Heating problem

[TROGDOR4x4]

I am getting some high readings on my CPU and MB. I have had this computer and setup since last summer. I am getting for the CPU and average of 49 C/120 F and 31 C/87 F on the MB, and the room temperature is about 72. I have a large copper heatsink with a large fan. When I use the stock heatsink and fan the CPU is at around 70 C. I got my case at Fry's Electronics here in Houston and I can't find the name of it. This is my set up:

Asus P4C800 Deluxe
Kinston 512 MB 3200
Raidmax 420W PSU
P4 3.0 Ghz 530
Saphire Radeon 9600 256 MB DDR
Maxtor 100 G

I am not overclocking and the computer restarts while gaming. I saw online somewhere that the idle temp for the CPU sould be around 35 C.

I have routed my fan for a better blow through in the case, and no difference.

This is an idea... could the CPU or MB be reading the temperature incorrectly and cause the computer to restart? I may be way off but that was an idea.

 

[akira34]

What are you using to get the temp readings? I assume that the front and side fans are pulling air into the case and all top and rear fans are venting out... right? Try checking the fan on the processor heatsink to make sure it's also blowing down onto the fins. Which aftermarket HSF did you install? What thermal compound did you use between it and the processor? Did you do that step properly? If you're getting idle speeds of around 49C you might want to re-do the thermal compound on it. Or even go to a larger fan on the heatsink that will move more air.

BTW, what's the temp right after you restart from inside the game? I have a customer that has a computer (built by the previous tech who was stealing from them) that is a 2.8GHz P4 (800MHz FSB) that is running in the high 50's to 60C at IDLE. It only has one case fan in it, and the room is on the warmer side (probably at least 80F). I've got a fan on order that will go in the front, to help move air in the case better. They're also going to be putting the AC in the room to help cool it down. That should resolve their issue. Especially since it didn't take much to push the system up to 65C+ under a lite load. No wonder it was crashing after gaming for a while (where the cpu was probably over 70C with ease).

 

[nboy22]

having the pc restarting is mainly not a heat issue at 49 C, what I would recommend is that you should go into your bios settings and make sure that there is no restarting temp for your CPU. My bios comes with it, and I just have to turn it up a bit, even though my comptuer stays pretty cool. Also I believe that could either be a PSU issue, or a faulty RAM issue, not sure completely about the RAM but I did have restarting problems that weren't temp caused before. I replaced both my faulty RAM and my PSU. (I ran memtest86 and got a load of errors, so I know my RAM was faulty). but first, I would check in the bios.

 

[TROGDOR4x4]

I get my readings from the Bios Setup, by the time I get to the Bios setup after it restarts it is around 60 C. The four original cases fans are in the front and blowing in along with the side fan blowing in. The aftermarket heatsink came with a braket mounting to the chasis to elevate the fan. I moved the fan from the heatsink kit to the rear of the case to blow out and gave the heatsink a larger and greater flowing fan. I don't recall the name of the heatsink, but it is a large copper one that is fanned out. The compound that I used is from RadioShack called "Silicone-Base Heat Sink Compound." I assumed that it was the correct stuff. how do you know how much to use. I don't use a lot, but enough to make a quarter size circle when I remove the heatsink.

I was having blue screen problems and it giving me memory errors then I took out one of my 512 sticks and I am not getting anymore blue screen. I hesitate in turning off my CPU temperature restart for fear that I my hurt something else.

I don't know if it is related to the same problem or not, but I can be in internet explorer and it will close on me, taking me to my desktop. The same thing has happened with Microsoft Word and other utilities. I have attempted reinstalling OS and changing OS to start over, but I am having the same problem. Oh yeah and the problem is random, there is nothing I can do to trigger this problem. I don't know if it is a heat problem or not.

I just don't know!!!

 

[akira34]

It could be a crappy PSU. I wouldn't use the radio shmak thermal paste, better off getting some Arctic Silver and using it according to the instructions (available online via their web site). Are you 100% certain that the heatsink is rated for your processor? Did the larger fan at least match the CFM rating on the one that came with the heatsink?? I've not seen/used any heatsinks that didn't have the fan mounted directly onto them, so that could be the issue too. Make sure you have the fan blowing down onto the heatsink. I'd also at least balance the front to rear fan count. Having 4 in the front and one (?) in the rear venting could be the reason you have high temps. I'd also check any filters/screens that are in front of the fans to make sure they're not full of dust. I've seen that increase the temps when all else has been checked. Are both your memory sticks the same stuff (down to the final spec.)? Have you tried memory in different slots to see if that makes a difference? I've seen the slots go bad before (usually a sign that more will fail soon). Which OS are you running there? The errors could, also, be the hard drive. Check for any testing tools/utilities on maxtor's site and run them.

 

[TROGDOR4x4]

I am running 2000 Pro, the fan for the heatsink that I replaced flows more air than the one that came with it, the fan in the rear blows more than the all for of the inlet fans. I will try getting other paste. I just downloaded Hmonitor to monitor my temps and voltage, it reads the CPU as idleing at 39 C and MB at 34 C. While gaming the temp went up to 55 C and that was after 5 minutes of playing.

Could voltage be a factor, the core voltage is at 1.54V? the 12V is at 11.43V.

 

[akira34]

If you haven't dicked around with the voltage it shouldn't be a problem. I've been using MBM5 on my own system since it's a small app and I can get the temp readings with a glance. If your system jumped 20C after only 5 minutes of play, it sounds like something is wrong. I would typically get about a 10C increase when playing on my rig's previous incarnation (using an XP 3000+ processor and Radeon 9800 Pro). If you're concerned about the voltage, get a better PSU (Antec being the first choice for me). I'd also make sure that you at least balanced the fans from front to back. Having 4 80mm fans in the front and only one in the rear is not balanced by a long shot. Move two of the front to the rear and see how your temps move.

 

[SneakyStuff]

I've got a Barton 2800+, an Arctic Cooling copper silent 2M, Ceramique, a 120mm exhaust fan, and all that good stuff, and I still idle at 49'C in the summer. I wouldn't worry, 50-60'C idle = fine. Unless your system is freezing and rebooting, there's no danger.

 

[nboy22]

60 C is kinda pushing it I would say. I had my 2000+ with a crappy volcano 6 CU+ on it and it would go up there, when I took it off, the thermal paste pad actually was burned into the heatsink and the letters from the cpu were imprinted on the heatsink where the pad is. Then I picked up a better heatsink and fan and some artic silver.. did the works.