Memory Add Heat?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dachay2tnr
  • Start date Start date
dachay2tnr

dachay2tnr

One Hit Wonder
Don't know what happened to the original post. I swear I wrote something. I guess the electrons just scattered somewhere.

Anyway, I have what is probably a dumb question. Can adding memory to a computer increase it's heat output?

I went from 256Mb to 512Mb today. As soon as I installed the new chip and booted, I got warning beeps from the BIOS. I raised the temperature setting in the BIOS and the beeps went away.

Is this just a coincidence as summer starts to descend upon us, or is it related to the new memory. BTW, what is a safe temp. My warning level is now set at 82oC.
 
Not a dumb question. Memory use power and thus it generates heat. Simple as that.

/Ola
 
123

They sell RamFans for DDR. Gets good and hot. The faster things get, the more heat they produce. An AMD Athlon 1.2 without a fan and heatsink can start smoking and set everything on fire in about 30 seconds. So i've read.
 
Normal SDRAM runs pretty cool, just put your finger on it and you can feel any heat. If it's cool to the touch it probably not adding enough heat to make much difference. Even so if your right on the edge even a small amount of extra heat could set off alarms.

As for whats a safe temperature, even someone who knew the thermal dynamics and electronic design end of things well enogh to calculate the answer would still need to know too much inside information about how the processor was designed to give a solid answer. Us meer mortals usualy just have to guess.
 
Yes, the RAM is "warm" to the touch.

However, this was running without problems before I installed the RAM. I am stumped that after installing the new RAM and immediately after booting that the temp alarm would go off. It doesn't seem to even have had enough time for the heat to reach the processor. But... that seems to be what's going on.

I set the temp alarm 2 degrees C higher, and it was Ok... for awhile. Then it locked up on me.

Now I had to set it another 2o higher today (84oC). This all seems stange to me.

Thanks for alll the replies. I understand now that the RAM can add heat. My puzzle now is how fast (and how much) it seems to be effecting the processor. Just seems to be having more of an effect than I would have imagined.
 
123

Whoa... I was buzzed... I didnt think about it properly... is the processor alarm going off? The processor can heat up VERY VERY fast, almost instantly. Keep an eye on the fan on top of the heat sink, make sure its not killing over on you, and make sure the heat sink is still properly seated. Do all of this with a static bracelet on.
Paul
 
Did you try taking the RAM back out and see if you still have the problem?

Jim
 
Adding memory will not instantly increase the heat of your system by 40C. (assuming that your processor was running at a typical 40 to 55C temperature to begin with)

I agree that you should check to make sure that you didn't knock anything loose during the installation...like the CPU fan connector!

If the CPU fan is still spinning, then try removing the extra memory and take a look at your temperature. If it's down in the normal range, then you probably have some type of interference problem. I've seen this sort of thing before, though never caused by memory. In this case, first remove your old DIMM and put the new DIMM in slot0. Boot up and see if your temperature problems disappear. If they do, put the old DIM in slot1 and boot up. If your temperature is normal, you're set.

If the new DIMM causes temperature sensor problems, then send it back. If the COMBINATION of the new DIMM and the old DIMM cause the temperature problem, then determine which of your DIMMs is higher quality and order another stick of the same model from the same manufacturer....then return or sell the "bad" stick. Then recall how I'm always whining that you should only buy name brand CAS2 memory :)

If reversing the DIMMs solves your temperature sensor problem, but you still have lockups or strange explorer crashes, then either your motherboard isn't capable of effectively driving that much memory, or there is a problem with the combination of the DIMMs you are using. Some things you can try: 1) use only one stick of 512MB 2) use 2 "identical" sticks of 256MB, preferably high quality CAS2 3) move to registered DIMMs (motherboard support required) which aren't much more expensive these days.

Regardless, I have to be a dick here and ask you WHY you went to 512MB. I only have 164MB and even recording in Win2K I have yet to come close to consuming all of my physical memory...in fact it is rare to be over 128MB even when working with a lot of plugins. Now if your doing graphics or video work then chewing up memory is pretty simple...but for recording and everyday use, even gaming, 256MB is more than adequate....in other words, I know that memory prices crashed and I know it probably seemed cool to jump to 512MB for what, sixty bucks? But is it worth the headache if you're not actually gaining anything at the moment? Of course I'm not aware of your situation, so if you really are sucking that much memory, then please disregard this paragraph.

Oh, I guess I'm rambling here but one more thing.....if you REALLY DO have a temperature problem, and it's not just the sensor...then you'll need to take the above advice and check your heatsink seat and the fan. A typical CPU fan will spin at 4000 to 5000RPM's. And be aware that there is no way to check the heatsink seat without completely reseating it which requires patience, thermal compound, and something like nail polish remover to help you remove the existing grease or pad.

Slackmaster 2000
 
I have to add... If your overclocking your CPU then lowering the clock speed will lower the temperature. Call me a fool, but I never overclock. Computers give me enough grief even when I'm running them within spec.

I'm assuming there are no cables blocking airflow through the CPU fan. Also, you mentioned summer, and that can be a factor. If the temperature of the air in the room the computer sits in goes up 10 degrees the processor temperature will pretty much go up 10 degrees.

I have to agree with you though, the change sounds way to sudden and dramatic to be related to heat generated by the DRAM. In that case I think the excellent post above is your best bet, you may have somehow disabled the CPU fan or its not working properly.
 
This damn temperature monitoring. I've probably ranted on it before, but christ. Install the CPU, get the appropriate thermal rated CPU/Heatsink for the particuliar processor. Turn it on, and go. Do not install monitoring software, most of the BIOS hardware monitoring I've seen is very inaccurate, and for the most part pointless. I think it's a geek gimmick.

It sounds like something else is the problem, memory does not get very hot. JimH offered some good advice, what happens when you take the old dimm out? If the temperature goes down great(but odd).

What happens if you disable the temperature warnings in BIOS? Does your machine lock? Does your machine run fine other than these bios alarms?
 
Temps

If I recall correctly the rated Die Temp for an Athlon, is 90 C, beyond that you will damage the CPU beyond repair.

I would say og to the local screwdriver shop, tell them that your PC is acting funny, and what the temps run, and they can hook you up with a better heatsink for your processor, and fans for your case
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top