Hot CPU...100 degrees C+

[normski_]

Gents

A friend has dropped me their PC to mend as it kept resetting when playing games, and they suspected the graphics card.

However I have found that the CPU is running at 95 degrees C at idle and as soon as it reaches 109 the PC shuts down.

Obviously this is very high for a 3.2 HT Pentium 4 of any description (haven't taken it out to have a look at exactly which version yet).

The fan on the heatsink (stock) is clearly spinning at 2,800 rpm.

Obviously I will be checking to makesure the heatsink is correctly attached, will replace the thermal grease with AS and make sure there aren't airflow problems.

But I can't conceivably figure why even if the existing grease/compound is useless or the heatsink isn't quite fitted correctly, how the temp could get this high....anything else I can check/do/look for?

Cheers guys....

 

[Tk7]

It's certainly toasty! Maybe the heatsink got knocked or slightly dislodged somehow, the temps are very high.

My last rig had a P4 Prescott 3.4ghz, and that hit about 75c under load, and I thought that was hot.

Reseating the cooler with new TIM should sort it no problem.

 

[spp]

Any chance the thermometer is faulty? Have u touched the heat sink once the pc has been turned off to see if its really as hot as 100 degrees? (might want to hover your hand over it instead of touching it, avoid a nasty burn)

 

[]MadBoy[]

heatsync full of dust??

 

[normski_]

Yes it feels scorching, and secondly, faulty sensor or not, surely it wouldn't shut down unless it was excessively hot, as I can see no where where it is set to power down at a certain temp...and you can't reboot it for a couple of minutes until it has cooled either...

 

[Dark_Angel]

Is the CPU being over volted or something (possible if they have played around in the BIOS?)

Try checking that, and the most obvious one is to reseat the CPU...

Check CPUZ and look at the voltages that is being put thru it if you need to.

 

[normski_]

Thanks for everyones help guys...wil report back when I have chance to do all of the above.

 

[normski_]

Took chip out, cleaned it, re-seated it and hoovered the heatsink (which had a thick layer of dust between it and the fan)...used Arctic Silver 3, and suddenly the temp is half, down to 41 at idle...that'll do me...

 

[alexakasloth]

"hoovered the heatsink (which had a thick layer of dust between it and the fan" It's always so satisfying when you clean out a load of dust from a heatsink

 

[avrc]

"hoovered the heatsink (which had a thick layer of dust between it and the fan" It's always so satisfying when you clean out a load of dust from a heatsink

I prefer filters behind my fans, then there's no need to hoover anything

 

[Ghosteh]

"hoovered the heatsink (which had a thick layer of dust between it and the fan" It's always so satisfying when you clean out a load of dust from a heatsink

Not always true! I used a can of Compressed air to clean my Scythe Infinity. Stupidly though I had the dusty side facing my face, and the Air can behind it. A face full of dust ensued haha.

 

[jaykay]

Not always true! I used a can of Compressed air to clean my Scythe Infinity. Stupidly though I had the dusty side facing my face, and the Air can behind it. A face full of dust ensued haha.

Very clever I havent cleaned my heatsink out since i got it 1 1/2 years ago. I know theres dust in but meh. If the temps are good then theres no need.

 

[Ghosteh]

Very clever I havent cleaned my heatsink out since i got it 1 1/2 years ago. I know theres dust in but meh. If the temps are good then theres no need.

I have to clean mine out very 3-4 weeks otherwise I get a huge layer of dust in it. My flat has false wooden floors, so nothing is getting absorbed into carpets, just means there is a massive dust build up, its a pain in the arse to get the fan off the sides of the heatsink lol

 

[prosk]

My bro bought a second hand pc (P4 northwood) of a mate of his a coupla years ago. The HSF was mounted on the clips of only one side. When I took it off the HSF had a thick layer of goop all over the base. When I cleaned the goop off I saw...the clear sticker still stuck on the base of the heatsink

 

[Talkie_Toaster]

Stupidly though I had the dusty side facing my face, and the Air can behind it. A face full of dust ensued haha.

So, you shed your skin... Then ate it!!

 

[Ghosteh]

well, not just my skin, my two flat mates too, and probably half of my bedsheets & clothing etc. Didn't taste too bad tbh

 

[Jono8]

My bro bought a second hand pc (P4 northwood) of a mate of his a coupla years ago. The HSF was mounted on the clips of only one side. When I took it off the HSF had a thick layer of goop all over the base. When I cleaned the goop off I saw...the clear sticker still stuck on the base of the heatsink

lol, rookie mistake