CPU is overheating

[Ro]

My CPU has been crashing quite often lately, and when I reboot it often displays the message "your CPU was shut down due to thermal overheating. Please service unit to resolve this issue."

I've taken the sides off and blown out all the dust with hot air, moved the CPU out from the wall and off the ground to maximize air flow, checked to see if the fan is working properly (it is), lowered the temp. in my apartment, etc. Still shutting down occassionally.

I've googled for some answers, but they are either too techie or too vague. Should I just take it in? If so, where? Or does anyone have some good advice?

[Heaton]

take the side off, get a bigger fun and run it to see if it helps the problem

[I-Hate-Hulse]

The interface material between your heatsink and CPU may have gone wonky. Are you using a Thermal pad or something like Arctic Silver. Or is it OEM where you never had to mount a heatsink to the CPU yourself?

Any overclocking? I wonder if your multipliers and voltage settings may have changed.

[Ro]

Originally posted by I-Hate-Hulse@Mar 18 2005, 05:53 PM
The interface material between your heatsink and CPU may have gone wonky. Are you using a Thermal pad or something like Arctic Silver. Or is it OEM where you never had to mount a heatsink to the CPU yourself?

Any overclocking? I wonder if your multipliers and voltage settings may have changed.

Yeah, I appreciate your post, honestly, but I have no idea what any of that means. :P

I bought the CPU from MDG. Pentium4. I am using one of expensive APC battery backup units to regulate voltage. Overclocking?

[Daradon]

A buddy of mine had he same problem, he took the sides off it was a quick fix. A permanent fix would probably have to do with getting a more powerful fan.

You don't know what overclocking is, so that's probably not the case...

Did these problems just start happening or have you always had them to an extent?

[zarrell]

Just so you know Ro, when you say CPU most techie types would assume you're talking about the processor not the computer itself. What is the exact message you get when it reboots? It is possible that the video card could be overheating as well. If there's a fan on the video card check to see that it's working as well.

[Ro]

Originally posted by zarrell@Mar 18 2005, 07:01 PM
Just so you know Ro, when you say CPU most techie types would assume you're talking about the processor not the computer itself. What is the exact message you get when it reboots? It is possible that the video card could be overheating as well. If there's a fan on the video card check to see that it's working as well.

Thanks for the tip about the "CPU" thing- I hadn't thought of that. I will make sure to use "computer" if that's what I mean from now on.

I read on some site that keeping the sides off is not a good thing to do- most cases are designed to maximize air flow using the vents on the side, and this works best when the sides are on. But who knows. I had it running for a while with the sides off and it kept doing it.

The exact message is what I typed in the first post.

Didn't know my video card had a fan as well. I will check that out- I also put in a TV card, and often watch TV while I am online or working or whatever. Maybe that extra stress on the video card caused by that is the problem?

[BlackArcher101]

In my fluid dynamics class... I put the myth of opening the sides of the computer cooled it faster to the test. You are correct Ro.

I found that once one side of the case was removed, there was little airflow moving past the critical parts like the CPU and various cards. The only true way to increase cooling, when removing the side, would be to place a large room fan pointing into the case. Either that or use water cooling

As for the problem at hand... make sure all filters in the computer are free of dust (if it came with some). If they clog, they will inhibit airflow. Another problem is dust build up on the components, which you have already solved.

Are you sure the CPU fan is working? It may spin, but it might not be spinning fast enough. Also, touch the heatsink for the CPU and see if it is really really hot. Do the same for your graphics card (Warning: Touch the power supply case with the PC plugged in before touching any components).

Does it overheat at specific times? Like when you are watching tv or playing games? Or is it random and doesn't matter what you are doing on the PC. Also, how much time does it take to overheat?

[Ironhorse]

I've come across more than one computer that had this problem. Depending on the thermal protection, the CPU will either run slower when it gets too hot, or (in your case) the computer shuts down.

Take off the side off the computer, turn it on and make sure the fan that is sitting on top of the CPU is actually running. A shot of compressed air (with the computer off) to get the dust out of the case and off the fan(s) will also help keep things cool.

Your video card may or may not have a fan on it, depending on the card. Also make sure that the powersupply's fan is working and that the vent holes on the computer case are not obstructed.

(FYI, overclocking is when you go into the bios and/or motherboard and run the processor at a higher speed than it was designed for - usually resulting in higher heat dissipation.)

[Ro]

Did the compressed air thing, dust free now, yadda yadda.

I didn't see any other fans besides the one near the cpu.

When I touch what I think is the heatsink (area around the cpu, kind of a metal grate like thing on the top and bottom), I find it extremely hot. Like burn your fingers if you leave them there for more than a few seconds hot. If this is indeed the heatsink, do I need to have it replaced? An additional fan put in there? Do I need one for my video card as well? How do I know if the fan is running fast enough?

Also, what is the powersupply fan?

I don't play any games, and it has just started doing this. I do leave my computer on overnight quite a bit (won't be doing that as much now, or at least until I get this problem resolved), and it is shutting down at random times, not just when I have the TV feature going.

Thanks all for the help, any other suggestions/advice is appreciated.

[BlackArcher101]

If the heatsink is really hot, either the CPU is putting out more heat than usual, or the cooling fan is not working well. I would suggest getting a new fan or upgrading both the fan and heatsink. The thermal paste between the heatsink and CPU must be okay since the heatsink is hot.

Either that, or your CPU is getting too much voltage somehow.

[Resolute 14]

Agreed. If all of the fans appear to be running, best option is a better heatsink/CPU fan and thermal compound.

While it is not the ideal solution, you can temporaraly fix the problem by opening a case and pointing a desk fan right at the CPU.