Athlon Question(s)

[Guest]

I'm putting together a new system. I've plugged in an Athlon and I've started the system up. The box says the processor is rated to 1200 MhZ but I looked in the BIOS and found the thing was set at 500MhZ. Does anyone know why they do this and a way to find out the processor's true rating for sure? I've changed it back to 1200MhZ but I want to be safe.

I also have been looking at the temp monitor my motherboard has. The temp starts at 98F but climbs 1-2 degrees every 30secs, and it's gotten to 117F and might still climb if I leave the comp on longer. What temps do Thunderbird 1.2GhZ usually run at when stable?

 

[Grimlock]

what is 117 F in real money I.e. degrees celcius?

 

[Guest]

47.22

 

[Grimlock]

thats warmer than my 750 mhz athlon ran, but thats expected

 

[Swilo]

That is high, even for an athlon. It should run between 30-40 with a good heatsink/fan combo and a proper case. I believe 50 is about the max you would ever want it at before it might start acting funky, and possibly smoking.

 

[Rapmaster]

the speed of the cpu isn't written on the cpu chip itself?

 

[Guest]

I didn't look at the chip carefully before it was put on. I'd prefer an alternative way since getting the fan in place was a pain.

 

[Rockenstein]

Check out dangerden.com for an alternative cooling system. This is probably beyond what you want to do - but you better do something, 'cause that puppy is hot.

Keep in mind that processors are smoke operated devices - if you let that smoke out, they will no longer function......

Rockenstein

 

[The Helper]

You need to make sure you have the latest motherboard. New Athalon motherboards have built in safeguards against overheating but the first boards had a problem if the fan fell off....

I don't know if a motherboard update is available for you but you should check.

Also - I am sure another Fan would help your temperatures.

 

[Nelson]

Check the chip.. actually look at the the chip and find out the chip speed... if you are setting the speed in the bios.. you may be overclocking the chip which would account for the heat increase.

Step 1 - Look at the chip
Step 2 - configure bios for chip speed
Step 3 - monitor chip

if you bought a board and chip combo.. make sure you got what ya paid for.

as for any software that would be able to ID the CPU that you have.. not sure if any would tell you the rated speed.. just what it is clocked to.

 

[Guest]

Another comment, some of the newer motherboards have monitor diodes right on the socket itself. If this were the case, I'd presume it'd be responsible for the higher reported temps as opposed to other stuff which just measures the air around the chip.