I Need some Serious Computing Advice! (CPU temps 67 degrees Celsius?)

[Lysimachus]

Alright, as of late I've been having a problem with my computer just randomly shutting down for no apparent reason (usually when I'm in an RTS game such as Empires: Dawn of the Modern World or a large program). I simply have to turn it back on to get back to what I was doing.

Here are my system specs:

Windows XP Pro SP1 (with all critical updates)

AMD Athlon 2700+ (2.17Ghz)
ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Rev. 2.00
1024 Megs DDR Corsair (512 x2)
ATI 128 Radeon 9700 Pro
Maxtor 80Gig 7200rpm (8meg Cache) Hard Drive

I have a Blue/silver Chieftec case with TWO exhaust fans in the BACK and TWO exhaust fans in the FRONT. The last time I used my Arctic Silver 3 was like almost 6 months ago. Usually I know my CPU to stay rather cool...around 49 degrees Celsius. So this time, when my computer shut down, I tried turning it right back on but it instantly shut off again. I repeated, and it kept shutting it down on me up to the third time! It finally turned on for me the 4th time, and I decided to go straight to the BIOS and view the temps. It said something like 67 degrees Celsius for the CPU! How come it is so hot? Do you think I damaged my CPU?

Also, take a note of this one. I have a side acrolyic window, and I notice that when my Case is closed up, it get's really hot. But if I take the side window off, and point a little square home, summer fan, it stays much much more cool. I feel like I can never close my case up again because it will get too hot if I do...

Right now as I'm typing to you I have that little summer fan blowing straight into the side of my case and everything is just fine...but I don't want to have to love with this noise.

What do you recommend? Should I buy a Power Supply that has an fan pointing at the CPU? My current AUSTIN PS has 450w, but it has no fan pointing inward toward the CPU. Would this help? What is the best Power Supplies that keep your system cool? Also, how often should I renew my Arctic Silver 3 on my CPU?

If pray I did not damage the CPU..and that the only reason it shut down was a safety function BEFORE it did any damage...

Hope you guys can help. Thanks.

 

[thorin]

I have a Blue/silver Chieftec case with TWO exhaust fans in the BACK and ONE exhaust fan in the FRONT

Ummmmm so where is the air coming in to your case?????? (When it's closed and you aren't using a house fan)

Thorin

 

[Lysimachus]

Let me change something:

I have TWO rear exhaust fans, TWO front exhaust fans, 1 CPU fan with standard heatsink (came with 2700+). All spin normally, but CPU still gets too hot with closed up case.

The two front exhaust fans blow inward, and the two rear exhaust blow outward.

To compensate, I must take side door off and point my home fan directly into the case in order for temps to slowly drop (as I watch temps with my ASUS Utility Probe, but I don't know how accurate it is).

Should I get a better heat sink?

 

[Viper96720]

What he's trying to say is your front fans need to be intake not exhaust. If your cpu really is getting that hot seems like the heatsink isn't on right.

 

[thorin]

Ok lemme also rephrase if all your fans are exhaust fans (ie: blowing air out of your case) then were is the fresh/cool(er) air coming in (ie: air being sucked in).

Thorin

 

[JeremiahTheGreat]

What is your ambient temperature?

Have you installed the heatsink backwards?

 

[Lysimachus]

Ambient temperature? What is it and where do I find that out? Also, I doubt I installed it backwards...for there is only one way to put it on...

*sure wishes that my PC Config class had taught some of these things such as maintenance and performance analysis, other than just "how to build one and setting it up"*

 

[thorin]

Ambient temperature? What is it and where do I find that out?

Ambient = room temp, just get any old thermometer and check.

Also, I doubt I installed it backwards...for there is only one way to put it on...

You can put it on rotated 180 degress from where it should be.

So what's the deal on the 4 exhaust fans?

Thorin

 

[Wolfdog]

All the exhaust fans in the world may not be enough to draw in cool air. There are quite a few bad cases out there that just recirculate the same hot air around in the case. Check your inflow fans to make sure they draw air from the outside. You may need to mod your case to allow for greater inflow.

 

[gunbounder]

How long had the computer been built when this started happening? It is very possible to have accidentally installed your heatsink backwards... it happened to me, my computer ran and then shut down on on me randomly and the heatsink was installed backwards... but after I fixed that, everything else runs great. So I'd check to see that it is on right first.

 

[nick1985]

funny you should say that. my bios reads 70C, while my probe reads, 35C. get that.... dont worry about it, as long as it runs fine its ok.

 

[Bucksnort]

Well he said its not running well. Your front fans should be sucking air in, rear ones blowing out. Your case is not inside a desk cabinet or anything like that is it? Your cpu heatsink fan is operating properly?