Computer overheats randomly, now won't boot?

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

Really in a pickle here, could use some advice here. Please bear with me.

Yesterday, while doing a little moderate gaming, with AIM running, my computer shuts off. Unsure what just happened, I wait a couple minutes and turn it back on. upon reboot, I bring up MBM5 and it shows my diode reading in the neighborhood of 65 C (burn baby burn). This is way out of range for me, as usually on idle my CPU reads around 37-39 C. It is a XP 3200+ 400 fsb with the zalman nice HSF on it, all on top of a A7N8X Deluxe mobo. Shortly thereafter, it shuts off again. I figure it must be overheating.

Maybe a dust problem right? Took off the HSF, gave it a THOROUGH cleaning. Put it back, computer stays on <15 sec before another auto-shutoff. Maybe a dusty sensor? I take out the entire mobo, everything, clean it all out, put it back in, same thing. Finally, after about 25 tries, it gets to the windows boot screen. Says it needs to check my disk for consistency. This proceeds on for about 10 minutes, it deletes all these things of which I have no clue. Upon rebooting again, I get the black screen. The windows logo screen will come up, then when windows should actually come on, I get a black screen with a white cursor that moves around yet does nothing. I turn off the computer, now it's overheating again. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!! I tried resetting CMOS, didnt help. I've tried everything I could think of :-(

 

[avey]

It is a XP 3200+ 499 fsb

Looks like your overclocking. Have you tried setting everything back to defaults?

Have you also checked to make sure all your fans are running?

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

My apologies, typo, its the barton 400 fsb core processor, running stock. All 3 fans are running, and its gotten to the point where the cpu says its overheating almost immediately when i turn the computer on. Beginning to think the sensor is malfunctioning? I have been running this exact setup for around 4 months with zero problems. Changed nothing. Installed nothing.

 

[Creston]

Can you get into the BIOS? What's the shutdown temperature set to in the BIOS?

It could be a faulty sensor, or it really COULD be your processor overheating, so I'd be a bit wary about just removing sensors etc.

If you can get into your BIOS, try monitoring your CPU temperature from there, see if it rises rapidly. In BIOS, your CPU temperature really shouldn't climb much beyond a few degrees above ambient. If it climbs above that, it would seem your cooling solution doesn't work all that well.

What kind of cooler and paste are you using?

Creston

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

I actually ran out of paste, but I wasn't using any before and it ran fine. I dont remember the model number, but I am using the intricate, huge zalman heatsink and fan with the huge spiral of thin metal plates, cost me a swift 40 bucks. and YES the temperature rises in BIOS like crazy! That's the only way Ive been able to monitor it lately. I'm not sure what the shutoff temp is set for, couldnt find a section for that. However, SEVERAL times in BIOS it would be reading upwards ff....95 C...? The heatsink is seated properly and the fan on it is spinning normal speed.

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

Here is the heatsink I am using.

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

:-(

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

Anyone?

 

[mechBgon]

I actually ran out of paste, but I wasn't using any before and it ran fine.

Paste is to your CPU as engine oil is to your pistons. Get some thermal paste and hope that your CPU isn't too badly damaged from repeated forced overheats.

 

[Creston]

Originally posted by: DaWhYteDraGoN
I actually ran out of paste, but I wasn't using any before and it ran fine. I dont remember the model number, but I am using the intricate, huge zalman heatsink and fan with the huge spiral of thin metal plates, cost me a swift 40 bucks. and YES the temperature rises in BIOS like crazy! That's the only way Ive been able to monitor it lately. I'm not sure what the shutoff temp is set for, couldnt find a section for that. However, SEVERAL times in BIOS it would be reading upwards ff....95 C...? The heatsink is seated properly and the fan on it is spinning normal speed.

Actually, when the heatsink is seated properly, it DOES NOT TOUCH YOUR CPU. You NEED paste in order to actually transfer the heat to your heatsink. Seriously, running without paste is the most dangerous thing in the world for your CPU.

PLEASE put paste on that processor...

As for why it had been running before, well, I think you were at that time already skirting dangerously close to overheating, but it may have just been able to handle it if your case had excellent airflow. After several months of use, though, you're going to use airflow due to dust, cables shifting in place a little, etc.

You Need Paste.
Get some as soon as possible, put it on there, and really pray that you haven't burned out your CPU (and your mobo) already...

Creston

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

Well I understand that, but I ran MBM5 many a time before only to see temps on the diode of 37-39C, after the computer ran for days on end. Not to mention I cleaned out the entire case, ridding it of any and all dust inside the walls. And the fact that when Windows finally booted up it had to "check the disk drive for consistency", deleted a ton of stuff, and now I get the black screen still eludes me.

 

[mechBgon]

<---- *forming megaphone out of rolled-up frozen-pizza box*

[ flashing 10-foot-tall letters ]   PASTE.   [ / flashing 10-foot-tall letters ]




Also, look at the third and fourth photos here. Different style of heatsink, but a universal truth that applies to all SocketA heatsinks.

 

[daveybrat]

You can have a 10-foot high heatsink/fan and still have shutdown problems if you don't use PASTE. I'm surprised you haven't damaged the cpu yet.

Go buy some paste, apply, and try again.