Have I damaged my CPU?

[downhiller80]

So the other day I decided to try an ultra-quiet fan in my Tuniq, and ran Orthos to see if it could still cope. I decided I was happy to go to about 80C or so since I think although you wouldn't want to run that all the time, it's "ok".

Well maybe I was wrong At about 75C after half an hour or so the system BSODed. I rebooted and whilst everything was fine at first I noticed after a few minutes that my mouse did something very odd - I could move it around fine on one monitor, but as soon as it was on the other monitor it would lock to one position and just flicker as I moved the mouse. After a few minutes even though my temps were fine (just idling, not running orthose) the system locked and I couldn't move the mouse or use the keyboard at all.

Switched off and left it a few minutes this time, and then everything seemed fine. That was a few days ago, and I've had no problems at all (and I use the PC 10hrs a day).

Today it suddenly started happening again. First problem was when I tried to install Jave, the install program appeared to hang for ages so I rebooted. Next time I tried the mouse did exactly what I described above, so I rebooted again. Then it did something similar, except now it would work on the other monitor, and completely disappear on the one which previously had worked fine. Then it hung again.


Any clues? I've upped the voltage on my MCH/FSB/DDR by 0.1v all around since they were all running at standard, I'll see if I get on any better. Is it possible that I've physically damaged my CPU? Or if anything is it more likely that I've corrupted something in windows?

cheers!

 

[Rhoxed]

Try running everything at stock settings. If that does not work i would definately try a reinstall of windows. I have had similar problems, windows for me would not play more then one sound from a program or the soundcard drivers would erase themselves. It ended up being a corrupt install of windows.

 

[downhiller80]

Well I'm using this PC for work so am reluctant to take a day out to reinstall just yet - FWIW since I posted up it's been fine...

 

[Idontcare]

You rely on this computer to get your work done, and it's uptime is vital enough to give you cause for being relunctant to reinstall the OS, but yet you are dicking around overclocking into expectedly dangerous territory causing BSOD's and the like?

Amazing.

[/Shakes head...]

 

[downhiller80]

Haha, ridiculous isn't it. In my defence I did resist the urge to overclock for a day or two, but once I started it was too enjoyable lol

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: sebfrost
Or is it more likely that I've corrupted something in windows?

I like it when you guys answer your own questions. And fixing your problem is a 30 minute procedure, not a 24 hour procedure. It's called a "repair install". BTW, you're overclocked way too high for a work PC. Try 3.3-3.5 Ghz.

 

[downhiller80]

Haha. I feel you might be about to mock me more - I turned off System Restore because all of the drive thrashing it causes all of the time was pissing me off. Do I need that to do a repair?

Or do you mean putting the CD in and following whatever prompts it gives me?

I've never run a repair on a windows system, I've always reinstalled - is there any chance of it fucking stuff up. What if you've done somethign silly like installed SP1RC?

FWIW I'm not THAT bothered, since I posted that this morning it's been fine all day, I'll see how it goes.

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: sebfrost
Or is it more likely that I've corrupted something in windows?

I like it when you guys answer your own questions. And fixing your problem is a 30 minute procedure, not a 24 hour procedure. It's called a "repair install". BTW, you're overclocked way too high for a work PC. Try 3.3-3.5 Ghz.

Any overclock is too high for a work PC unless your time is worth very little.

 

[downhiller80]

My time is worth enough, which is why I can - I'd rather not take a day off and lose the money, but I'm being paid enough that it wouldn't be the end of the world ;-)

FWIW I am shortly going to be building a spare PC so I have a fallover in the event of me fucking this one up.

Nag nag nag nag nag

 

[VirtualLarry]

I doubt that CPU temps had any effect. I run my E2140s at 85C 24/7, and they're still cranking. So I don't think that 80C killed yours. I'm speaking core temps here. If your Tcase (BIOS temp value) went up to 80C then you might have a problem.

