I intend to change my current Duron 1800 processor for a Sempron 2600 or 2800. I intend to change only the CPU and reuse my heatsink a Themaltake Silent Boost. The Duron is running extemely cool and silent (I even don't have a case fan). I wonder if I'll have same success with the Semprons what are the temps. I can expect whith these: ?? * Sempron 2600 (1800Mhz.) Thbred B based* * Sempron 2800 (2000Mhz.) Thbred B based * Sempron 2600 (2000Mhz.) Thorton based That heatsink should be enought but I don't want go beyond 45ºC Is that very optimistic ? TIA

"I don't want go beyond 45ºC" Although it's surely possible, you seem to be setting your sights a little low, especially considering you don't have any case cooling. Hopefully you have PC2700 RAM. PC2100 will bottleneck your system, unless you're able to force it to run at 166MHz. I'm looking at my temps for my overclocked 1800+ (8 x 210MHz) right now...board @ 25C, CPU socket @ 30C, CPU diode @ 43C, with little load to speak of. I feel very comfortable with these temps. I also have a 2500+ Sempron overclocked to 1.94GHz (10.5 x 185MHz) which is equivilent to a 2800+. It's been a while since I stress tested it, but it maxed at 44C in a cool room (16C) in a case with 3 fans. I ran it for a short time at 2.1Ghz (10.5 x 200MHz) & the temp maxed at 49C. As far as I'm concerned, that's still reasonable & nothing to be concerned about. I wouldn't worry unless it approached 60C. To each, his own though...I realize some people suffer from "temperature paranoia". Just try to somehow verify your temps are being reported accurately before shifting into panic mode. Some boards are off by 5-7C, sometimes even more.... Asus A7N8X-X 1800+ @ 8 x 210MHz 512MB PC3200 Asus Ti4800SE 128MB WinME/WinXP Pro

Just to clarify: "I wouldn't worry unless it approached 60C" I should have said, 60C under load. 60C at idle is definitely not acceptable Asus A7N8X-X 1800+ @ 8 x 210MHz 512MB PC3200 Asus Ti4800SE 128MB WinME/WinXP Pro

"you seem to be setting your sights a little low, especially considering you don't have any case cooling." Well I can put one (or two) rear exahust fan, I'm against frontal intakes they make lot of noise and this is a real concern for me, but I want to be very sure that it won't have problems. "2500+ Sempron overclocked to 1.94GHz (10.5 x 185MHz) which is equivilent to a 2800+ ... but it maxed at 44C in a cool room (16C) in a case with 3 fans." What kind of heatsink do you use ? If it works at 45ºC in winter (16ºC) I think it'll still work in summer (4xºC) without problems so those 2800 seem to be on the border, maybe a Thorton based perform better.

I used the stock HSF with my Sempron but had to used paste because I removed & replaced it several times while experimenting. A front intake fan is necessary for good airflow & it's needed to balance the cooling system. If you install 2 exhaust fans in the rear (plus the PSU which also acts as an exhaust fan), you'll have 3 fans drawing air outta the case, but no fans supplying what's know in the HVAC industry as "make up air". The case will be under severe negative pressure & those 3 fans will be "starving" for air. The makeup air will have to be sucked in any & every possible opening in the case...the bottomline is it's an inefficient way to purge the case of warm air. Remember, my overclocked Sempron maxed at 44C under severe load. What I neglected to mention is I have the vcore set at 1.775v. That temp was reached after stress/load testing by running Toast at "high priority" for over 30min & system stability was also tested by running Prime95 for several hours. Under "normal" use, it doen't get near that hot. It idles in the low/mid 30s. If you feel like reading about the trials & tribulations of my Sempron overclocking, I posted the details a while back: http://www.computing.net/cpus/wwwboard/forum/11201.html Asus A7N8X-X 1800+ @ 8 x 210MHz 512MB PC3200 Asus Ti4800SE 128MB WinME/WinXP Pro

"I have the vcore set at 1.775v" This changes things a lot, hard to believe that it's running so cool, fine, nevertheless I find them a litle pricey (specially the 2800 one) so I'll expect till prices go down. Regarding the case fans you are right, but I still think that intakes are very noisy (BTW: Are there fans designed to be intakes ??). Thanks for the link.