No performance out of my xp-90 heatsink?

[quiq]

I recently began building my new computer yesterday. I disgarded the stock athlon 3500+ heatsink and installed the huge xp-90 instead and attached the stock fan on top (what a hastle)...

After I installed Windows I went back into bios to check the cpu temperature and it hovers back and forth between 36 and 38 at idle (with case open and a 120mm case fan). When I first booted it was 34-35 but after several minutes its in the higher 30's. Shouldnt i be getting cooler idles in the very low 30's? I havnt had a chance to test it during a full load.

If I installed the heatsink in one direction instead of the other, would that make any difference?

 

[gaara]

It would be nice if you provided the ambient room temperature...

You can't install it "another direction" since the heat conductive bottom is only found on the...bottom

 

[Shumway]

Which thermal paste did you use? If it was Arctic silver it will drop a couple degree's after it break's in.

 

[SHAWN]

You can't install it "another direction" since the heat conductive bottom is only found on the...bottom

ha. I found that funny.

 

[quiq]

If you look at the xp-90 its a very asymetrical heatsink. with the 4 heatpipes on one side and an overhanging set of fins on the otherside, thats what I meant. The base just barely reaches the edge of one side of my processor and overlaps on the otherside so I wonder if that has anything to do with the lame performance (probably not)

But I've heard the stock fan is supposed to work fine too

 

[SHAWN]

Take a picture. I think I know what you did.

 

[idiotec]

You should at least check load temps before going to far. Often load temps are reduced a lot more than idle temps when going to an after market cooler.

For example, I installed a Tower 112 HSF and results were:

Idle went from 36 - 32: 4 degree drop in temp
Load went from 59 - 47: 12 degree drop in temp

Also, BIOS temps are higher than idle Windows temps.

 

[quiq]

pictures from yesterday
http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/7127/pict14009cp.jpg
http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/7304/pict14012xq.jpg



I used the thermal grease that came with the heatsink, does that get better over time too?

I didnt know bios temps were higher thats good to know

 

[U-Toast]

1ST wait till past breaks in, itl drop 2-3C possibly. I have a 3500 NC with a xp90c with 90mm panaflow 58 cmf and when i just installe dit i was running 34-35, then it dropped at 30-32 idle, open case. Now its running like 35-38 idle closed case. room temps here ate 28c, case temps are 30 case closed, a little less open.

Try to clean your case, and do some cable management if u need it, it helps a lot.

 

[Shumway]

From the one pic it look's like you put too much paste on it,Look's like you covered the whole bottom of the heat sink :freak: