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#161142 05/30/12 07:38 AM
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Hi guys,
Remember throughout my years of using biab I've had problems with biab distorting. I've narrowed the problem down to either the PSU ( which is 500 w ) or the amd dual core processor.
I've done a test and discovered the temperature goes from about 55 up to 70 when I start using biab.
Reckon it's the PSU needing replaced. Upgrade to a 650w maybe ?

furry #161143 05/30/12 07:59 AM
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That depends, Graham.

The Temperature of *WHAT* "goes up when you start using biab"?

Most diagnostic programs can only report the CPU temperature (because most PSU's don't have temperature sensing that is reported in their circuitry).

If it is the CPU temp that is going up like that, it could be a rather simple matter of reseating the CPU to its heatsink by cleaning off the old Heatsink Compound, applying new high quality Heatsink Compound and cleaning out the CPU fan. Matter of fact, it might only be due to a dusty or poorly operating CPU fan cooler. Replacing the fan cooler is a rather easy to perform task.


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Mac #161144 05/30/12 08:02 AM
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Thanks Mac I'll give that a go. We have a coal fire and get a lot of dust from that, so maybe the dust as it DID work better for a while after blowing the dust out. I have an internal fan in the tower which I reckon is helping a bit

furry #161145 05/30/12 08:03 AM
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Sorry, it's the CPU temp by the way

furry #161146 05/30/12 08:46 AM
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Does it only happen in biab or also in Realband. In realband when you select the realtracks overview, the cpu goes up to 100%. By the way, 70° is not very hot, mine went up to 80° regularly using realband.

Last edited by sinbad; 05/30/12 08:48 AM.

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I thought 70 degrees Centigrade is quite hot for a CPU. It is Centigrade, is it not? I don't remember which system is used in Scotland.


BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Quote:

Does it only happen in biab or also in Realband. In realband when you select the realtracks overview, the cpu goes up to 100%. By the way, 70° is not very hot, mine went up to 80° regularly using realband.




That can depend on the CPU, check with your CPU manufacturer for regular operating temperatures. Normally they'll downclock if they're getting too hot so that they don't sustain damage. But as Mac said, especially if you're in a dusty area, make sure to dust your heatsink with some compressed air once every or so or even replace it, and you can also buy an aftermarket one for more effective cooling.

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WillM #161149 05/30/12 10:22 AM
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It only goes high when using biab. We use centigrade in Scotland. I'll maybe invest in another fan for the tower see if that helps

furry #161150 05/30/12 10:30 AM
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Yow. Yeah, Graham, 70° centigrade is way, way too hot. Well, not impossibly hot, but my little Phenom II with a 430W PSU has never gone above 105F/40.5C, no matter how hard I push it. Maybe a secondary fan or heat sink over the CPU? That should be less than 20 pounds....


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My thoughts too Tom. 2nd fan and also a bigger PSU. Don't want to do a full upgrade as it's working great apart from the issue with biab

furry #161152 05/30/12 01:32 PM
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Hi Graham,

Just so you don't spend anything more than you need to, you don't need a bigger PSU if you're having temperature problems. You can see if you need a bigger power supply with one of these:

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

Will


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WillM #161153 05/30/12 02:28 PM
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I believe it was the fan after all. Gave it a good clean and it's been keeping to 50* av going up to 55* using biab

furry #161154 05/30/12 04:05 PM
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Much better, except now you will have to find somewhere else on which to make tea.


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Graham,
Yeah, 70°C is way too hot for a CPU. A 500W PSU should not be a problem, unless you're running a gaming graphics card and a whole slew of hard drives.

What I recommend is this. Cleaning the CPU fan and heatsink is a good thing, but since the computer has been running that hot, there's a good chance that the thermal compound between the CPU and the heatsink is in bad shape. That stuff is crucial to the life of your CPU.

I HIGHLY recommend using Arctic Silver. http://www.arcticsilver.com/# I use this on all of my computers, and even my video cards, and it will drop the temperature by another 5°C or more. My AMD 3.0+ GHz Quad Core runs at about 43°C.

If you can find a computer shoppe around you that has Arctic Silver, and be careful of the spelling, because there are imitations out there, check back on the site about how to apply it. There is a technique to it. Too much and it won't work, not enough and it won't work. Just the right amount does an amazing job. If you get this, remove the heat sink and use acetone to clean both the heatsink and the top of the CPU, then dry thoroughly with a clean, lint free cloth. Follow the directions on the Arctic Silver website for how to apply the product you choose (I use Ceramique lately, but still have AS 5, too). Reinstall the heatsink, and start the computer. Enter into the BIOS and go to the hardware monitoring page, and watch the temp. It should go up a few degrees and stabilize. Your CPU type, and how much power it draws, will determine the temperature, but at idle, before loading Windows, it shouldn't go up more than three or four degrees. If it goes above five or ten degrees, you'll need to shut down and check to make sure the heatsink/fan assembly is correctly seated.

I would recommend watching this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLB38FA4D49509699D&feature=player_embedded&v=9VSDkB-3st4

One of the other things that I would recommend, and always use myself, is a larger cooler than what comes with the retail boxed CPUs, or worse, factory coolers. Check your mainboard, socket type, and case size, but you can get some really nice coolers now that will run as cool, if not cooler, than liquid cooling.

Gary


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Thanks for all the help guys, I reckon the fan clogged up with dust was the main problem. Temperature is running at least 15* cooler since I cleaned it. I will invest in a secondary fan though and hopefully stop the need for any further investment.
Just bought a new Behringer mic to improve the quality of my radio programmes.

furry #161157 05/31/12 03:44 PM
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"Cleanliness is next to Godliness." -- Benjamin Franklin

Mac #161158 06/01/12 07:17 PM
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I'd still replace the thermal paste.

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Well, there's the old adage, "If it works, don't fix it!" that may well apply in Graham's case.


--Mac

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