Overheating and system noise are usually linked to each other. Fast processors emit considerable amounts of heat which needs to be dispersed properly for stable running and reliable performance. Thermal sensors on the processor and the desktop board monitor the systems temperature and if it rises above the optimum setting the fan will spin faster to increase airflow and provide more cooling. It’s this increased airflow which results in greater system noise. To minimise overheating and high fan speeds it’s important the processor is properly installed and set up to maximise heat dissipation. In this answer we’ve included some tips to help you choose the right system and a step-by-step guide for correctly installing the heatsink for a CPU. Choosing the right system
It’s well worth spending some time planning the system layout and selecting system components beforehand. One of the major components which affects thermal performance is the chassis. Intel recommends using a Thermally Advantaged Chassis version 1.1 (TAC 1.1). These chassis are designed to provide an ambient system temperature of 38°C. The chassis cover provides an air duct above the processor, which allows cool air to be directed at the processor and the heatsink fan which will also cool the components around the processor. Typically, a TAC 1.1 chassis also provides a vent over the graphics card area, to bring cool air to the video adapter. Any thermally advantaged chassis must also have at least two chassis fans (one at the front and one at the rear) to ensure that the ambient system temperature remains around 38°C. The minimum recommended fan diameter is 92 mm. But the ideal fan size is 120 mm. This is because a 120 mm provides better airflow than a smaller fan, which means it can run slower so it makes less noise. Every chassis fan should have an arrow on its casing which shows the direction of the airflow.
The front chassis fan must be mounted to pull air into the chassis, whereas the rear fan must be mounted to push hot air out of the chassis. To view a list of Intel validated chassis, go to: http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/53211.htm It’s also worth reviewing the different types of processor available. Certain boxed Intel desktop processors feature Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology (EIST). To find out which processors support EIST check the Intel® Boxed Processor Test Specification Information or the Processor Spec Finder. First delivered in Intel mobile and server platforms, EIST can provide average power savings depending on system usage and design. To learn how to enable EIST, please visit http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/203838.htm You should also ensure the power supply output is adequate to power all system components. The latest Intel® Pentium® D processors have specific power demands. To learn more, download the Intel® Pentium® D and Intel® Pentium® Processor Extreme Edition Power Supply Guide. Step-by-step CPU Installation Guide
To minimise thermal issues with your Intel® processor and potential acoustic problems due to fast spinning CPU cooling fans, please follow the step by step guide outlined below. When installing the CPU we recommend you wear latex gloves as this will avoid any potential damage to the contacts. - If you are using an Intel® Desktop Board, where applicable, remove the PnP cap on the motherboard’s processor socket immediately before integrating the CPU. This cap prevents damage to the socket and contacts. If you are removing the processor from the motherboard it is imperative that the PnP cap is replaced immediately to avoid possible socket damage to the desktop board. Spare PnP caps can be ordered at Shop IntelSM (see Useful Links at the end of this section). For other manufacturer’s desktop boards, please follow their recommendations.
- Only remove the LAND side cover that protects the Intel® processor immediately before integration into the processor socket on the motherboard. If the processor is removed from the socket, the LAND side cover must be immediately replaced to protect the CPU. Spare LAND side covers can be ordered at Shop IntelSM (see Useful Links at the end of this section).
Here are photos of the CPU from the top, and from the bottom showing the removed black LAND side cover:
 |  | Top | Bottom |
- Now remove the PnP Cap from the board socket. Unhinge the load lever and open the load plate. If you haven’t done so already, remove the LAND side cover from the processor and then lower the CPU gently into the socket body without touching the contacts on either the CPU or socket body. Once the CPU is sitting correctly in the socket, push down the load plate as far as possible and secure the load lever. This will require a certain amount of pressure as the processor is pushed into its socket.
- It is imperative to ensure that the Fan Heatsink Solution sits tightly on the processor surface. If there is any air or too much thermal interface material, heat may not be dispersed adequately. If it runs too hot, the CPU has inbuilt protection and may go into a thermal throttling condition to avoid damaging itself. In the worst case, the system may shut down.
- A thin pad of thermal interface material (TIM) is attached to the fan heatsink in the factory. A thin plastic film may protect its surface. Ensure that you check for and remove any plastic film before installing the fan heatsink.
- Do not add additional thermal grease or paste to the pre-applied thermal interface pad. If you need to, remove the fan heatsink from the processor, ensure that the thermal interface material is still usable before re-attaching the fan heatsink. If the TIM is disturbed, we recommend you wipe any remnants from both the CPU and fan heatsink surfaces with a lint free cloth (e.g. Kimwipes) and apply a new thermal interface pad. Spare thermal interface pads are available at Shop IntelSM (see Useful Links at the end of this section).
- Make sure you use sufficient pressure when mounting the fan heatsink on the processor to ensure a very tight fit. You will find an Intel® desktop board will bend as you apply pressure. This is no reason for concern. The board is designed to flex under pressure and will bounce back up once the fan is properly installed.
- Once the system is fully integrated and running, the motherboard BIOS should be upgraded to the latest version.
- If you are using an Intel® Desktop Board, it is recommended you install the operating system and Intel® Desktop Utilities for thermal monitoring, rather than using the hardware monitoring in the BIOS. This is because the BIOS monitor puts a lot of stress on the CPU so if the system is running for an extended period of time the temperature tends to rise which causes the CPU fan to spin faster and increases system noise.
- Once the system is booted into the operating system, the system temperature should drop back to normal and the CPU fan should settle in the middle of its rpm range.
- Finally, make sure all cables in the chassis are neat and tidy. But do not tie multiple component cables together. Although this looks aesthetically pleasing it can restrict airflow which will reduce thermal dissipation and can lead to overheating.
Useful links
Listed below are some useful links to help you set up your system. For general support on processors go to:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/index.htm For information on Pentium® 4 processors go to:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentium4/ Pentium 4 FAQs are at:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentium4/sb/cs-007985.htm?tti=yes For information on Intel® Pentium® D processors go to:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentiumd/ Pentium® D FAQs are at:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentiumd/sb/CS-020919.htm For Intel® tools, components and accessories visit Shop IntelSM at:
http://www.shop-intel.com/shop/default.asp | 
