mgoldb2

dont turn on the machine. acturally I doubt the machine would even turn on when set to clear mode.

mgoldb2

choose set to defaults and then tell me the temps under power, hardware monitor.

blackduck30

when you start your system does your heatsink fan start up and spin ?

if you are going to create a promise raid array have you made a floppy with the correct raid driver so you can install it by hitting F6 during install when prompted ?

Chizl

CPU Tmp is 70.5 C/ 158.5 F

Chizl

Yes, the fan is blowing hard, along with 2 other fans in the back..

Yes, I have the disk, but never get to the point of being prompted.

Chizl

BTW, my CPU Fan speed is running at 3300 RPM and the power fan speed is 1824RPM

Chizl

My temp on my CPU is dropping. It's 66C/150.5F

mgoldb2

Ok that a problem. That way to high for a idel cpu. hell that even to high for a cpu under full load.

Anything over 70C is consider dangerous for that cpu.

Before we can do anything we must get that temp down some how.

I think the first step would be to take the heatsink off clean off the cpu. reapply a thin layor of thermal grease and then reseat the HSF. You should be able to buy thermal grease like artic sliver 5 for about $5. Also try to clean the HSF of any dust the best you can if there is any dust on it.

Chizl

What is considered normal temp? And could it be the hot, because I'm turning it on and off.. I noticed the temp is going down, now that I'm leaving it on. It's at 63.5C now.

mgoldb2

You want the cpu to idel around the low 40's C or lower. Under full load you dont want it to get past 60C.

it really should be no time that you want it over 60C in my opioun.

I dont thing turning your computer on and off alone would cause it to get that high.

What is the room temperture in your house. do you keep the computer in a really hot place?

when it reach 70's your computer going to throttle meaning slow down the cpu in order to pervent if from being broken. it might be getting lower now just because it throttling and not because of any other reason.

Chizl

no.. I live in TX, but it's about 70 in the room. I have the cover off the box and I have a box fan blowing on it.. Is there something special I have to do to get this CPU off? I pulled the lever on the side, but it doesn't seem to be moving.. Do I need to unscrew the srews holding the fan on first? Wasn't this complicated back in 95.. lol

Chizl

I unscrewed the HSF and it's got crap caked on the HS. Move my finger across it, it feels like lint.. I still can't seem to get the HS or the CPU off though.

mgoldb2

You dont want to remove the cpu it self. just clean any thermal grease on the front. To remove the heatsink you usually dont need to unskew anything. I forget how the stock amd HSF is connected. I have a different HS on mine then the stock one.

There should be some way of pushing the black lever to get it off I believe.

After removing the HSF clean off the part that touch the cpu.

Before putting it back on you will need to put some new thermal grease on the cpu.

Chizl

Humm.. I flip the lever, but it's like the thing is welded to the mother board.. http://www.chizl.com/comp/cimg1037.jpg

mgoldb2

Hmm I never had a alienware computer so I not sure if they use some type of special method to putting the HSF on.

Well that thing looks pretty dusty so why dont you get some canned air the type ment to be used on computers and clean that thing off the best you can.

I guessing you removed the fan already since I dont see it on there. make sure that fan is also clear of dust before putting it back on.

the problem might be all the dust on the HS is perventing the fan from cooling it.

Chizl

didn't have a can of air, so I used my mini-vac.. Sucked up all the lint.. pretty clean now.. I have pulled and tugged, but not enought to break something and I can't get that HS off.. When you say HSF , that stands for Head Sink Fan, right, or what are you refering too?

And yes, I had already taken the Fan off the top.. It's hanging below.

mgoldb2

yeah when I say HSF I mean the heatsink + the fan and when I say just HS I mean just the heatsink without the fan.

well if you want you can take a look at the temps now (after putting the fan back on) to see if cleaning the dust off helped any. I had one computer once that just cleaning the dust off the HSF lowered it 10C.

Chizl

Just started my box back up.. Temp started out at 35C, but I'm watching it get hotter.. Looks like it finally stopped at 49C/120F..

Chizl

Well I think that solved my CPU over heating issue, I just turned on my box fan and it's now down to 42.5C ..

Now if I could only install my OS on it, so I could use it.. lol..

mgoldb2

That much closer to what I like to see. 35C would of been great. 49C about 4 degrees hotter then I would of liked to see it when it not doing anything heavy but should be fine.

Now let try getting windows to install.

I found your motherboard manual so I going to give you paraphase instructions of setting up raid and installing windows on it stright from there.

1. In bios go to advanced, onboard devices config, make sure onboard promise controller is enabled.

2. set operation mode to RAID

3. save changes and exit

4. delete the arrays you have

5. create RAID 1 ARRAY

6. try installing windows and tell me how it goes