CPU severely overheating. Help please

Traxan

Senior member
Jun 5, 2005
375
8
81
I built a new system and have a MAJOR heat problem. The parts:

Core 2 Duo E8400, stock Intel fan
Gigabyte GA-EP43-UD3L mobo
Thermaltake case, fans all over the place.
Windows 7-64
8GB mem

While playing EverQuest, the CPU was hitting 190 degrees. WTF? I would think Intel could provide an adequate fan. What should I check before investing in a new fan?
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,571
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First off, set your temperature monitoring program to use Celcius, that's the standard measurement scale for CPU temps. Second, consider using CoreTemp or RealTemp to monitor the actual digital TJunction temps on the CPU, as opposed to SpeedFan or a mobo mfg-supplied utility.

190 F = 87.77 deg C

So it sounds like you didn't get the stock cooler on properly.
 

Traxan

Senior member
Jun 5, 2005
375
8
81
Ok Larry. So here's what I got from Core TEmp:

CPUID : 0x1067A
APICID : 0
Revision: E0
Proc: Core 2 Duo E8400 (Wolfdale)
Frequency: 2999.52Mhz (333x9)
VID : 1.1625

CPU temp:
Core0: 48C
Core1: 48C

That's idle. 85C happened when playing multiple clients in EverQuest.

Heat sink is on tight.

In addition, CPUID Hardware Monitor reports:

CPU VCore: 0.93V-1.07V
VIN1: 1.92V
+3.3V: 3.26V
+5V: 4.95V
+12V: 2.3V-3.33V
-5V: -8.7V
+5V VCCH: 5.27
VBAT: 3.10V
 
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frostedflakes

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
7,925
1
81
The Intel stock cooling isn't anything special, but it should keep the CPU cooler than that. VirtualLarry is right, it probably isn't installed correctly. Try reseating and making sure you have good contact.

edit: What's ambient temp where you live?
 

Traxan

Senior member
Jun 5, 2005
375
8
81
Speedfan is giving some different numbers.

Cores are still 48C
Fan RPM - 1025
Vcore1: 1.07v
Vcore2: 1.97
+3.3V: 3.26
+5V: 4.95
+12V: 3.33V
-12V: -16.48
-5V: -1.89V
+5V: 5.27
VBAT: 3.10V
 

Traxan

Senior member
Jun 5, 2005
375
8
81
The Intel stock cooling isn't anything special, but it should keep the CPU cooler than that. VirtualLarry is right, it probably isn't installed correctly. Try reseating and making sure you have good contact.

edit: What's ambient temp where you live?

I'm in San Francisco. It's freezing here.

I'll fiddle with the fan, but it's not moving. And lest anyone ask, I have used Arctic Silver thermal grease.
 

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
4
81
I'm in San Francisco. It's freezing here.

I'll fiddle with the fan, but it's not moving. And lest anyone ask, I have used Arctic Silver thermal grease.
If you're sure that the heatsink is completely mounted (all four pins are in and tight), then you may have used too much thermal grease. You really only need a tiny amount to get optimal contact. Also, is the fan being controlled by the motherboard? Do you have the control set to PWM?
 

Traxan

Senior member
Jun 5, 2005
375
8
81
I forgot to connect the 12v plug...

1538133.jpg
 
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Traxan

Senior member
Jun 5, 2005
375
8
81
So just to close the loop on this... I tried using my old Q6700 to test, fearing the mobo was dead. When I realized the 12v was missing, the Q6700 and a heat sink I thought was useless were in place. Booted up and the temp was 38C. Ran 3 Everquest clients (I multibox) and it went to 50C. I shut down EQ and it's back to 39F. So I'm going to leave it as is. It's running fine. Guess I'll sell the E8400.