Processor Overheat

[LavidDichterman]

This one is a real pickle... I have an Abit NV7-133R with an Athlon XP 1800+ that's about 1 year old being cooled by a SLK-800 and a Sunon 50.6 CFM fan. Just recently I noticed that my temperatures were reaching ~60 degrees C which is was too hot considering the cooling I'm using. When at load, the max temp will reach 70C causing the computer to shut down. I used Arctic Alumina thermal grease and have tried reapplying the heat sink but the temp remains constantly too high. Even when I put on my Vantec Tornado the temperatures are far higher than they used to be. I know that I applied the heat sink properly, that's not the issue. Could this be the result of a dieing processor?
Thanks for your help.

 

[Insidious]

Welcome to AnandTech!

If you are certain of the HSF installation, then the only other things I can think of to be looking at are has anything changed in the location or
ventilation of the case?

Also, are you overclocking? Have you changed BIOS or Voltage levels recently?

I don't know if a failing CPU runs hotter or not, but that sounds a little bit out there.


Possibly a failing voltage regulator on MoBo???


These are all just guesses, If they don't help directly, maybe at least it gives you a couple more things to look at.

-Sid

 

[Krk3561]

You might have put too much grease on.

 

[mechBgon]

The NV7-133R is calibrated higher than any other board I know of, and temps around 70C+ are not uncommon with "normal" cooling. Considering you have high-end cooling, I'd expect closer to 55C-60C, and that's what you're seeing, so I'd say let it be what it is, a board that's calibrated higher than others. Bump your shutdown temp to around 75C.

The other thing to watch is that your heatsink isn't so close to the solid end of the CPU socket that the "lower deck" of the base rides up on the solid-plastic end of the CPU socket. Since the heatsink can move on the clip with Thermalrights, this is something to watch. Welcome to the forums, hope this helps

 

[MedicBob]

Is everything clean inside the case?

Check that all the fans are working, the case is as dust free as you can make it, clean between the HS fins on the processor, and what is the ambient temp?

Make sure a heater vent isn't blowing directly into the air intake for the case also.

 

[LavidDichterman]

Thanks for the help guys. I just found it odd that I'd get such a high temp difference between idle and load temps. Additionally, I'm pretty sure I used to get much lower temperatures with the same settings.

I think I'll just get water cooling soon. I'm going to college in under 6 months and I don't want my roomate to kill me over my computer.

Any recommendations for a good water cooling kit?