Helpful computer tips no. 1337

Hand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_AgainHand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_Again Join Date: 2002-02-07 Member: 178Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Or, how not to toast your athlon</div>So, I was fitting a new processor fan to my PC. I'd just prised off the old fan and heat sink, and decided to test the new one before fitting it. I squished the old fan back on to the processor, not bothering to clamp it on, connected the new fan to the secondary fan header, and switched the PC on for a moment.

Well, it appears there can't have been enough thermal contact between the old heat-sink and the processor. Within the space of five seconds, there was a distinctly unpleasant smell. I switched the PC off in a hurry, getting somewhat worried.

I killed my Athlon.  :|

Moral of the story? <b>Always, always, <i>always</i></b> ensure the heat-sink and fan are correctly attached. I had to order a new processor yesterday. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
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Comments

  • JediYoshiJediYoshi The Cupcake Boss Join Date: 2002-05-27 Member: 674Members
    Ouch,

    But what computer did you make the post with?
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  • Hand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_AgainHand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_Again Join Date: 2002-02-07 Member: 178Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->But what computer did you make the post with?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Oh, I've got some spare machines. Well over ten at the last count. Unfortunately, if you were to add all their specifications together, the Athlon would still be more powerful.

    7.14MHz 8086-based laptop, anyone? <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
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  • realityisdeadrealityisdead Employed by Raven Software after making ns_nothing Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 94Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Hehe, thanks for the tip. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->

    Sorry, man.
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  • LegionnairedLegionnaired Join Date: 2002-04-30 Member: 552Members, Constellation
    Ouch....

    Try water cooling next time <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo--> Hard to make sure that's not sufficiently attached.
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  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    Ugh,  I feel for ya man.  That was one area of the "do it yourself" instructions that were never very clear to me.  "Can you use too much paste?"  "How much is too little?"  It seems I got lucky with mine.  Either that or it's much more idiot proof than I thought. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

    I hope everyone else learns from your mistake. :/
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  • Hand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_AgainHand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_Again Join Date: 2002-02-07 Member: 178Members
    Processor arrived this morning (Athlon XP 1700+), and is fitted and working quite happily. Phew. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

    I don't think I'll <b>ever</b> make that mistake again...
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  • coilcoil Amateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance. Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    For the record, an interesting test was performed on a P3, P4, and Athlon a while ago.  Basically, the tester ran Q3 on each computer, then shut down the fan.  Results:

    P3:  Q3 dropped framerates like you wouldn't believe, then crashed.  After reinstalling the fan and restarting, the computer was fine.

    P4: Framerates dropped to 3-4fps.  However, fps was restored when the fan was turned back on.

    Athlon: Q3 crashed, Windows crashed... and the CPU melted a hole through the motherboard.
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  • HBNayrHBNayr Join Date: 2002-07-13 Member: 930Members
    Some newer AMD motherboards had temp diodes on them that automatically cut power if the chip gets too hot.  I burned out a Celeron a few years ago because the heat sink wasn't situated perfectly.  Still, that was cheap...

    And for those of you who don't believe coil, check the <a href="http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q3/010917/index.html" target="_blank">proof</a>.

    -Ryan!


    Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.
    -- Ronald Reagan
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  • LegionnairedLegionnaired Join Date: 2002-04-30 Member: 552Members, Constellation
    Yeah, BUT:

    Price of a p4 1.7 Ghz: $157
    Price of a p4 MOBO: $85

    Price of an Athlon 1700: $69
    Price of an Athlon MOBO: $49

    For P4 system: $242
    For Athlon System: $118

    For 124 Bucks, I can keep a Heat sink on.

    Oh, and that Athlon 1700, after I clock it up, will totally OWN that 1.7Ghz P4.

    Athlon=WINNAR!

    Oh, BTW, I have my Shuttle AK31 set to kill the power at 75C, and I have motherboard Monitor set to gie me an audible warning at 65C, sooo, my processor is going NOWHERE!
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    My Mobo automatically shuts down when it reaches 70 degrees c. Very useful when I forget to turn the <a href="http://users.bigpond.net.au/zimbu/cooling.jpg" target="_blank">Fan</a> on.

    It was a bit of a hairy moment between when we snapped on the heat sink and when we switched on the comp. It was a great relief when it booted up. It is apparently very easy to crack the die (the grey stuff around the actual chip) on AMDs.

    --Scythe--
    <a href="mailto:the_only_scythe@subdimension.com">the_only_scythe@subdimension.com</a>
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  • LegionnairedLegionnaired Join Date: 2002-04-30 Member: 552Members, Constellation
    Yeah, it takes a lot of pressure to force that clip on there, when I did it the screwdriver slipped and jammed into the MOBO.

    I was like... CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!1111

    Booted up fine though.
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