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Overheating CPU

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Soldato
Joined
26 Dec 2008
Posts
3,388
Location
Edinburgh
So I recently got my 4870X2 and a new PSU this has seemed to have solved any random graphics driver crashes now.

However, now when I am gaming (or randomly doing stuff) the pc reboots.

I checked Speed Fan for the temps and everything is fine apart from the CPU temp. Hitting 68C idle on desktop use.

So I have removed the heatsink and have cleaned the thermal paste off and will replace this tonight (the White Spirit needs time to evaporate)

The CPU is a QX9650 at Stock Speeds for now with Stock Heatsink. I didnt really have problems apart from when I overclocked it.

I did have to take out my motherboard to put my new PSU into the case and I had to take the heatsink off the processor at this time so I am thinking I will have to resit the heatsink to my processor with new thermal paste.

Is there anything else I should check (aside from buying a new heatsink as I will get this when I get a new case)

God I hate the pushpin design of these processors lol I think when I replace it the first time I only had 3 pins in the motherboard. Would this really have that big an effect on the temps if the heatsink wasnt right against the CPU?

This was only supposed to be a short post but has turned into an essay lol
 
Duke said:
That is probably about right for a quad core on the stock heatsink/fan.
Click to expand...

I noticed on Speedfan it was showing the fire symbol next to the temp, which didnt used to appear before I messed about with the heatsink.

I dunno if the heatsink not being fully clipped down would cause a drastic change?
 
There is some Great advice given on this forum but there is also some complete Crap advice given as well, I just wish people would keep there comments for threads they know something about.


For starters White spirit is Far to aggressive to use to clean TIM off, Get some TIM remover.
Secondly Of course it matters that 1 pin is not fixed, This means the heat sink will not make proper contact with the CPU shield, People spend Hours lapping the mating surfaces for a Precision fit & you think just 3 pins will do, Sorry mate but that is Madness.
Thirdly 68c at Idle is more Madness, I wouldn't even want that temp under load let alone idle, Get it down to 40c or below at idle to give you the room you need for a decent clock at acceptable temps.

So...

Go & buy some TIM remover & some AC5.
Remove as much hardware from your system as it takes to get a clear view of all 4 pins.
Clean old TIM & any components that have been contaminated with white spirit using the Proper stuff.
Apply AS5 as described on AC home site for your particular CPU.
Fix the heat sink by clicking the pins on Opposite corners, If you are not 100% sure of the pin fix & AS5 application then do it again, Do it until you know in your mind that the 4 pins are fixed & the AC5 is Perfect.
Rebuild your system.
Enjoy :)
 
malc30 said:
There is some Great advice given on this forum but there is also some complete Crap advice given as well, I just wish people would keep there comments for threads they know something about.


For starters White spirit is Far to aggressive to use to clean TIM off, Get some TIM remover.
Secondly Of course it matters that 1 pin is not fixed, This means the heat sink will not make proper contact with the CPU shield, People spend Hours lapping the mating surfaces for a Precision fit & you think just 3 pins will do, Sorry mate but that is Madness.
Thirdly 68c at Idle is more Madness, I wouldn't even want that temp under load let alone idle, Get it down to 40c or below at idle to give you the room you need for a decent clock at acceptable temps.

So...

Go & buy some TIM remover & some AC5.
Remove as much hardware from your system as it takes to get a clear view of all 4 pins.
Clean old TIM & any components that have been contaminated with white spirit using the Proper stuff.
Apply AS5 as described on AC home site for your particular CPU.
Fix the heat sink by clicking the pins on Opposite corners, If you are not 100% sure of the pin fix & AS5 application then do it again, Do it until you know in your mind that the 4 pins are fixed & the AC5 is Perfect.
Rebuild your system.
Enjoy :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. I may end up getting a cooler that has a bolt through instead of pushpins because it can take ages to get the cooler back in when i get it out. Getting a new case tomorrow so that will give me another chance to have a go.
 
