question on cpu fan and others

for my old computer, im upgrading the pentium 4 1.6ghz to a 3.0 or 3.2 ghz processor. would my stock cpu fan be able to keep my new processor cool in atleast a temperature that would not destroy or burn the chip?? do i need a replacement or is it fine? id rather not get a new fan but if it needs it, then i guess i have no choice

 

The new processor will come with a heat sink and fan.

 

would the 1.6ghz stock fan and heatsink be different from that of the 3.2ghz one?

 

My guess would be that they arent, but since the new cpu comes with one, I'd recommend using that one instead of the dusty one you have in there now.

 

question about cpu, does the L2 size matter alot? because im not sure whether to get one with 512mb L2 cache, or 1mb L2 cache. would it make a big difference or be noticeable?

 

Go with the 1mb size. The cache on a cpu is ultra fast memory, and it does make a difference.

Are you getting the cpu for a gaming pc or an old one that isnt worth spending that much on?

 

Get the Northwood the Prescott runs way way hotter.I had both a 3.4ghz Northwood and 3.0ghz(hot-Prescott-hot)

 

an old pc.

 

Any 3.0Ghz P4 will put out far more heat than an old 1.6. You MUST use a new heatsink for that CPU.

 

I had a P4 and the only thing you should be concerned about is the fan, the heat sink can have enough surface area but enough air flow can seriously heat up the processor. My old case had 5 fans and was at 45C when gaming heats up to 65-72C. When i had only 3 fans i used to reach 76-79C so i suggest you get a few fans extra, should be enough.

 

While airflow is important, your case must have been pretty terrible. You can cool a P4 sufficiently with only one case fan. Not that I would recommend doing that of course. Two 80mm fans and you should never see above 65C load.

 

Antec 900 would be a nice case...

 

Perhaps, all though everyone has one these days. Personally I think there are better cases out there, and kind of wish I had known that when I bought mine. Oh well.

 

um...so 900 is ok and not the best...then which case you personally think very good

 

Antec P182, NZXT Lexa, Thermaltake Armor, a few suggestions.

 

THE THREE I WAS GONNA SUGGEST!

and the TJ09 or the TJ07

 

yeah, they're pretty nice cases. Lian Li make some good stuff too, but it's not always top notch on the cooling front.

 

Agree,but i had a Zalman 9500 on both and the Prescott's still ran hot as hell.If you have the choice between the two get the Northwood.

 

The thermal conductivity of the die itself on a Prescott isn't great, so any heatsink will struggle to cool one well.

 

what is the average temperature a pc should be??

also, cant you just get any case, and put fans? or are cases just as important?