Overheating CPU.... or not.

The past few days I've been having some odd issues. Namely, the CPU* has started reporting higher and higher temperatures {some going into nineties}, but the thing is, the cooling assembly is working perfectly.

First time it happened, I disassembled the whole thing, vacuumed the fan and the ribs, reapplied the thermal paste just in case and slapped it back together, but no go.

What makes it odder is the sudden oscillations between temperature - I've been running SpeedFan since it started, and I've noticed that the temperature will sometimes go into seventies or higher, then jump back to midfifties - literally jump between refreshes, and so on. Is it possible that the heat sensor in the CPU itself is shot? And if so, are there any ways to stop the PC from unceremoniously shutting down when the "temperature" reaches 95°? {I've already disabled the warning in BIOS}



* Athlon x64 dual core, 4MHz

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Quinch,

Try running CoreTemp for a bit and see if you get the same fluctuations.

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How are the other case fans operating?
Poor ventilation* can cause an overheat, regardless if the cpu assembly itself is normal.

*This does not mean to run it with the side of the case open. In many cases, that can actually cause the temperature to increase because the case fans are no longer forcing new, cooler air through the system. For people running with the side open, it's sometimes suggested to use something like one of those 9" or larger personal fans to blow toward the system and provide the fresh air it needs.

What is the temperature in the room like?
Even though a computer does have it's own cooling system, it's important to note that a very high environmental temperature can make it impossible for cool air to even get into the system to begin with, causing the cooling system to fail. It's not uncommon for a system to start having issues once summertime starts to roll around and you don't have air conditioning. Many times it doesn't make a significant difference, but other times it is enough to push a system over it's threshold.

It doesn't necessarily explain the sudden changes in temperature, but hopefully it's helpful information if it actually is overheating.

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You mention you have taken everything apart and reassembled, its pretty common and easy to put the cpu fan on upsidedown ive noticed this alot when people upgrade or build a system.

As the gentleman above stated airflow is important clean out any vents .. smoking and dust not a good thing with pc's n ventilation just incaes u smoke lol u need to clean everything up it can be ewwy lol.

Cudo's for reapply'n the paste many skip that part

just curious when the temp peaks the fans sound ok? maybe you got a fan thats thrown a ball... they're easy enough to replace and cheap enough.

Good Luck
Hope all works out

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My cpu was doing this recently. Then it stabilized and soon after died completely.

The really terrible thing is now I'm going to have to go out and buy myself an i7 to replace it. Oh woe is me to suffer so.

Though I might go with an AMD Phenom instead. Depends on what package processor/mobo deal I can find.

But to get to the point I'm attempting to make. There is a good chance that the processor is about to go belly up.

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Don't count your weasels before they pop dink!

if you took everything apart, did you replace the thermal paste with new one on the CPU?

If you didn't then the paste that was there is probably dry so it doesn't conduct heat as much. Try removing the heat sink and replace the thermal paste.

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If you're really concerned about temperatures, you might want to invest in an add-on set of thermal probes and a display panel. One of the probes can be placed against the CPU. right against the heatspreader, or (carefully) between the CPU and the heatsink. If you do the latter, you may need to use extra thermal paste, and don't leave any kind of gap! (Gaps between CPU and heatsink = bad juju!)

If you're ambitious/skillful, you might carve out a channel in the heatsink for the probe to nestle into, so it lies flush with the bottom of the heatsink. I've even seen examples where someone drilled a hole/tunnel into the side of the heatsink, very close to and parallel with the bottom, and deep enough so that the probe can be positioned directly over the center of the CPU .Then the probe is inserted along with enough thermal paste to fill the hole. (But this is probably beyond the capabilities of most users.)

In any case, add-on thermal probes can be a useful second source of CPU temperature reporting. On the downside, they won't be accurate unless you can get the probe in direct contact with the center of the CPU heatspreader (the metal panel on top of the chip), using thermal paste to fill any gaps. And they don't report to the BIOS either, so no automatic shutdown if the temp goes too high.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

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TargetOne

"If you two don't work this out RIGHT NOW, I'm turning this invasion around and going home!" - Emperor Cole

Oh I would so not recommend placing a probe between the heatsink and the heatspreader. The purpose of the thermal paste is to fill the minute unevenness between the heatspreader and the heat sink, there shouldn't be a lot of it, ever.

Anyways the sensors built right onto the CPU is more than adequate to provide valid temperature readings as long as the software you are using is calibrated for the model of CPU. CoreTemp is quite good as well as the applications from Intel and AMD.

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Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components

Tempus unum hominem manet

Okay, an update; and thanks for all the advice so far.

Yes, I am running the case with the side open {because having it closed caused overheating before that}, so that might have been adding to the problem. I've put a desk fan opposite it to circulate air, and that actually seems to help.

Still, it doesn't explain the fluctuating readings, or why, on the occasions when it supposedly went into 90°ish degrees I could comfortably put my fingers on the heatsink and go "hm, yeah, it's pretty warm but not too much". Still, it looks like I'll need to buy a case fan - another component with moving parts prone to breaking down. Yay.

I'm pretty sure the thermal paste is properly applied too - I took the heatsink off again just to check and yeah - it's a nice thin layer across the back of the CPU, made even more even by the fact that I smeared it up and down because the heatsink just wouldn't let go {and I didn't feel like ripping the CPU out of the socket}, so unless I somehow got defective paste, conductivity shouldn't be an issue. It's also been pretty warm these past few days, with the temperatures going into the thirties, but that hasn't caused any problems last summer, let alone to this degree.

So, as things stand, with a fifty-centimeter fan blowing air at the case innards, temperature hovers around 60°-65° while playing CoH. I'll try to get a hold of a case fan and see how it'll handle with the case closed {no pun regretted}.

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it could simply be a bad sensor. for example I have a sensor that reports my case temp at 2 degree which is pretty much impossible.

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sounds like what I'm going through...I think I just may need to upgrade my CPU...it's quite sad I hear it begin to overheat when I'm watching a video or playing something as basic as Facebook games...

just bought a new case and psu (though have to return it cause it crapped out...stupid Antec TruePower my ***!)

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I was having overheating issue but most notably when playing CoX. Other games not as much. I cleaned off the thermal paste and now my idle temps are a good 10 degrees cel at idle.

Some people when putting on paste put on too much so be sure you're not overdoing the paste.

Last time I thinned it over the CPU myself but this time did the little dab will do way and let it spread itself. HTH

And found this thread doing a Google search for people who mentioned heating issues with CoX.

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