 

[kb2114]

I'd reseat your Tuniq... I can't get my CPU over 45C at load at 3.6 ghz and 1.5+ volts.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: sebfrost
Haha. I feel you might be about to mock me more - I turned off System Restore because all of the drive thrashing it causes all of the time was pissing me off. Do I need that to do a repair?

Or do you mean putting the CD in and following whatever prompts it gives me?

I've never run a repair on a windows system, I've always reinstalled - is there any chance of it fucking stuff up. What if you've done somethign silly like installed SP1RC?

FWIW I'm not THAT bothered, since I posted that this morning it's been fine all day, I'll see how it goes.

No, I don't use System Restore, either, and mostly for the same reason. You just put your Windows disk in the drive, and reboot. Let it pretend like you're going to install Windoze for the first time, then after you've gotten to the last step, and you've already got your C: drive highlighted, hit the R button, instead of the Enter button. And no, it doesn't mess anything up, although you'll want to backup your Address book, your e-mails (if you use Outlook/Outlook Express), and anything you have in your My Documents folder, just in case.

You won't have to reinstall any software, or drivers, but you will have to change all of your settings back, like turning off System Restore, Automatic Updates, or whatever you usually keep turned off/diabled. It only takes me ~30 minutes for the entire process. And no, installing SP1RC won't affect that, it just will no longer be installed, after you've finished.

 

[sandorski]

Been out of the loop for awhile, is 75c and up "normal" temps these days? :Q

 

[krnmastersgt]

75C is acceptable, 80C is a bit high, too high for most in fact, and 90C is just pushing it o_o

 

[sandorski]

damn

 

[downhiller80]

No, I don't use System Restore, either, and mostly for the same reason. You just put your Windows disk in the drive, and reboot. Let it pretend like you're going to install Windoze for the first time, then after you've gotten to the last step, and you've already got your C: drive highlighted, hit the R button, instead of the Enter button. And no, it doesn't mess anything up, although you'll want to backup your Address book, your e-mails (if you use Outlook/Outlook Express), and anything you have in your My Documents folder, just in case.

You won't have to reinstall any software, or drivers, but you will have to change all of your settings back, like turning off System Restore, Automatic Updates, or whatever you usually keep turned off/diabled. It only takes me ~30 minutes for the entire process. And no, installing SP1RC won't affect that, it just will no longer be installed, after you've finished.

Hmmm, Vista appears not to have the same repair feature. We have "startup repair" which you run if you can't boot - run that and it says everything is fine (takes about 1 second). Next is system restore, which I can't use because I turned it off, and lastly complete PC restore which is for backups.

No system repair!

(vista 64 ultimate OEM CD)

 

[downhiller80]

The mouse problem seemed very odd to me, but it happened again earlier, and again just now, and this time my display driver crapped out and restarted and that fixed the mouse thing - so I think the mouse issue is a display driver thing, which is good. Downloading from nvidia to reinstall now and optimistic that it'll fix everything.....

 

[CurseTheSky]

I doubt you've damaged your processor, but you need to turn down that overclock. Chances are, your memory can't handle those speeds, causing the BSOD and lockups. It could be the processor, but my money is on the memory (unless you're running it near stock speed).

80C is WAY too high for me. I get worried when I get into high 40s or low 50s. I get very nervous when I hit 60C. I freak when I hit 70C (only happened once, computer was on its side and I forgot to bolt down the heatsink... whoops). Yes, they can "handle" up to what, 85C? 90C? 100C? Who knows. The hotter you run it, the more risk you're taking. I'd consider that equivalent to redlining your car for a few hours.

Is this strictly a work PC, or do you game on it as well? If you're overclocking just for the thrill, I would only push it on weekends, or whenever you don't NEED it for work. You're pushing that thing way too hard to be reliable.

So, in summary, save yourself the time and headache and just run it at stock speeds for a while. If that doesn't instantly solve the problem, manually reset your BIOS. If that doesn't work, reinstall Windows. If THAT doesn't work, you probably damaged something.

 

[Mondoman]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky...
80C is WAY too high for me.... I get very nervous when I hit 60C. ....

My thoughts, too.