Overheating P4 CPU after new Mother Board install

[Perfect.Cell]

I have a Gateway (420GR) desktop running WinXP. Intel P4 2.9Ghz. The motherboard recently blew a fuse, so I installed the proper 3rd party replacement motherboard. I didn't change the thermal pad on the CPU at all. When I started the computer, the fans ran really LOUD and the computer started shutting itself down in about 45 to 50 seconds of boot. When I rebooted, I got a thermal overheating warning and a few alarm beeps. I did some research on a few forums and gathered that I needed to remove the original thermal pad on the CPU and redo the compound, (I choose Arctic Silver compound+cleaner kit, as it came highly recommended). So I removed the thermal pad as instructed, cleaned and prep'd the CPU and heatsink surface with the Arctic Silver cleaner kit and applied the thermal compound (in a pea sized amount, as shown on the website guide). I then mounted the heatsink/fan and screwed it down tightly. By the way, I already blew compressed air to clean any dust out before I started.

The problem. The computer is now running without shutting itself off due to thermal alarm, but the case fan and CPU fan speed up and become very LOUD whenever I open a program like a movie, music, or game. I DLed SpeedFan and Motherboard Monitor, and my temp reading is as follows:

CPU Temp (Idel) : 58C
CPU Temp (Load) : 76C (and up depending on what program I run)
Internal Case Temp :37C (stable)
Remote Temp : 31C (also stable)

I checked the bios and got the same readings.

I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be running this hot, plus the the Fan speeds constantly changing is driving me nuts. It's keeps getting quite then loud, quite then loud, etc etc etc.

Any ideas on what my problem could be?

-Thanks in advance

[jlreich]

Welcome the the PC Guide forums. :)

A pea sized amount? No that's way too much! It must be squirting out the side of the CPU. :p This is one instance that more is definitely not better.

Have a look here (http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm) at the Arctic Silver website and you will see depending on the CPU you only need the size of 1/2 an uncooked grain of rice, to a full grain of rice. Very very little is needed. And it's very easy to put to much on. Trust me I have done it. ;) Also a good tip is to stick your hand inside a plastic sandwich bag to spread the compound around with your finger.

You need to start over. Or you may be able to take something similar to a credit card and scrape the excess off. But it might just be better to clean it all off and start from scratch.

[Perfect.Cell]

Yea, I've tried removing the the Arctic thermal and reapplying it time and time again. Nothing ever seems to get this CPU lower than 58C. I've been to CompUSA over and over trying different CPU heatsink/fans, I've been trying to fix this problem over 2 weeks now, I'm done. I'm going to the store to buy a new PC and throwing this one in the trash, period.

[sassie05]

Maybe Lapping would help.
http://www.overclockersclub.com/guides/heatsinklappingguide.php