Cheap Computer Cooling?

[SirFozzie]

I've had a few blackscreen/computer hangs recently, and I know the CPU's overheating (when I hit reset, it does say CPU temperature too high).. any suggestions for cheap computer cooling?

[cthomer5000]

Pack the case with ice cubes.

[Craptacular]

Open your case.

[Deattribution]

Is something I was thinking about asking about - since my system hasn't overheated yet, but it's been gradually been getting warmer and warmer.

Started out idling at around 33c and now it's common for it to stay around 50c and rise once it starts taking on applications.

'Better' heatsinks seem to be the usual recommendation but how easy is it to remove the retail heatsink and install a new 'custom' heatsink?

And any recommendations for what to look for in one?

[SirFozzie]

Open your case.

might do that, although it does have some vents already, including a fan on the side.. Might look into clocking it back a bit, or installing a cheapo add on fan.. (water cooling probably would be more expennsive then I like)

[cartman]

Actually, opening the case might make things worse. Most cases are designed for airflow, and if you take one of the sides off this can actually cause less air to go across the heatsink.

[SirFozzie]

cartman: best bet would be to get a more powerful CPU heatsink then?

No wonder it's hanging, I just looked at the CPU temperature.. 62.5C!!!!

[cartman]

Yep, definitely a better heatsink will help. If you have the space on the MB and inside the case, I'd recommend one of the Zalman heatsinks. Should run you anywhere from $25 to $50, depending on the one you choose.

[Desnudo]

A housefan can provide a temporary solution.

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.interstateproducts.com/images/Cool%20Draft/Cooldraft_1.jpg

[Shepp]

It really depends on the type of processor that you're using. I noticed that my Intel Prescott 3.2ghz was running in the 50's and thought that was pretty warm. After I did some research I found that Prescott's architecture cause them to run hot. Temps in the 50's and even the 60's are not out of the ordinary.

[SirFozzie]

AMD ASUS K8V 3000+, I think it's over clocked, as it's running at 2Ghz.

I know the heat is out of the normal range, because when it reboots after hanging, in the reboot it tells me CPU temperature too high (and waits for me to hit F1 to ok booting up normally)

[jeff061]

Neaten up the wires in your case as well, like Cartman said cases are designed for airflow and messy cables can interfere with that.