Limiting CPU load
30 Nov 2005 0:37:06 UTC
Topic 190260
(moderation:
My CPU runs fairly hot at the best of times (3.2GHz P4 prescott with standard heat sink). When it's been running at 100% for a while it gets very hot, though not hot enough to set off the alarm. But hot enough that I don't like leaving it at that temperature. Is there a way I can limit the maxium CPU load that BOINC can access to say 75%?
Limiting CPU load
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Sorry I'm not adding anything except letting you know I have the same (issue) question.
Looking forward to a reply.
There is nothing that is in
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There is nothing that is in BOINC itself that will do this. I have, however, seen references to a bit of software called "threadmaster" that is supposed to allow you to do this. You should try googling for it and check it out for yourself. I'm not particularly recommending it as I simply don't know.
Prescotts are notorious for running hot at the best of times. I really know nothing about cooling solutions for P4 as all my overclocking and cooling experience is with Athlon XP. The principles however should be the same.
There are three basic things to consider.
* The capacity of the fan blowing through the fins of the heatsink. If you can upgrade the fan to a larger one (using an adapter) you will be able to blow more air without making more noise. Realise however that blowing hot air faster will NOT cool the heat sink better - see next point. Also check that fins are clear of dust buildup.
* The internal case temperature. This is the major source of problems and often the simplest to fix. If you want to keep your CPU cool you NEED to lower the ambient temperature inside the case. Simple things like adding case fans and cleaning up spaghetti junction can make an amazing difference. Most boxes have an existing grille high up at the back. An exhaust fan there to expel the warm internal air can make quite a difference. Here is a
link to a reply where I gave more details about case cooling techniques. It might give you some extra ideas.
By using some of these techniques you should be able to make enough difference to your CPU temps to be able to let your machine run as long as you like.
Good luck with it.
Cheers,
Gary.
Thanks for the advice. It
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Thanks for the advice. It would seem threadmaster runs only on windows 2000 which is a shame.
Also with regard to cooling it's not the thermal contact between heat sink and CPU as the heat sink gets very hot. Plus I have a fan in the side of my case pulling cool air into my PC. Can anybody recomend a good CPU cooler for a P4 (LGA755 if it makes a difference) which is quiet?
RE: Thanks for the advice.
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If it runs on 2K it will run on XP.
Sorry, I've no experience with P4 HSFs so hopefully someone else may comment.
Cheers,
Gary.
RE: Sorry I'm not adding
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Hey, you don't have a Prescott. You've got an A64!! :).
You shouldn't be having heat problems with that chip unless your case cooling is pretty average. Is your machine a desktop or a laptop?
Cheers,
Gary.
RE: RE: Thanks for the
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Oh right, shall look into it then.
I can kinda get around it by setting processors to 1 on the general preferences, then it only uses a max of 50% load (I have Hyperthreading enabled so windows see's it as 2).
Just cleaned the dust of my Heat sink so hopefully should be a bit better now.
RE: RE: RE: Thanks for
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Daniel,
It doesn't matter how many fans are trying to blow air into the case, by themselves. If it can't get back out, you have a hot box full of stagnant, hot air. Blowing air through the heatsink, but not removing the exhaust from the case just makes it recirculate back through the HSF repeatedly, getting hotter each time until an equilibrium is reached. That is extremely inefficient at cooling. The amount of cooling is determined by 3 factors - 1) how much airflow , 2) temperature differential between the cooling medium (air) and the hot surface, and 3) the amount of surface area from which heat may be transferred. You HAVE to get the hot air out, instead of accumulationg. My guess, from what you've said is that the only thing moving all that air out is the fan on the powersupply. A hint - the PSU fan isn't meant to cool the case, it simply doesn't have enough capacity to do that. The PSU fan is intended to prevent the PSU from overheating, nothing more. The grilled holes on the backside of your case, above the expansion slots will vent some air from inside, but if you look closely at it, there are probably four small holes surrounding it. Those are mounting holes for an exhaust fan. So, while you're shopping around for a nice HSF combo (you won't forget the Arctic Silver 5 heat transfer compound, right?), pick up and install a 90- or 120-mm fan for that backplate, largest that will fit there, and mount it so that the flow is OUT.
Re: new HSF - I use a ThermalTake Volcano 12, but it won't fit on your P4. Look for something with plenty of surface area, larger-than-60mm fan, that doesn't physically interfere with any other installed components.
Michael
(edited for my usual typo errors)
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
Dumped my Intel CPU fan for a
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Dumped my Intel CPU fan for a volcano 7, new paste and the temp dropped from 73c(in the summer no air cond on) to a high of 55c (in the summer no air cond on) normally around 45c, this all under full load. P4 3.0 HT enabled in a Antec case with one 120mm exhaust fan
BOINC Wiki
RE: Dumped my Intel CPU fan
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Hello Jim
Yep I am amazed by these specialised fans too - got a Zalman on cpu and one on the graphics card as well - with music playing and Einstein belting about the place, I rarely see more than 46 degrees, and the ambient temp here is often around 32 degrees - Summer down here in Cape Town - I want to get a decent case one of these days (Antec too) which is huge, with plenty space for h/drives, but most importantly, has space for a 12 inch extractor fan at back and blow-in fan at fron t - also 12 inch. THAT should keep Einstein's brains cool...
Gray
I have win xp, threadmaster
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I have win xp, threadmaster runs fine.
When you find it, use the install.cmd
then run regedit; all info is in the readme for where to look.
Find the programs to add in the Boinc folder.
I too, like the one who informed me, run them at 80%
- I believe it is a new string you have to add to registry folder.
Don't limit Boinc.exe, no need.
Does not install on win 98.
When/if I change the %, I restart Boinc; although some say it's unnecessary.
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