Overheating problem

[crelm1974]

I've had this overheating problem for quite a long time and I'm not sure what factor(s) are contributing to it.

Asus M2NSLI-32 Deluxe NForce 590 SLI
AMD X2 4800 dual core
2 x NVidia 7950 GTs

The CPU temp idles between 49C and 56C but any graphics intensive load will raise it up into the high 70's and 80's Celsius. Usually I don't notice the temp if I don't check because it just turns the computer off.

It's in an aluminum cooler master stacker case with one fan on front @ 2668 rpm, rear fan (blows into case) @ 4018 rpm and the CPU fan/heatsink is a TMG A2 Tt @ 2824 rpm.

The side-cover of the case allows airflow as if it wasn't there at all.

The NVidia core temps idle at 68C but certainly go up under any load.

I used to have a Cooler Master liquid cooling kit on the CPU but switched it out due to same kind of overheating and the new fan/HS seemed to keep it cool and I could actually play games like Bioshock at nearly full graphics load without overheating/turning off.

Could it just be a bad CPU?

I'd appreciate any advice or ideas.

Thanks.

 

[NoelS]

crelm,

Could just be a bad paste job between your CPU and the HSF. I suggest you remove the HSF and CPU, clean off the old paste. Now re-install the CPU, re-paste it and install the HSF, see if that doesn't reduce the temps. If it doesn't, I'd be concerned about the CPU. Then it would be time to contact AMD about the chip, perhaps RMA IT.

Noel

 

[crelm1974]

I removed the HSF cleaned off paste from both HS and CPU and reinstalled neatly and carefully with new paste.

I also switched the rear fan to blow out instead of in.

However, this doesn't change this:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7375/tempsgv8.png

This shows the temp1 (CPU) immediately after boot then loading an example game (Need For Speed Most Wanted) that would shut it off. The low spot in the middle of the heat spike is switching back to Windows and then back to the game. Then I quit the game and it levels off to around 51C.

I'm not overclocking it and Speedfan says its voltage is 1.34.

This is what it looks like as I type this post:

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/2092/temps2gt5.png

crap CPU?

thanks

 

[mechBgon]

A couple things to have a look at:

1) In the motherboard's BIOS, you might want to make sure Asus's Q-Fan feature is disabled. Q-Fan tries to regulate the speed of the fan that's on the CPU-fan header according to core temperature. Maybe it's getting it wrong. It sounds like you monitor fan RPM, so that's just in case.

2) For efficient heat transfer, the heatsink needs to be exerting even pressure against the CPU's heatspreader. If you didn't check already, take a look at the four bolts that fasten the heatsink-retention frame down against the motherboard, to make sure they're all snug. If one of the bolts is loose, that corner of the frame will lift when the heatsink is latched down, causing uneven clamping pressure as a result.

 

[crelm1974]

Q-Fan was enabled so I disabled it. I also made sure the four mounting screws were secure and they were.

However, when Windows booted it was at 71C (although it was around 51C when I shut down) and came down to about 45C. But when I tested the game for about 1 minute, again I got a similar result as before.

this.... http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/7674/temps3go3.png

thanks again

 

[krnmastersgt]

Well it seems Q-Fan was causing the erratic spiking temps, so let me get this straight, it was too hot using a liquid cooled system? I'd suggest PMing someone who has a lot of experience with water cooling such as aigomorla to see if theres a problem with your set-up leading to higher temps.