So now my big noobie question of the day is (drum roll please) .. Do I even have a HSF?

My hardware is:
Motherboard MSI 865GM2-LS m-atx 4 DIMMs w/DDR400 upto 4gb 1 AGP 8X; 3PCI: 8USB 6ch. Audio; 10/100 LAN; SATA; ATA100; Onboard Intel Graphics. http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_sp ... S&class=mb

*CASE Cooler Master ATC-620C-BX1 MicroATX case with Dual USB ports and IEEE 1394 port. P4 ready. Designed for HTPC.

*CPU Intel Pentium IV 2.8Ghz with 1mb L2 Cache and 800FSB.

*Memory 1gb (2 512mb sticks) Corsair Value Select VS512MB400 PC3200.

*DVD - + RW Lite-On SOHW1693S DVD+-RW Drive 48x read, 48 write, 24x rewrite, 24x DVD Read, 16x write, 8x rewrite. (black)

*DVD Asus DVDE616P1 DVD-ROM 16x dvd-rom, 48x cd-rom. (black)

*Hard Drive Seagate 200GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM 8MB Cache 3.5in

*Power Supply Seasonic SS-300FB 300 watt Active PFC Super 300 Tornade, large fan

*Floppy Teac 1.44mb floppy

My box also came with a little fan mate controller, but I wasn't sure how to install it and without knowing much about fans or proper temps (can ya tell) I decided not to install since I didn't want to mistakenly keep the fan from doing its job.

The box makes a fair amount of noise, which I assumed was the fan. I based my readings of the temperature off of what the bios told me when I rebooted.

Hmmmm, I'm starting to understand why the previous owner sold the equipment in the first place.

Hi,

Julie, are you talking HFS as in http://www.thermalright.com/ stuff?

I had a friend that his box would keep locking up, (home built job) turned out that the "assembler" forgot to put his little dab of silicon grease on the cpu. It kept getting hotter & hotter till lockup. Took me ten minutes to find that sneeky one!

Another simular issue, New Dell box, the fan started as a whisper, an step by step it would increase in speed.. in a short period of time you thought you were at the Logan Airport runway! A little dab was missing.

Mike

buckarette, the easiest way to check is to look inside the case. To expand on Mike's (mjl) notes as the computer is booting you will be able to press the DEL and this will take you into the BIOS/CMOS. In there you will be able to see a hardware monitor (something like that) and this will be able to tell you temparatures fan speed things like that.

If you get stuck you are more than welcomed to email me.

_________________
Girkers