[Express]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

That's just bad news. Did you not apply thermal compound at all? Even so, if the heatsink was sitting flush on the processor, you should get higher than normal temps, but I wouldn't think you'd crash in seconds. That just doesn't sound right.

Stock heat sinks are shit anyway. I don't know much about the i3, but I know the i7 ones were absolute garbage, even at stock speeds. I doubt they would have revamped the design for the i3.

Give the AS5 route a try. If this doesn't work, you've got something very wrong. Were the proc, ram, or mobo open box items?

nothing was open box.

there was a bit on there, but it didnt look like enough to me, which is why i got more. im hoping thats what it is. i am starting to think computers are out to get me.

[ragingclue]

I dunno man, I've heard of people not properly seating the heat sink assembly and having the same issues.

Just make sure you don't drown the processor in that shit. Thermal compound is also a conductor. You don't want it venturing onto your mobo. In fact, you should still be able to see the writing on the top of the chip after you've applied the compound. Also, make sure you properly remove what's already on it. They make a solution to do that the right way too.

[Express]

i am 10 times more lost than i was before i made this thread..... ahhhhhhhh

[Express]

i might have to post some pics later.

[Mega Man]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

I dunno man, I've heard of people not properly seating the heat sink assembly and having the same issues.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[Express]

i was thinking of covering my motherboard with the stuff....

damn..

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by express705

i was thinking of covering my motherboard with the stuff....

damn..

LOL well at least then your processor would never overheat...

And you'd have a free fireworks show.

[Express]

i already got one of those thanks to newegg.

[Express]

so here are some pictures. what do you think?

[Express]

i dont think the compound has completely finished melting into the processor either.

[3lusive]

When I built my computer I was taught to put the thermal compound in a line down the middle of the CPU. So I am wondering why the thermal paste placement looks spotty.

After this debacle is over I think it's pretty obvious that you need a new heatsink :P the OEM ones are always not very good.

[Express]

i refuse to spend more money on this fucking thing that doesnt even work.

[liq]

Looks like the heatsink was not fully secure on the motherboard and there was not enough pressure on the CPU for the heatsink to work properly.

Try resecuring the heatsink on the Mobo again. The stupid pushpins can be a pain but make sure all 4 of them are fully depressed through the holes.

That should solve your problem but if it doesn't, any relatively cheap aftermarket CPU cooler should do a better job than the stock Intel one.

On a side note, you mention wanting to overclock. People rarely overclock with the stock Intel fan.

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by liq

Looks like the heatsink was not fully secure on the motherboard and there was not enough pressure on the CPU for the heatsink to work properly.

Try resecuring the heatsink on the Mobo again. The stupid pushpins can be a pain but make sure all 4 of them are fully depressed through the holes.

That should solve your problem but if it doesn't, any relatively cheap aftermarket CPU cooler should do a better job than the stock Intel one.

On a side note, you mention wanting to overclock. People rarely overclock with the stock Intel fan.

Yes if you overclock get rid of that fan. It's terrible. And you're right that it looks like it may not have been completely secure. Some of the best options out there run from $35 up last time I checked. You can spend a couple hundred for some of the more elaborate seups, but there's really no need.

The pins all have to be clamped down. It's going to feel like you're about to break the board, but that's what it takes to seat the assembly properly. It's also possible you have a defective heat sink if all pins were seated. It doesn't look like it sat flush to me.

[Express]

ill give it another shot.. thanks for everything so far guys.

[Express]

Originally Posted by liq

Looks like the heatsink was not fully secure on the motherboard and there was not enough pressure on the CPU for the heatsink to work properly.

Try resecuring the heatsink on the Mobo again. The stupid pushpins can be a pain but make sure all 4 of them are fully depressed through the holes.

That should solve your problem but if it doesn't, any relatively cheap aftermarket CPU cooler should do a better job than the stock Intel one.

On a side note, you mention wanting to overclock. People rarely overclock with the stock Intel fan.

i think it worked.. i pressed really hard. CPU temps is not rising higher than 89.5 F.

still havent fixed my hard drive issues yet =(

[klipseracer]

I'm not exactly sure what your hard drive issue is. If you gave detailed information then I didn't see it. I need to know:

Operating System. i didn't see if you were able to load an OS before crashing or not.
Exact hard drive model(I'll go back and recheck)
Were you starting from scratch needing to reinstall an O/S?


You said you made an 'image' of your hard drive. Did you already transfer this 'image' onto your new hard drive? You can mirror a drive and I'm not sure if this is what you are trying to say you've done. If so, your existing hard drive and drivers etc will be on there and will likely not work if you've made any significant hardware changes

First thing I would personally attack, is the fact that if you are trying to install an operating system like Windows XP, the drivers to install this hard drive generally are not included on your windows xp disk. So when it says, "Push F2 for raid drivers" you need to have a floppy drive i think or cd with the sata drivers on there. You could also slipstream the drivers into your windows xp disk. Windows xp has a list of drivers already loaded on the cd and thats what it does in the beginning of windows installation. If you 'slipstream' the proper drivers onto the disk, it should recognize your sata drive. I'm only under the assumption that you are trying to install a new OS. If you are trying XP and can't figure it out, try to use vista or windows 7 and see if that clears it up for you. Vista and 7 have more drivers at least the common ones. Hope that helps. I have a own a computer repair shop and I'm willing to give some insight if you need it.

[Express]

i will elaborate in the morning.