Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

Not entireley true. :)
True that Athlons are cheaper and Do run hotter but not as hot as this one is running. Any athlon running above 60C has a heatsink problem simple as that.
My athlon XP Idles at 40C and full load at 47C and thats with the Stock heatsink that AMD supply in the Retail package and a little bit of Arctic silver, wich I spread with a plastic sheet across the bottom of the heatsink for even distribution.
The highest temp my CPU has ever reached was 55C running full load during mid summer, in the middle of that heatwave we had last year.
Running in the 70's any CPU will start to become unstable especially under full load, supprisingly some CPUs still run stable even at this temp but it wont last, sooner or later performance and stability will decrease.
One thing I have done with a few other machines but havent done with mine yet to increase heatsink performance is to sand down the base of the heatsink. This must be done correctly otherwise you will ruin your heatsink and I dont have the How to guide to hand but the general idea is that for optimal heat transfer you should be able to see your reflection in the base of the heatsink.

No offence to anybody with a p4 but I have always considdered intel to be the Lazy/rich mans choice, i.e. they run cool with little or no knowledge about heatsinks.
However the amount you spend extra on an intel CPU could be spent on buying a better set of fans for your athlon and the result would be the athlon running much cooler than any Intel would for the same price.

Though I have been thinking of going with intel for my next upgrade, does anybody have any CHEAP reccomendations for CPU/Mobo combo?

Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

Found that How to guide online, its called lapping.
Might be worth trying even if you get good temps out of your CPU as it cant hurt to have them a lil bit better can it?? :D
http://www.bigbruin.com/html/lapping-guide.htm

EDIT: please bear in mind that you may ruin your CPU heatsink so its best to only do this if you have a spare and understand the risk involved ;)

Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

id disgaree with your p4 point but im far to lazy to go into it and yes if my cpu was running at 70 id get another one simple as that but some athlons are more than happy to run that hot

Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

According to MBM5 my CPUS's are averageing about 70 degrees - and they are pentuims (one celeron and one P4). They seem happy enough to me.

Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

Well my comment was mainly about Athlons and Durons as I have little experience with Intels since the PII. but that still sounds terrible to me :eek:

Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

You must have pretty good hearing to be able to hear them over the fan :rofl:

Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

im surpised a p4 is running that hot ..all depends on location and what else is in the box .but thats still pretty hot

Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

My P4 2.8 peaks at 47C under full load. There is little noise from the case, but saying that the heat sink inside the case is HUGE and its right next to a case fan.

Re: Dodgy Processor = High Temperature?
 

My Celery 500 (aka Ol' Faithful) is currently running at 49C and it's chugging along doing extra stuff in the background whilst i'm typing this. I don't have a particularly good fan, but it does have 3 coloured LEDs on it that are very cool :D