Help! my AMD crashes more than amtrack!

[Bitek]

I've had a terrible problem with my (girlfreind's)computer system for a while now. the computer locks-up without fail everytime we use it. Sometimes it takes 5 min., sometimes 3hrs. Its a Tbird 850 on a abit kt7a-raid, micron 256mb (pc100 or 133), globalwin fop32 hs, 300w amd-approved p.s. I've tried taking out all the pci cards (ex. video of course,) upgraded the power supply, tried other memory, reloaded windows (98), everything I can think of and nothing helps!
Watching the cpu temp in the bios the temp gets to 72C! while the sys temp is ~30C
However, in the via hardware monitor the temps are much lower, ~55C peak.
yes I used thermal compound (stuff from radioshack) and tried following amd's hs install guide exactly, but it is still very hot. This is probably causing the crashes, but im not entirely sure. Please help.

 

[heffe734]

72 C? You should've almost fried that chip by now...reseat the HSF...that could be why your getting such high temps and crashes.

 

[whom2be]

Thats to hot. AMD says the chip can hit 90c without frying it. 80c is the over-heat temp.
It's not recomended to let it go above 70. {If memory serves}

Try going into the BIOS and lowering the CPU voltage.
This will run it cooler.
I have my AMD cpu lowered 10volts. It stopped my system from getting to hot.

**WARNING**

If you set the temperature too low or too high the computer will not boot.
So if you do lower the voltage write down the BIOS settings BEFORE you change anything.

If It will not boot after a change:

clear the CMOS( jumper on MoBo)