020 running temps

[Marchie]

A cheerful hello to all the Amiga wizards out there.


I have an 020 card installed in a 500 which is running happily enough, but I've noticed it's quite hot to the touch, and the case will be hot around the CPU area (not unlike a modern laptop under load). The last time I had this card installed it was squirreled away inside my A2000, so I never noticed if it was or wasn't warm.



Simple question - is it normal for an 020 (14Mhz - not overclocked) to run warm?



And if not, what's the best method of cooling? Simple heat-sync on the chip? Laptop fan blowing through the case?


This may be a fuss over nothing, but better to be safe than sorry with vintage hardware.

[Nobby_UK]

Define 'Warm'

I would say they never get hot enough Not to touch with the back of a finger.

But the cooler you can make them run - the longer they should last.

Stick on Heat Sinks and/or a small fan can't hurt

[Mrz]

uh yes the 020 is a 1.75 watts cpu runs very very hot
you must use liquid nitrogen to refrigerate it

[meynaf]

I don't know if all 020 models are this way, but the EC020 of the A1200 doesn't seem to even get slightly warm...

[Marchie]

Originally Posted by Nobby_UK

Define 'Warm'

I would say they never get hot enough Not to touch with the back of a finger.

But the cooler you can make them run - the longer they should last.

Stick on Heat Sinks and/or a small fan can't hurt

You can touch it, but I wouldn't keep my finger on it for more than 30 seconds.

Originally Posted by meynaf

I don't know if all 020 models are this way, but the EC020 of the A1200 doesn't seem to even get slightly warm...

I haven't inspected my 1200 while it's running but cool-to-touch is more what I would expect from this era of tech. The 020 in the 1200 is newer than my card - maybe the surface-mount package is more thermally efficient?

Anyhow, thanks for the feedback folks!