I've got a Cooler master Jet 7. It'* copper base and aluminum fins., adjustable speed. Does well. There is a ridge along one side that needed to bel lined up on the side of the cpu that clamps down, if you know what I mean.

What about your case layout? My CPU is right next to the power source with the graphic card right below it. It'* a AMD XP 2200+ that'* not overclocked. And I only have 2 fans(excluding heat sink) both intake, one is a PCI slot fan. The AMD'* seem to run a little on the hot side anyway.

The volcano'* are crap. I've had roomates that have used one recommended for higher level processors that overheated @ stock clocks on AMD.

Run your AMD @ the normal frequency, and yes that Temp is very hot. Taking the side off the case doesn't fix your problem, and maybe half of the time, it doesn't do any good. A properly setup case will be much cooler then one with fans on full with the side off. You're also letting a lot of dust in that way as well.

AMD on the hot side... intel processors have better heat sinks and still have heat problems, check out this article about it.

AMD'* have run hot for a long time. The intel in that article is their fastest one, and one would expect someone who is spending that kind of money on a CPU, to spend some money on a good HSF and thermal paste. Go look at anything from the 1700-3000+ range and compare to a 1.7 -3.0 P4.

After running the system, fans cranked, idling, I see 55*C temps. With some CPU usage, I climb up to 65*C+. That is being underclocked to 1500mhz. I have removed the side panel, and it doesn't make any difference in temps, so that tells me it isn't anything to do with air circulation.. but I know that sucks since two of my intake fans are right in front of my HDDs [already warming up the air.. one 120gb and one 80gb SATA drives]. Do you guys think I should invest in a better heatsink, then? Something like one of these? [The third seems like a lot to spend, IMO].

http://www.directron.com/cnps6000.html
http://www.directron.com/cnps7700alcu.html
http://www.directron.com/cnps7700cu.html

And, this is the quietest fan this company has to offer. I think I can live without the retarded LED'* on my fans now [all mixed colours.. looked horrible]. Doesn't sound too bad for $5

http://www.directron.com/uc001btc.html


-justin

Zalman is the ****. That one that fans out is Great. The Fan itlself is held off of a bracket running from the PCI mounts. It'* very neat and ingeniuous. That'* what I would recomend personally. Any of those 3 would be good, and you can even OC with them all nicely.

You may want to do new thermal paste as well, and try to setup the case fans better for more flow. Have the fan in the back of the case for exhaust, and on the side for exhaust as well (if in the back). All fans in the front should be intake, and anything ontop (blowhole) should be exhaust as well.

Keep in mind of the air enterring the case as well. 90* air from a heater geting sucked in by a fan doesn't make the case any cooler.

Yeah.. I agree with you on that last bit. I cannot run my heater anymore.. but when I used to, the temps would increase rapidly!

Are you recommending the CNPS600? Or should I go for one of the others?


-justin

I like it, and have seen it used with great results, You can put any fan on there basically, so you could grab a 120 MM fan if you think you have the room. I don't know if you need the ones with the premium price.

Any Zalman is good in my books. Those things are works of art.