Quick help with installing new heatsink

[htid]

Hey,

Need help quite quickly here as my computer here at work is offline and so I can't do any work...

Have a Dell Vostro 220, came with E7500 (core 2 duo) and stock cooler. Bought a Q8400 (core 2 quad) with stock cooler, however just come to install it and found that the current cooler is attached by screws and the new one is these plastic push in things...so I don't think it will fit...I tried but didn't want to force it in case it breaks or something. So my only option is to use the cooler which came with the E7500, but I just want to check this won't be a problem. I can't see why not, but I'm not a total computer geek and so I don't really want to take the risk without getting some advice first! The heatsink is bigger for the E7500 than the new cpu so it should be OK heat wise right? Im just thinking if the fan will spin at high enough rpm to keep the new cpu cool?

Anyway thanks for any help!

[killie99]

Clean the thermal material off the old heatsink, put new thermal paste on it and use that heatsink. Download 'Speedfan' http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php and run it to see what temps you get.
One other fly in the ointment might be that the BIOS on the Dell motherboard won't support your Q8400 ......

[Platinum]

Not trying to be intentional unhelpful but why are you swapping the CPU in a work PC when you say your not very technical?
Would it not be best to leave it and ask your tech guys?

[htid]

Not trying to be intentional unhelpful but why are you swapping the CPU in a work PC when you say your not very technical?
Would it not be best to leave it and ask your tech guys?

No problem I've built my own system before at home a few times so I know what I'm doing re building it, I'm just not sure of the more technical aspects, as usually I've just come on here and said "I want X Y and Z, will they work together?" and if I get a yes, I do it myself So I've just never come across this situation before.

We're a small company of only 4 people so we have no tech guys, it's just me unfortunately (the rest of them haven't a clue what RAM even means I expect)!

[htid]

Clean the thermal material off the old heatsink, put new thermal paste on it and use that heatsink. Download 'Speedfan' http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php and run it to see what temps you get.
One other fly in the ointment might be that the BIOS on the Dell motherboard won't support your Q8400 ......

Yeah I had read that I need to update bios to 1.2.4, but I didn't do anything and it boot up first time, no problems at all! This won't cause any issues or damage, will it?

[Platinum]

We're a small company of only 4 people so we have no tech guys, it's just me unfortunately (the rest of them haven't a clue what RAM even means I expect)!

Fair enough explains all

HTID fan eh? Not been to one of there events since Energy 2005, might have been Raverbaby but tbh its all the same **** ZOMG STYLEZZ!!!!!

[scaryjim]

Yeah I had read that I need to update bios to 1.2.4, but I didn't do anything and it boot up first time, no problems at all! This won't cause any issues or damage, will it?

It shouldn't do, no, but you might find your CPU doesn't run at the right speed (it'll usually run slower than spec) if the BIOS can't figure out what mutliplier it should be using. Load up CPU-Z, and as long as it says you're running at the right speed you'll be fine

[killie99]

Yeah I had read that I need to update bios to 1.2.4, but I didn't do anything and it boot up first time, no problems at all! This won't cause any issues or damage, will it?

What CPU core temps is Speedfan reporting?

[htid]

Well cpu-z is showing the correct processor info so looks like that's all good!

Speedfan is giving the following readings (I've never used it before so not sure which value I am looking for, however I guess it is cores 0-3)

GPU: 33c
Temp 1: 33c
Temp 2: 35c
Temp 3: -64c (what the hell?)
Core 0: 36c
Core 1: 34c
Core 2: 37c
Core 3: 37c

From what I remember from building my own computers a few years ago, 50-60 is pretty much the max you want right? So these temps are perfectly fine it seems? This is actually with using the same thermal paste that was still remaining on the heatsink (I was obviously expecting to be able to use the new one which would have new paste, so I didn't buy any thermal paste...I have some akasa AK-450 somewhere at home so when I next go back, I'll bring it, hope it's OK until then, because that could be a month off still).