Overheating CPU

[MakeNoise]

Hey all,

I just got a new Saphire 9600XT Radeon video card and ever since I installed it, my CPU started to run hot until it crashes the system (in the 78C range). This happens even though the CPU fan is running correctly (average of 5300rpms). Before this, I had a lowly Vision Xtasy 420MX Nvidia Geforce4 card and never had any problems with an overheating CPU.

So two questions: A.) What causing this? B.) Is there a particular cooling fan that anyone recommends if this is the problem?

My system as follows:

AMD Athlon XP 2100+ (no overclocking - running FSB 133)
Asus A7V333 Motherboard - KT333 chipset
1 GB PC2700 Ram
Onboard Sound
Antec 350W Power Supply
Pioneer A03 DVD-R Drive
Lite-On 52x48x12x CD-RW
2 internal WD drives - 80GB, 40GB
1 Firewire drive (WD 160GB, but not in use)
Canopus StormDV

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[DaveSimmons]

You could try installing a slot cooler next to the card -- cyberguys.com sells these, they're an exhaust fan that installs into a PCI slot, sort of like the nvidia dustbuster design. Or if there is an unused fan holder below the power supply, put a fan in there.

Also, did you make sure the video card's own fan is running too?

 

[MakeNoise]

The fan on the video card works fine. The video card's temp reads normal. It's not the video card that's overheating though. It's the CPU.

 

[Budman]

buy more case fans.

 

[MakeNoise]

I have 5 case fans. 3 Intake. 2 Outtake. Any more and it'll be louder than a jet engine

 

[fell8]

Did you bump the CPU cooler during the process? If so you might have broken the bond between the HS and CPU.

At this point you might want to try reseating the HS with a fresh layer of thermal compound between 2 clean surfaces. Plenty of info available to do the job just-right.

It certainly can't hurt.

 

[robphelan]

I'm having pretty much the same problem on a PC I just finished building. It only happens when I'm playing graphic intensive games, though.. usually 30 mins - 1 hour into the game.

2.4Ghz P4
Aopen AX4SPE-N mobo
256Mb Corsair (waiting on another 2x256 DDR400)
Onboard sound
9800 Radeon Pro
480W Thermaltake PSU

I have also switched out my 9800 with my 9600XT and no change - my PC reboots itself in the middle of BF1942.

I have had the entire case open, a CPU with a heatsink & fan, VPU onboard fan, 1 HDD fan, & 1 blowhole fan.

I couldn't tell if it was my card overheating or my CPU or something else!

Last night I turned on the CPU alarm in BIOS... about 40 mins into BF1942, I hear a sound very similar to a siren (like a Euro police siren) - freaked me out... I'm assuming this was my CPU alarm.

I did put thermal grease between the CPU & heatsink - i'm relatively sure I put enough.

any ideas?

 

[fell8]

I don't know about P4s, but XPs require proper HS orientation so the notch on the bottom clears the raised part of the socket. Failure to do so will result in poor contact and can lead to dire consequences.

 

[Bovinicus]

I would say you should try and remove the heatsink, clean the bottom of the heatsink and the CPU core (High purity alcohol works fine), and reapply the thermal paste. You certainly shouldn't be getting temparatures that high, especially with 5 case fans to keep your system cool.

 

[MakeNoise]

Thanks for the suggestion. I just ordered some Arctic Silver V and I'm going to re-paste the bad boy up when it comes in. I'll let you know the details once it's done.

 

[beatle]

Make sure you don't put too much on! Take a look at the instructions on Arctic Silver's site and follow them to the letter!

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

what kind of shape is the cpu cooling fan in? is that the 2100 palamino core? if so they naturally run rather hot.

 

[bfonnes]

78 Degrees!!!! Holy S*&!!!!

 

[Bovinicus]

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
what kind of shape is the cpu cooling fan in? is that the 2100 palamino core? if so they naturally run rather hot.

It still shouldn't be anywhere near 78C. That is ludicrous. That is approaching core damage territory (90-95C).

 

[exar333]

Might want to check the PSU...how much wattage can yours give? I have noticed on a few friends CPU's that when they upgraded to a DX9-Class card, they were overworking their PSU and some of the fans using power were not running 100% efficiently...just my 2 cents...

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

Originally posted by: Bovinicus

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
what kind of shape is the cpu cooling fan in? is that the 2100 palamino core? if so they naturally run rather hot.

It still shouldn't be anywhere near 78C. That is ludicrous. That is approaching core damage territory (90-95C).

yes but its not helping. my 1700s run at 50C even with 7k rpm fans.

 

[Bovinicus]

Originally posted by: exar333
Might want to check the PSU...how much wattage can yours give? I have noticed on a few friends CPU's that when they upgraded to a DX9-Class card, they were overworking their PSU and some of the fans using power were not running 100% efficiently...just my 2 cents...

I was going to say the same thing. However, he said that his fan was reported to have been spinning at the proper RPM. Despite the reading, it might be a good idea to hook the fan up directly to the PSU instead of the motherboard. A 3 to 4 pin adapter is only a few dollars.

 

[howdyduty]

Not sure your HSF. Recommend a very good cpu HSF if your having cpu heat issues. Also, a slot fan from newegg.com would be great right next to your video card. It would add another exhaust verses intake. I like more exhaust than intake myself. If the top of your case feels warm when you get reboot, your case temps are to high...needing more case cooling. A hot case temp will not allow the cpu sink to cool well.

 

[NokiaDude]

Make sure you're only putting a dab of ASV about the size of a small BB. Anything more than a BB can actually hurt themal conductivity between the heatsink and the CPU.

 

[MakeNoise]

Okay everyone.

Just to give you the heads up, I finally got the Artic Silver. I cleaned the CPU and the heatsink from the previous goo and applied it. While I was at it, I flipped the fans on the grill nearest to the CPU so that it was now the intake fan and the other ones was switched to exhaust.

Results:

31C / CPU
28C / Motherboard

A HUGE difference from what I was experiencing before. I put the CPU through some exercises and got it 33C and it has a hard time staying that hot.

It's almost tempting to try to overclock it. But after finally getting my CPU heat in control and rock solid stability, I'll just stick to what works!

Thanks everyone for the advice and help!

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

the 2100 is the polamino core maxed out, no overclocking for you!