As you're getting a new case you can fit the CPU/heatsink/fan Prior to putting the Mobo in the case, This is the Perfect way to build a system.
The key to building a Decent system is taking your time & doing one thing at a time Perfectly & precisely, nothing is difficult if you do things slow. Rush the job & it will just come back & bite you in the **** destroying all the new buzz feeling you should be getting.
Lets us know how you get on & Good luck with it. :)
 
malc30 said:
As you're getting a new case you can fit the CPU/heatsink/fan Prior to putting the Mobo in the case, This is the Perfect way to build a system.
The key to building a Decent system is taking your time & doing one thing at a time Perfectly & precisely, nothing is difficult if you do things slow. Rush the job & it will just come back & bite you in the **** destroying all the new buzz feeling you should be getting.
Lets us know how you get on & Good luck with it. :)
Click to expand...

Cheers mate, funny thing is before I put in my new PSU I had temps of 30 idle, but for some reason I decided to take the heatsink off the CPU when I took out the motherboard to fit the PSU in lol

I have a thread in the Case section about which case to get, thinking of getting an Antec 900 but am open to ideas ;)
 
The stock cooler is cack tbh m8, if you have a bit spare cash try getting something like a freezer 7, they are pretty cheap but really do a good bang per buck job.

Also I found the push pins a nightmare on the stock cooler but a lot lot easier on the freezer, perhaps just me but it went in a doddle rather than the stock huffing & puffing.

There are posts on here about modifying a push pin cooler to a bolt through, some of the higher end coolers are bolt through anyway.

Follow what malc has said & you wont be far off, even with the stock cooler you should drop temps if it is properly fitted & the AS5/MX-2(my vote) is applied properly, I wouldn't want to overclock too much on a stock cooler but that's just me.
 
Yeah, I read when I first built the PC that the stock cooler was fine for normal use, which is what I was using it for with the view to upgrade it later.
I think its because the push pins are that crappy they dont sit in the place they are supposed to, so when I try to push them into the hole they move to the side.
 
30 idle is pretty good, I think most of your problem has been the lack of a 4th pin holding the hsf down on to the CPU.

4 pins & some good application of the AS5 should see you back gaming with no problems.
 
You can buy special kits to mod the clamp fro push pin to bolt, Real cute spring loaded bolts with it but not really needed if you take you time with the push pins.
What you do have to be aware of is the little white bits of the push pins that go through your mobo holes have two little pointy bits to them, some times one of these goes through & the other doesn't giving the feel of a secure fit but not actually giving you the mounting you want, Once this is done once it makes it a right pita to get all four clips in properly as the dogy one keeps popping in awkward.
If all else fails you can remove the black part of the push pins & hold all four white bits in teh clamp & lower it all down into place getting all four pins in perfect first time, Then you just push the black bits down on opposite corners & the jobs a good'un.
Don't do this unless you bend one of your white bits though as it's Awkward & only a way out of a bendy white bit scenario.
 
Line them up with the hole 1st them push them in 2 at a time diagonally, i.e. do diagonally opposite corners at the same time.

I found the stock cooler a bit of a pain to get on perfectly, I'm a ham fisted bas at times tho.
 
BeeP said:
30 idle is pretty good, I think most of your problem has been the lack of a 4th pin holding the hsf down on to the CPU.

4 pins & some good application of the AS5 should see you back gaming with no problems.
Click to expand...

Yeah thats what I had thought. Dunno why Intel decided to go to the inferior pushpins in the first place, its meant to be easier? BS!

On the case side, I have a a choice of two.

This plus a CPU cooler:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-015-NX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=35

Or the Antec 900 with a cooler to come later:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-065-AN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=160

I made a thread in the case section before too lol

Edit: Just remembered - free delivery. So its Antec + Cooler or NZXT + cooler
 
Last edited:
Those two are like Chalk & cheese.
The first being some flash looking piece of crap that would boil an iceburg in minutes & the 2nd being a clockers dream that gives me wood just looking at a pic of it :p
 
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