Reasons for increase in CPU temperature?

[archcommus]

Hello everyone. I built a Q6600 system in April of 2008. Initially back then I idled around 35-40 C and peaked around 55-60. I checked it occasionally after that with similar results. I recently moved to a new apartment. The computer was moved around but it was never particularly jostled or anything. I was playing a game today and noticed it was peaking around 65-70 C. After quitting it's idling around 50. I use the stock Intel cooler with only the original thermal pads that are applied to it. What sort of things over time would cause this increase in temperature? I checked inside the case and it is miraculously clean - the front dust catchers do a great job. A little dust on the heatsink fins but nothing much. I'm pretty sure it's seated well, it doesn't wiggle at all, and the the HSF has never been removed, so the paste contact should be as good as it was on day one. I would like to avoid removing and reseating it so I'm wondering if there's anything else I can do besides cleaning dust. I'm more curious though why this always seems to happen at all. Insight?

Thanks.

 

[Idontcare]

Actually when it comes to dust impeding thermal transfer from the metal heatsink to air molecules it only takes a few microns of dust (less than you can see with your eye) for the damage to happen. If you are expecting to see enough dust that the fins are physically blocked by dirt and hair then you will be waiting a long time.

Just saying I wouldn't rule out dust accumulation just because you can't visually see a bunch of dust on your HSF.

That said, when you say "new apartment" first thought I had was "ambient temperature change"? I'm sure you have your thermostat/AC set to the same control point in the new apartment as you did in the old one, but that doesn't mean the ambient temperature of the air right in front of your computer (being pushed into your computer by the case fans) is the same as it was in your old apartment.

First thing I'd do is pull out a vacuum cleaner and try and remove as much dust as absolutely possible from that HSF. Shouldn't require you to remove it. If that doesn't help then you might consider setting up a box-fan or something to improve the circulation of the air in the room with the computer so the local ambient is closer to where you want it.

 

[archcommus]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to buy some compressed air this weekend to use on the HSF (or is a vacuum better?). I cleaned out the dust catchers in the front of my case and there is a 120mm fan there that should be pulling in good air. The ambient temperature in the room is a very comfortable 24 C so that should be very cool air coming into the case. And with that I'm idling between 45-50 on all four cores. Assuming it's still mounted properly, do the stock thermal strips on the heatsink ever just...lose effectiveness? Because it's low grade, or there isn't enough of it, etc? Would it be normal to have to re-apply new paste after 16 months of use to re-achieve better temps? The layout is simple, just a 120mm in, 120mm out, and the stock Intel HSF with a duct on the side wall.

Thanks again.

 

[Lemon law]

My guess, with a temp jump that big, the cpu has lost its contact with the HSF.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
My guess, with a temp jump that big, the cpu has lost its contact with the HSF.

Sorry for the delay in responding, was away from home for a couple days. That could've happened during the move to the new apartment I suppose, although it does feel just as solid as before. But if the CPU lost contact, wouldn't temps be very high since it would have trouble getting any cooling through the heatsink at all? These temps are not indicative of a CPU with no heatsink, they're just a good bit off from optimal.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Idontcare
That said, when you say "new apartment" first thought I had was "ambient temperature change"? I'm sure you have your thermostat/AC set to the same control point in the new apartment as you did in the old one, but that doesn't mean the ambient temperature of the air right in front of your computer (being pushed into your computer by the case fans) is the same as it was in your old apartment.

I thought of ambient temps as well.

OP you could remove the heatsink and apply some AS5 on the cpu. It eliminates the possibility of bad contact between HSF and cpu and also gives you a little better TIM then the stock stuff.