# Keep current fan/heatsink, or get new one?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-current-fan-heatsink-or-get-new-one/344063
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 12, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-current-fan-heatsink-or-get-new-one/344063 "2006-02-12T01:45:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-current-fan-heatsink-or-get-new-one/344063/1 "2006-02-12T01:45:53Z")
So I buy a cheap, 1.7ghz P4, 400fsb socket 478 CPU that includes a fan and heatsink.
I install it, test out the computer, nothing happens. So, after investigation, I see a bent pin. I try to straighten it…oops, I broke it (cheep eBay purchase, so I’m not out that much).
So I just purchased a 2.4ghz P4, 800fsb socket 478 CPU (hyperthreading enabled).
I checket out the specs of my fan/heatsink on-line and found out that it works with P4’s upto 2.0ghz. So, will the .4 not make that much of a difference, or will I need to buy a new fan and heatsink if I don’t want to risk damaging my new CPU?
Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-current-fan-heatsink-or-get-new-one/344063/2 "2006-02-12T01:52:21Z")
It would probably work but a hot running CPU can cause insidious problems that are hard to separate from other things. It depends how much you want to spend for peace of mind. I don’t think your new CPU runs much hotter if at all but that is one thing to research.
Those components are pretty cheap and I would just buy better ones to avoid the hassle in case it runs hot.
---
### Author:  [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-current-fan-heatsink-or-get-new-one/344063/3 "2006-02-12T14:53:44Z")
I recommend something from [Zalman](http://www.zalmanusa.com/) like a CNPS7700AlCu or a CNPS7000AlCu, whether you really NEED a new HSF or not. These babies are very quiet and keep CPUs nice and cool. Be SURE to check the motherboard compatibility charts to make sure your’s is OK.
I recently bought a CNPS7000AlCu online (try [froogle.com](http://froogle.com) or [pricewatch.com](http://pricewatch.com)) and got it for ~$35 incl. shipping.
---
### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-current-fan-heatsink-or-get-new-one/344063/4 "2006-02-12T14:59:21Z")
My experence is if you buy a new fan and HS you will install it and it will start making noise in a few months, then dig out the old one and install it and it will work great for many years.
---
### Author:  [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-current-fan-heatsink-or-get-new-one/344063/5 "2006-02-12T15:25:09Z")
A good way to test your temperature related stability is to run [prime95](http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm) for 24 hours.
If it doesn’t fail your cooling is adequate. If it does fail, it doesn’t definitely say CPU HSF is at fault (could be badly timed memory, memory too hot, cpu too hot due to hot case, etc) but it’s a good indicator that something is wrong.
---
### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-current-fan-heatsink-or-get-new-one/344063/6 "2006-02-12T17:10:16Z")
I already went ahead and took **Shagnasty** ’s advice shortly after he posted it and found, and purchased, a fan/heatsink combo described as working on CPU’s upto 2.4ghz.
I could have probably done something like use the existing fan/heatsink and then run [SpeedFan](http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php) to see if the CPU was staying properly cooled, but, just the thought of the possibility of overheating the CPU, even slightly, made me decide to be safe rather than sorry, and out a second CPU.