Problems with P4

[Zappster]

Hi i have a major problem with my pc and so far ive tried everything i can think off. pc stats are currently :-
Pentium 4 2.66ghz cpu
xfx p4p-alh motherboard
512mb ddr pc2100 memory
geforce 4 ti4200 ultra agp x8
soundblaster live 5.1
120 gig maxtor hdd
60 gig maxtor hdd
case has 2 intake fans and one exhaust
motherboard temp is 28C
cpu when idle runs at 52C

my problem starts when i want to open a window
wether its to find programs on my hdd browse the inet or install/play programs. when i do any of these cpu temp runs of the scale and pc locks solid

cpu , motherboard , memory and case are all brand new ie 2 weeks old
i tried replacing heatsink and fan with the one of my 2.4 p4 chip
fan runs faster but cpu still does the same when under stress
my 2.4 chip was damaged when i was changing case mofoboard and therefore i had to buy new chip
and ever since i have had this problem
bios/cmos shows cpu temp 67C and climbing yet winbond hardware doctor shows 52C and just goes of the scale when trying to open a window or install software

any help would be highly appreciated
thx
Zappster

your temps are 52c at idle thats higher than they should be at full load. Sounds like maybe you got the heat sink on wrong check it to make sure you've got it on the right.. When you replaced it did you remember to also use thermal grease?

missed the fans part my bad....one question tho what type of heat sink and fan are you using?

one other thing you might want to do is check for bios updates those temps might not be totally accurate and flashing your bios might be of some help.

last but not least welcome to techimo

more editing: do you ahve your cpu bios setting set-up righht? you may have the vcore set to hi?

edit: dang typos

[Zappster]

ok ..heatsink will only fit on one way round otherwise fan power lead wont reach designated slot.yes thermal grease was used , heatsink came with p4 2.66ghzz retail pack so its an intel pentium heatsink/fan . Bios is bang upto date. ive just been reading on some other forum that there are some dodgy p4 2.66ghz retail cpus about maybe this is my problem if thats the case i will take the thing back tomorrow as its only 2 weeks old
if its not that then im totally ****** cos i have no idea what else it could possibly be

vcore is at 1.49volts

you can pull the fan off and flip the heatsink around and mount the fan again. Might be worth a try, however I'd be careful running that cpu so you don't kill it. Even tho its under warranty you want as few headaches as possible when taking it back. And thermal grease is supposed to void warranties on some cpu's {never understood why}

[Zappster]

oh :s so what do you suggest? taking the cpu back to the retailer?

[beppodmime]

Are you sure you applied the thermal grease properly when re-seating the HSF? Are you sure the HSF is facing the proper direction? If the HSF is mounted backwards/upside down, then it will end up sitting on the socket and you will lose alot of contact with the CPU. That could be causing your problems. If the power lead doesn't reach the designated slot, then find another, or get a lead extension. Most computer hardware shops should have these. Also, if you apply to little/too much thermal grease to the CPU when installing the HSF, then you could be adversly affecting the thermal transfer to the HSF. Check out these instructions:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm

Also, when you installed the HSF with the grease, did you make sure to clean the bottom thoroughly, along with the heat spreader on the CPU? I use nap[tha (zippo lighter fluid) to clean off thermal pads or paste, and then go over it with denatured alchohol to make sure the surface is nice and clean. This will make sure any thermal pad residue is cleaned off of the HSF and processor. If you're going to use paste, you need to remove the pad, and if you are just going to use a pad, then you don't need paste.