NZFF

Posted: **Mon May 14, 2007 3:18 pm**

I decided to clean my CPU heat sink on the weekend as my computer seems to be running really slowly at the moment....

So i took the heatsink off (which also removed the CPU chip as it is stuck to the heatsink) and cleaned all the gunk out of the heatsink baldes, reinstalled and......nothing....damn...Ill check it properly again tonight but its probable that ive either stuffed the CPU or the Motherboard/Socket (or both)....

No use crying over spilt milk... :lol:

It may be time to buy a new CPU or motherboard so i need some opinions from you hardware gurus out there....

Currently im running an AMD 3200+ (socket 939)......if i just bought a new CPU id probably want to upgrade but the higher end chips on the 939 socket tend to ramp up in price and im wondering if it may just be better to buy a new dual core MB and CPU??? (you can get dual cores on a 939 socket but they are $$$$)

Basically im looking for the best bang for the buck and dont really want to spend over 300-400 NZ pesos.

Posted: **Mon May 14, 2007 4:19 pm**

Go to Pricespy for the cheapest of most products. For a cpu i would recommend AMD Athlon 64 3700. I am running that and get good frame rates with FSX

Posted: **Mon May 14, 2007 4:20 pm**

similar thing happened to me and my P4 chip- couldn't remove the heatsink without removing the CPU. Luckily it kept working after I reinstalled it, which is a miracle since i really ripped into it. So do check the seating of the chip before rushing out to get a new one.

only question i suppose is whether you'll end up needing to buy more memory if it doesn't fit on the new motherboard. Seeing as the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ socket AM2 CPU is about the same price as an Athlon 64 3800+ socket 939, you'd probably be better off starting again from scratch.
I'm of course assuming 4800 is better than 3800, I'm not an AMD kinda guy so I wouldn't really know.

Posted: **Mon May 14, 2007 4:49 pm**

ahhh this brings back memories......

WHen you say nothing, do you mean actually nothing at all? Make sure your Cpu is properly seated in its thingy. Check that everything is clipped on properly and try again.

Well, atleast now you have a reason to buy new stuff! :clap:

Posted: **Mon May 14, 2007 4:58 pm**

Yeah as i say i need to check again....it seemed like it seated properly and the 'clamp' didnt need any unusual force to get it on.....

The only thing i can think of is the actual CPU clamp (i.e. there are two clamps- One keeps the Heatsink on the mother board, the other keeps the CPU chip in its socket...apparently)- You cant get to the CPU clamp without removing the heatsink....and you cant remove the heatsink without removing the CPU chip as its stuck to the heatsink (i.e the CPU clamp didnt do a good job at keeping the chip in its socket....if in fact that is what it is designed to do??!)

Posted: **Tue May 15, 2007 7:32 am**

right on- took it apart again and there was a pin bent on the chip.....so ive removed the chip from the heatsink (typical male didnt read the instructions- you are supposed to gently twist the heat sink off the chip....i pulled it off which left the chip on the heat sink)

I carefully reseated the chip and it goes in OK
So i just need to get some heat sink paste and reapply the heatsink....hopefully it will work

Posted: **Tue May 15, 2007 7:29 pm**

YAYYY all fixed!
And a new joystick to play with too.....mmmm

Posted: **Thu May 17, 2007 9:31 pm**

darn, and just when you had the perfect excuse to upgrade!

Posted: **Thu May 17, 2007 10:14 pm**

For a cpu i would recommend AMD Athlon 64 3700. I am running that and get good frame rates with FSX

ooOO00OOoo What are the rest of your specs? I have a Athlon64 3500 with 2 gig ram and 256 (Radeon X800GT) mb graphics card. Just wondering as I am trying to work out whether my comp willl run FSX okay. Are good FPS's after SP1?

Posted: **Thu May 17, 2007 10:20 pm**

Naki wrote:
For a cpu i would recommend AMD Athlon 64 3700. I am running that and get good frame rates with FSX

ooOO00OOoo What are the rest of your specs? I have a Athlon64 3500 with 2 gig ram and 256 (Radeon X800GT) mb graphics card. Just wondering as I am trying to work out whether my comp willl run FSX okay. Are good FPS's after SP1?

Naki

My specs are the same as yours and I run FSX fine. 20-25 frames around default wellington after I installed SP1, more around the country and smaller airports. OK - you won't get the autogen on full, but FSX packs about 4 times as many trees and houses per sq km than FS9 anyway.

You will be impressed

Deane

Posted: **Thu May 17, 2007 10:24 pm**

Okay thanks for the info Deane - dying to have a go flying your Fletcher in FSX.

Cheers

Paul

NZFF

New CPU (and maybe motherboard)