core i7 860 overheating

[silent_uatu]

Hi,

I own a Dell XPS 8100 from BB. Here is the link :
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+S...&skuId=9697488

This PC has been working fine for me for past few months. Basic config - core i7 860, ATI 5770 , 8gb RAM.

Past few days, a few minutes after playing any game ; the game frame rate drops..and some time crashes.
Anyhow, so I installed HW monitor to monitor CPU temps. They seem off the charts..I decided to stress the CPU only doing some long SPICE simulation (a numerical simulation software). The image from HWmonitor is attached.

I have two questions :
1. I am pretty sure. This temp. is not acceptable because I distinctly remember them being in middle 50s even during intense gaming. Any suggestions?
2. Why are the columns corresponding to both -12 and -5V show -8.64V. Is this some fictitious value since the PSU does not have these voltages?

Also, I was planning to open the CPU case to see possible obstructions, dust etc. Have not done that ever, any suggestion what to look for regarding loose connections etc. ? Also does this void my warranty from Dell.

Thanks a ton!!

 

[Kenmitch]

1. I am pretty sure. This temp. is not acceptable because I distinctly remember them being in middle 50s even during intense gaming. Any suggestions?
2. Why are the columns corresponding to both -12 and -5V show -8.64V. Is this some fictitious value since the PSU does not have these voltages?

Your core temps don't look too bad for a Dell built system. I'd think hyper-threading was enabled so the temps will be kinda high. During stress testing the core temps most of the time will be higher than during gameplay.

Most likely it's a compatability between the software and the Dell giving you the - voltages. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

What does CCC say your video card temps are when gaming? Maybe try gaming in a window so you can take a look. Kinda sounds like your video card is getting too hot and is throttling down to save itself.

Now has your ambient temperature climbed up lately? It'll play a role in overall system temp and cpu temps also. You could check and see inside the case if it's dusty just in case also.

 

[silent_uatu]

Thanks for the quick reply!

Well may be but I am pretty sure my ambient temperatures were never more than mid 50s before , and they are more than 70 , so something is certainly off here.
Also, I can never play a game like DOW2, Batman arkham for more than 20 minutes; which I have played for hours before. I would not have worried about temps too much if it wasnt interfering with my work

Also, GPU temp is fairly low in the mid 60s, during "stressful" gaming which I think is not too bad..

My ambient temps float around 39-42ish, which I think is pretty much same as before.

Your core temps don't look too bad for a Dell built system. I'd think hyper-threading was enabled so the temps will be kinda high. During stress testing the core temps most of the time will be higher than during gameplay.

Most likely it's a compatability between the software and the Dell giving you the - voltages. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

What does CCC say your video card temps are when gaming? Maybe try gaming in a window so you can take a look. Kinda sounds like your video card is getting too hot and is throttling down to save itself.

Now has your ambient temperature climbed up lately? It'll play a role in overall system temp and cpu temps also. You could check and see inside the case if it's dusty just in case also.

 

[Kenmitch]

Ambient temp would be the temp of your room or office

Maybe open the case and take a look for dust buid up then. Guess it's possible and only way to find out is to look and see.

 

[IntelUser2000]

You might as well take advantage of the warranty system from them. Its affecting usability of the computer, so tell them what the problem is and maybe they can fix it.

It is possible that the power supply is malfunctioning and is causing problems. 70C is not a safe temperature but if the program isn't measuring temps correctly it might really be running at 60C, which is safe. Then again, it could be the temps too.

As you said, it ran fine earlier, it doesn't now, something went wrong between. So go take your system and see what's wrong.

 

[silent_uatu]

Ambient temp would be the temp of your room or office

Maybe open the case and take a look for dust buid up then. Guess it's possible and only way to find out is to look and see.

Ohh..shit!!! My bad, by 39-42iiish, I meant the idle temperatures of the CPU cores..

Thanks..will need a weekend..

 

[jthunderloc]

You might as well take advantage of the warranty system from them. Its affecting usability of the computer, so tell them what the problem is and maybe they can fix it.

It is possible that the power supply is malfunctioning and is causing problems. 70C is not a safe temperature but if the program isn't measuring temps correctly it might really be running at 60C, which is safe. Then again, it could be the temps too.

As you said, it ran fine earlier, it doesn't now, something went wrong between. So go take your system and see what's wrong.

70c is fine during stress testing, 70c at idle would be a problem. TJMax on the i7-860 is 100c

Open up the system and clean it up and check to make sure the heat sinks are attached correctly (I've had 2 HP systems have the CPU heat sinks fall off) If everything looks alright move on to stress testing. You've stressed the CPU, try stressing the GPU. Run Furmark and monitor the temps. The GPU temp will get much higher then it does during gaming! Temps will get high but should stay under 85c. this should help narrow down where the problems coming from

-Wes

 

[IntelUser2000]

Problems can occur well below TjMax. Long time ago on a Pentium III system, I noticed I was getting strange lag on Counterstrike, I thought it was internet but it turned out to be the CPU running hot. It was around 70C when that would happen. Nothing else seemed wrong, just on the game, and it was intermittent but consistent enough to know it as a problem.

It might not be a problem though because I said nowadays temp monitor can vary + or - 10C pretty often. It could be the power supply too.

 

[silent_uatu]

Problems can occur well below TjMax. Long time ago on a Pentium III system, I noticed I was getting strange lag on Counterstrike, I thought it was internet but it turned out to be the CPU running hot. It was around 70C when that would happen. Nothing else seemed wrong, just on the game, and it was intermittent but consistent enough to know it as a problem.

Same thing is happening to me, when I play DOW2 ; I just lag out
Thanks for all the info..If I happen to dig anything unusual , I will need your advice again..

 

[silent_uatu]

GPU is not getting stressed. As I said before, even during 'stressful" gaming, GPU temp. hardly goes even to 70..which is quite good. I was reading some reviews, apparently 5770 is a really good designed low power, efficient card. More efficient = less heat. The problem is CPU itself somehow

70c is fine during stress testing, 70c at idle would be a problem. TJMax on the i7-860 is 100c

Open up the system and clean it up and check to make sure the heat sinks are attached correctly (I've had 2 HP systems have the CPU heat sinks fall off) If everything looks alright move on to stress testing. You've stressed the CPU, try stressing the GPU. Run Furmark and monitor the temps. The GPU temp will get much higher then it does during gaming! Temps will get high but should stay under 85c. this should help narrow down where the problems coming from

-Wes