Heat issue with VIA C3? \ VOGONS

Heat issue with VIA C3?

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First post, by jamesfmackenzie

Posted on 2025-03-26, 03:22

jamesfmackenzie Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 36
Joined: 2022-02-21, 18:59

Hi all!

Looking for some help/advice on a new retro computing purchase.

I bought this cheap board with a VIA C3 processor, looking to build a mini retro PC.

The attachment 6E80432B-B6C4-4C83-A339-9E6512F1E19F.jpeg is no longer available

Unfortunately it gets insanely hot (90C+) and hits thermal shutdown after only a few minutes.

From memory these C3 processors were sold as low power processors suitable for passive cooling.

I will try a re paste, but thermal transfer to the heatsink seems to be OK (it is burning to the touch)

Has anyone seen similar issues? Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Reply 1 of 2, by Dorunkāku

Posted on 2025-03-26, 06:24

Dorunkāku Offline

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Posts: 125
Joined: 2019-11-20, 22:11
Location: Amsterdam

There should be a fan on the CPU heatsink. You probably got it for cheap because it is missing its fan.

Reply 2 of 2, by jamesfmackenzie

Posted on 2025-03-26, 10:14

jamesfmackenzie Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 36
Joined: 2022-02-21, 18:59

Dorunkāku wrote on 2025-03-26, 06:24:

There should be a fan on the CPU heatsink. You probably got it for cheap because it is missing its fan.

That’ll explain it! Thanks for the quick reply!

Do you think that a regular Socket 370 would should be sufficient? I have a few of those knocking around 😀

On a related note, do you know if these “C3 boards” support other Socket 370 CPUs like the PIII? From chipset, it seems like they should - but I’m unsure on the physical aspects.

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