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CPU overheating

TJM

TJM

TJM

Associate
Joined
10 Jun 2007
Posts
2,378
I just put together a new computer with an Intel Core Duo 6750 Retail on a NF650i Ultra. I followed Intel's installation instructions to the letter, but one of the legs on the heatsink wouldn't click into place on the motherboard like the other three. It was wobbly, but it was through the hole. I fired up the computer and it lasted about 15 seconds before turning itself off. I turned it on and off again a few times (doing things like disconnecting drives in case it was a power issue), but I checked BIOS on about the sixth boot up and found that the CPU temperature was rising by about 3 or 4 degrees every second. The computer turned itself off when the CPU temp went over 100. O er.

The heatsink is definitely running, but could the slight looseness caused by one of its legs be enough to cause the temp to spiral out of control like that?

Also, there's a now a silver coloured paste or something on the bottom of the heatsink and top of the CPU. Has the overheating partially melted the CPU or something?
 
LOL

No m8 that silver stuff you see is thermal interface material (TIM) and SHOULD be there - if you are or have removed it then you will need to replace it.

ALL 4 legs should click into place if one isn't clicking in then that is the cause of your temp problem. twist all the legs cockwise (looking down on the cpu fan) then try again. If you look closely on the cpu heatsink there will be arrows on top of the legs telling you to twist them to remove it - so reverse this movement before you remount.
 
Heh, phew. I was worried that I had cooked it. Just slightly confused by the fact that it wasn't there when I originally stuck the heatsink on.

I've tried refitting it, but the same leg is always giving me the same problem. I guess that I'll get a replacement.
 
Are you sure you have pushed hard enough? You really have to put some force in to it and many times i've thought the board would break before it went on, just before it clicks nicely in to place.
 
"I've tried refitting it, but the same leg is always giving me the same problem. I guess that I'll get a replacement".

Check the little split white plastic tip is not being splayed out above the hole rather than going into it.
Gustav.
 
Problem solved. I followed the above advice and just put a lot of force into it. Heard the click and now she's sitting at about 45 degrees.
 
I had exactly the same problem- only problem now is that to remove the thing I have to force the plastic legs out by pushing them through from the other side with a screwdriver. Doh.
 
I'll get some of that paste stuff then. Is there any risk of damage to the CPU if I continue using the computer until it arrives? 40-45 when idle doesn't seem too bad.
 
40-45 idle is fine while you wait - you won't do any damage to your build in the meantime.
 
I've got a new problem. I bought the Arctic Silver stuff, cleaned the CPU/heatsink using rubbing alcohol, and applied the paste as instructed (small lump, about pea-sized, in the centre of the CPU). The temperature reaches 50 quickly and then crawls (over the course of about 10 minutes) to the mid 60s where it stays as long as the computer is idle. I've tried two applications of it and used less the second time around, bringing the idle temp down from 71 to 63. I know that less is more with this stuff, but any less would be a very small amount.

What can cause the paste to not work very well? I'm thinking it might be residue left over from the old thermal paste (the CPU looks a bit smudgy, although the writing on it is completely clear), but ten minutes of cleaning with the rubbing alcohol on cotton buds lifted almost nothing after I had cleaned the visible paste off.
 
get yourself a good after-market cooler, Noctua NH-U12F - Thermaltake Ultra - Tuniq Tower. It really sounds like something dodgy with your cooler.

There's info on the Arctic Silver website about their recommendations, but I always use the thinnest possible layer over the entire cpu, i.e. add it, then use a credit card to scrape off as much as possible, ideally the lettering on the cpu should be nearly legible. Other people swear by other approaches though.

[edit]
RJC said:
Below is the link to install arctic silver on a dual core CPU:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appinstruct/as5/ins_as5_intel_dual_wcap.pdf

Rob
Click to expand...


[/edit]

Even for the intel stock cooler, your temps seem quite high - which is why I think its dodgy. Maybe also add a few fans to the case, a stalk-fan or two inside, wrap up your cables to ensure good air-flow, and so on. Or go the w/c route.
Best of luck :).
 
Ok, my idle temp is staying at about 35-40 but it is now reaching 70 when under load. I've decided to stop arsing about and simply replace the cooler.

I'll be getting some of that Arctic Clean stuff to remove the paste from the CPU, but which cooler should I go for? Ideally, it should have a thermal pad on the bottom so that the chances of me screwing things up are minimised.

Edit: Just for info - Intel TAT reports the CPU temps at 30 and 27 when idle. Running the torture test on Prime 95 increases them both to about 50-55.
 
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TJM said:
I've got a new problem. I bought the Arctic Silver stuff, cleaned the CPU/heatsink using rubbing alcohol, and applied the paste as instructed (small lump, about pea-sized, in the centre of the CPU). The temperature reaches 50 quickly and then crawls (over the course of about 10 minutes) to the mid 60s where it stays as long as the computer is idle. I've tried two applications of it and used less the second time around, bringing the idle temp down from 71 to 63. I know that less is more with this stuff, but any less would be a very small amount.

What can cause the paste to not work very well? I'm thinking it might be residue left over from the old thermal paste (the CPU looks a bit smudgy, although the writing on it is completely clear), but ten minutes of cleaning with the rubbing alcohol on cotton buds lifted almost nothing after I had cleaned the visible paste off.
Click to expand...

That sounds like my opty 185 ive just bought,, but it stays in the 30s when idel, but 1 core shoots uo to 75c and the other 65 when being stressed out then cools down quite fast when idel again. ppl says its cos the cores are not making contact with the metal plate?
 
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