Chipset Running Hot

I have finished putting together my pc, and all istallations, and have begun to just put a load on it playing BF2 to see how it handles(i am not overclocking yet), i notice the chipset runs hot @50*C - @52*C, without load its @44*C - @45*C. i dont know what to do, do i remove the fan and heatsink and place arctic silver compound on it or what? i have good airflow in case and my CPU and PWMIC temp looks good and the fan on the chipset looks good too.

AMD 3200+ Venice
DFI lanparty NF4 Ultra-D
Balistix Crucial 3200 (2 X 512)
GF 7800 GT

thanks

hehe, as soon as you remove the CPU fan you remove the cooling it provides to surrounding components. I had to add a fan to my huge passive chipset heatsink after I went to water cooling on the CPU.

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Oh, I'm on another mission to save the world of technology here: Please don't use "PCI-X" for PCI-Express. PCI-X is actually a completely different technology, a server solution based on a standard slot that's been extended to 64-bits and clocked to 100MHz or 133MHz.

I realize other people are making the same mistake. In fact, even some companies use the wrong name. I'm doing all I can to help make things clear, but I'm only one man.

PCI-Express can be abreviated PCI-Ex, PCI-E, PCIe, etc. nVidia has chosen PCX, which is one reason why people get confused between PCI-Ex and PCI-X.

Getting back to your problem, you might need a better chipset cooler.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

The Evercool VC-RE is a drop in replacement for the stock hsf. No modding required. Weighs at least 2x more than the stock heatsink, is all copper and the fan pushes about 2x more air than the stock fan. As for your temps though, they look about average from what others have posted with the board and stock hsf. With the stock one mine was 45-47C idle and 54-56 load. With the Evercool it's down to 41C idle and about 47-48C under load.

Another "less attractive" mod that's worked for people is take a case fan and point it at the chipset.

Have you tried moving the HTT multiplier down from 5x to 4x or 3x? Try moving it down, then report back the new temps. Try using 3dmark2001 before and after. I'll bet you'll see less then a 3% difference at 3x.

F@H:
AMD: [64 3000+ (down)][2500+][2400+][2000+][1.3][366]
Intel: [X 3.0x3][X 2.8x2][P4 3.0x2][P4-M 2.4][P4 1.4x5][P4 1.3]

"...and i'm not gay" RX8 -Greatest Quote of ALL Time

Unless you're using the 2nd x16 pcie slot, the Orb won't work. At 25mm tall you're not going to get your 7800 in that top slot. The Evercool is around 13mm and there's only a hair distance between it and my 6800gt.

If you're thinking about other options, <A HREF="http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6577" target="_new">this</A> thread might inspire you. I have the Alpha heatsink the original poster is showing, just haven't drilled mounting holes yet.