+ will perform worse than the stock cooler so any suggestions welcomed!

P/S: It doesn't matter what speed I run the fan at....the temp hovers around 75-80C regardless.

[Humantuckshop]

Well, it does sound like the Volcano isn't even making contact with the CPU die.

Make sure the clips are pushed down hard.

Here's a installation guide, maybe it will help: http://www.thermaltake.com/support/installations/v7plusP4.htm


And welcome to the forums. :D

[nshon]

Hi there human, thanks for the reply!

4 'clicks' later and the temp is 60C. Still worse off than the 47C I get with the stock. sigh. I've made sure that the holding clips are in place.

Thanks for the installation guide. I seem to have two RPM Signal though and I've connected them to fan1 and fan2. What gives?


Originally posted by Humantuckshop
Well, it does sound like the Volcano isn't even making contact with the CPU die.

Make sure the clips are pushed down hard.

Here's a installation guide, maybe it will help: http://www.thermaltake.com/support/installations/v7plusP4.htm


And welcome to the forums. :D

[Humantuckshop]

Originally posted by nshon

I seem to have two RPM Signal though and I've connected them to fan1 and fan2. What gives?




If you connect the RPM signal wire (Yellow) to one fan header on the motherboard and then you connect the speed control unit to the other fan header then you will get 2 RPM signals. ie: one from the controller and one from the RPM signal wire.


Maybe one (or more) of the clips is bent - that would stop the HSF from sitting straight and making proper contact with the CPU.

[Deviant]

I think Humantuckshop is right, it may be worth taking the whole thing off, cleaning the base and CPU, and starting over. Then you can also check the HSF out properly as Humantuckshop suggested.

[Antallica]

Whoah that's much too high, my V7+ & XP 1600+ is sitting on 31C right now, even on 1.8v as 1900+ it only goes to 36C. I thought AMD's run hotter than Intels, hmm yes something terrible is afoot here.

[GooGlo]

I think that was pretty obvious ant ;)

You should take it all apart and to it all again. What thermal grease are you using?

[Solid Snake]

Try putting LESS thermal compound there. If you put too much and squish it all out you may get some AIR bubbles. AIR is not want you want between the heatsink and die. Try putting less, and smooth it out with a knife or piece of plastic or whatever... anyways put it thinly. Also cover your bottom of your heatsink with thermal compound to get better contact too....

[Deviant]

I've found the best way to apply thermal paste, is to put some on your HSF, not the CPU, and then scrape almost all of it off. From a normal application, to stuff all you could see through the stuff I get a 3 degree drop in temps.

It only has to fill microscopic gaps between HSF and CPU. Some people report lapping and no paste to be the best and drop temperatures even further. I tried that, and my temps rose a couple of degrees, but maybe I could have lapped smoother.

Also lap your CPU core, That writing that says athlon is raised and you can feel it with your finger nail. I lapped my core till most of the writing had gone and dropped my temps by another 2 degrees.

[nshon]

Hi all, thanks for the advice there.

I suspected it's the compound that I was using (came with the volcano) but things can't be that bad? I also suspect that the contact is amiss cause it seems the fan speed does not really make such a big diff to the temperature (1-2C max).

I'd give it another go when I'm feeling brave as I think I going to break the HSF mount soon with all this removing and installing. Let you guys know. Cheers!

Originally posted by Deviant
I've found the best way to apply thermal paste, is to put some on your HSF, not the CPU, and then scrape almost all of it off. From a normal application, to stuff all you could see through the stuff I get a 3 degree drop in temps.

It only has to fill microscopic gaps between HSF and CPU. Some people report lapping and no paste to be the best and drop temperatures even further. I tried that, and my temps rose a couple of degrees, but maybe I could have lapped smoother.

Also lap your CPU core, That writing that says athlon is raised and you can feel it with your finger nail. I lapped my core till most of the writing had gone and dropped my temps by another 2 degrees.

[Humantuckshop]

Thermal compound wouldn't make that much of a difference - I ran my old 1.4GHz TBird without any thermal compound once and it didn't cause it to overheat.


It must be that the Volcano is not mounted properly. Because even if the Volcano was mounted correctly and the fans weren't going it would take a while for the CPU to heat up to 75-80 degrees.

[whetu]

two things that havent been covered

1) is the heatsink around the right way?
2) to apply thermal compound, i put on a surgical latex glove and apply using my fingertip.. far more control and far more accurate...
3) helpful household hint - a great substance for getting rid of arctic silver messes is very close to you, and costs nothing... SALIVA :D i discovered this when i couldnt be stuffed going downstairs to get some meths...

[Binky Stunt Cat]

Originally posted by whetu
two things that havent been covered

1) is the heatsink around the right way?
2) to apply thermal compound, i put on a surgical latex glove and apply using my fingertip.. far more control and far more accurate...
3) helpful household hint - a great substance for getting rid of arctic silver messes is very close to you, and costs nothing... SALIVA :D i discovered this when i couldnt be stuffed going downstairs to get some meths...
one...two...hang on, arent there THREE things there????

[mird-OC]

ROFL! :

[Deviant]

To Whetus defence, he said 'two things that weren't covered', and one of his 3 points raised had been covered, that is the application of thermal paste, although he expanded on it.

[dustyslapper]

Whetu - your not licking it off the core directly are you? I'm really hope you are not ingesting it!


:p

[SilverPriest]

You mean core candy?

[whetu]

lol 2x things that that i covered + 1 x handy household hint

[whetu]

Originally posted by dustyslapper
Whetu - your not licking it off the core directly are you? I'm really hope you are not ingesting it!
:p

hmmm perhaps thats why i'm blind :D