[Airescape]

Hey everyone, I just put together my new machine today, and it's not working. This is my first time building a computer, so I didn't really know what I was doing. It took me a long time to get it set up, and a lot of frustration, but it finally runs and I can get to BIOS and whatnot.

My setup is:
P35C
E8400 Wolfdale 3.0 GHz (BIOS says it's running at 2.0 GHZ
8800 GT superclocked
2gb corsair ddr2
Antec 900 pc case
antec EW 500 psu

my bios "PC Health" screen shows my CPU running at 92-94 degrees celsius (which I assume is not good at all), and my system running at 33 degrees celsius. My ram was auto-set to 5-5-5-18 timing, I reset it to 4-4-4-12 timing which it can handle first thing.

The first few times I had to boot I had to use "Fail-Safe" Mode, whatever that is, because I couldn't get the PC to start up with anything except the gfx card. I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

One of the 4 legs on the heat sink to the CPU feels slightly loose, I couldn't press it down any harder without breaking the motherboard. it wouldn't snap into place.

The problem is, it keeps freezing. In the bios it froze once, I put the vista 64 bit CD in and while "loading files" it froze, then I rebooted and tried again, got to the vista background screen and it froze again.

I don't know what to do anymore, it just keeps freezing. I've come to you guys with problems before and you always pull through, please help me troubleshoot.

Edit: Also, the end of my ATX cable that plugs into the Mobo is missing one pin, 5 pins over on the top left, will this affect anything? And I checked the CPU heatsink and it's really not that loose. I used the included thermal paste which was already on the heatsink.

[philthomas]

If the is CPU running at 92-94 degrees celsius, you have a major overheating issue. Water boils at 100c.
Dont try powering up again, until you check the Heatsink is fitted properly and thermal paste has been applied properly.

From what you have said, it sounds as though it isn't seated properly, so try removing it, clean off the paste and reapply and fit it again. If you keep trying to boot in this state, it is likely you will damage the CPU.

[Airescape]

Originally Posted by philthomas If the is CPU running at 92-94 degrees celsius, you have a major overheating issue. Water boils at 100c. Dont try powering up again, until you check the Heatsink is fitted properly and thermal paste has been applied properly. From what you have said, it sounds as though it isn't seated properly, so try removing it, clean off the paste and reapply and fit it again. If you keep trying to boot in this state, it is likely you will damage the CPU.

Well, the thermal paste was pre-applied to the heatsink, should I go run to bestbuy to pick up some new stuff? Will they even have it there?

I know when I pressed on the loading lever to hold the CPU into place, it was extremely difficult to put it into place. Rather than just resting back into place, I had to apply a large amount of force to get the lever back into it's holder.

I took some pictures real quick, see if they help.




Trying to upload more, imgshack is being dumb. Should I buy a new heatsink all together?

[mcbee]

When you look at the paste on the heatsink it is not evenly spread over the full contact area. The contact pressure was not high enough to spread it. You need to reseat the HSF making sure all the retaining pins are tight. The idle temps on that CPU should be low probably in the 30s with the standard HSF. Your CPU must be seated properly otherwise it would not work.

[Airescape]

One of the legs on the heatsink was broken I think I may have applied too much pressure when it wouldn't go in the first time. Do you think my CPU was damaged from around 4-6 three minute cycles of on time at 94 celsius? Should I call intel and see if they will replace it?

Do they sell heatsinks at Circuit City, or Best Buy? Maybe CompUSA? I really don't feel like waiting another four days to get this POS up and running. I've already waited 2 weeks.

[Airescape]

I picked up a new heat-sink. Compusa brand was all they had left. I put it in (no instructions) and i can't snap in two of the legs into the Mobo. No matter how hard i press. with just 2 legs snapped in, its at 60 degrees celsius. I dont know what to do, no way in hell am I ordering a 50 dollar one online if its just not going to snap in like these last two have done. One of the legs on the compusa one is now broken also.

building this pc has been possibly the most frustrating, worst experience i've ever gone through. how much would i be able to sell a "used" system with those specs for? I think I ended up spending around 850.

[mcbee]

Don't give up on it. You have the makings of a good system there. An Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro at less than $30 will work well with that CPU. Socket 775 HSFs are tricky to fit. Study the pins to understand how they work and in problem cases it may be necessary to fit to the mobo out of the case. Your CPU will run well below 60. It is obviously still working.

[philthomas]

A bit late in the day perhaps, but here is a good guide for installing Sockett 775 CPU & Heatsink.

As you have broken 1 of the legs on the new Heatsink, you have no choice but to get a new one. If it's idling at 60c, that is still too hot for stabilty.

As mcbee said, dont give up. My advice would be leave it for a few days, calm down a bit and face it refreshed .... things often go better when you are less angry

[Carbon]

Don't worry about the lever. Those take a LOT of force.

And so do the pins. My advice is to cool down, get a Arctic as was previously suggested. Pull the motherboard out (you do NOT want to be doing this when the motherboard is in the case) and snap the pins in, diagonally (top left, bottom right, then vice versa).

You will want to get some Arctic Silver and spread it across the cores after wiping the top of the CPU with something soft (I used a coffee filter) doused with rubbing alcohol to clean it. They have a guide on how to apply the material.

I know when I was building my first computer that I got really pissed off when I couldn't get something figured out (wasn't POSTing, replaced the mobo and it was no good), not to mention when the screws went badly into the standoffs and wouldn't come out unless I popped them out with the motherboard. It was tough. But it's all been worth it, and you have an amazing setup. Stick with it.

The CPU is probably OK, and the ATX is fine (this is normal so you put it in the right way). Just get that heatsink fixed correctly. Also, make sure your CPU fan cable is plugged in - I think it is from that picture, but just make sure.

I'm sorry that it's been difficult, but it will pay off, trust me. Worst case scenario, get someone to pop it in for you .Local shop shouldn't ask any more than $25 or so.

[Airescape]

Thanks for the motivations guys. I was really pissed yesterday, so I wasn't really paying attention to what I was saying. I was looking on NewEgg at the Freezer 7 Pro, and I found the Zalaman CNPS9550, from the looks of it on Newegg, it comes with some sort of mounting bracket for 775 sockets. They list it as:

"Clip Support Fixing Bolts for Socket 775
Clip Support for Socket 775
Back Plate for Socket 775"

Would that be better for my situation? Easier to install? I couldn't help but read the 1 star out of 5 reviews on the freezer 7 pro, which people said it was very difficult to install, and I just don't want to be in that situation again on my third heat sink. Should I just get the Freezer 7 Pro and take it somewhere to have it installed? Removing the motherboard was the last thing I wanted to do, more chance of screwing something up. I had a really difficult time installing the motherboard to the case, due to the holes not lining up properly, I had to apply a large amount of pressure to the motherboard to get the holes to aligned.

If I should get the zalaman instead, will the provided thermal paste be adequate? Or should I get more?

Thanks again guys. Sorry for my short temper. I'm not screwing with it till I have a new heatsink =/