Severe CPU Overheating Problem

Nic Miller

Nic Miller

Nic Miller

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Joined
18 Mar 2007
Posts
161
Hi everyone


Built my third PC a couple of years or so ago - no problems what so ever until about a week ago.

System specs

CPU: Intel i5 2500 - overclocked to 3,300Mhz
GPU: Nvidia MSI lightning GTX580
Case: Huge Xigmatex
Cooling: Corsair H100 liquid cooled plus 14 large fans sucking air in/out of case - serious amount of cooling - sounds like a jet engine!
PSU: Corsair 1,200 watt - this component is fairly new - less than a year
Motherboard: Asrock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3
RAM: 8Gb Gskill ripjaws 9/9/9/24 plus RAM fan cooling unit

Overclock details:
Overclock: 100 x 33
CPU fixed voltage: 1.345
Dram voltage: 1.5

Normal resting CPU temp: in the 40's degrees c

Last week, I was using the PC and it suddenly switched off. Opened up core temp and the temp within a couple of minutes or so was rising to 98 degrees, then the PC would switch off.

The BIOS would also show the temp as this high almost immediately.

Nothing has changed in the PC, added or removed.
I reset the BIOS and put the overclock back on, but have left the CPU voltage on auto - VID in core temp shows about 0.975v. I doubt the auto is sufficient to maintain the overclock. However, temps as I write this are at a stable 95-97 degrees centigrade, which is not enough to cause a system shut down so the PC is useable for basic internet type tasks.

I have removed the cooling unit and resited it and put new thermal compound on with no effect.

The other day, after staying at 95 degrees for an hour or so it did suddenly cool to about 60 degrees for an hour or so, but then rose again, which was odd.

After it first happened I noticed that the lights on the corsair water cooler were not on - opening up the case revealed the power connector had come out to the cooling unit - no idea how this could have happened, so potentially the CPU could have had no cooling for some time - ever?. Cooler lights are now on plus all fans so assume it is working. However, temps still in the high 90 degrees centigrade.

All components are fairly new and have been checked that they are properly connected.

I'm guessing that something has broken....but what? Please could you help either suggest ways to test what may be wrong (I have no replacement parts to change parts out), or suggest likely components that are broken and I need to replace?

Considering the CPU runs windows etc would suggest it can't be broken? Or could a temp sensor be broken? Skyrim stil loaded, but crashed soon after once temps hit max.

My thoughts are that it is likely to be motherboard - but no evidence of this - a visual inspection reveals no damage to transisters etc.

Please help!

Many thanks

Moomin
 
I would say the H100 is having issues, can hear or feel the pump running or any temperature change on the radiator.

As the cpu is getting hot it will start to throttle.
 
feel the pump/cpu cooler head for any vibration

the built in pump could have failed or failing?

if you have stock intel cooler might be worth switching to that for the time being
 
As others have already suggested I would suspect the H100i pump.

Is the air from the rad warm? If it's reporting 90c then it should be. If not the block may not be making good contact with the CPU or the pump is not working correctly.
 
Last edited:
Nic Miller said:
Cheers.

Will check the cooler first - there is no vibration at all from the unit - should it be noticeable?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Actually no.

The pump on the H100i is very quiet and doesn't generate any vibration even if when is working at full speed.

I assume you have pressed the button and all lights are ON on the radial view. And seems that is the issue in your case.
However maybe you need to check it's power connector. Do you have it on the motherboard or directly connected to power supply? if is on the motherboard, make sure the SysFan slot that is connected is at 100% speed.


Btw the stock fans on the H100i are pathetic, loud crap. You should replace them with anything else that has good static pressure. Piranhas, Vipers even Apache are much much better than those SP120s, and they are dead quiet compared. (yuo can put 4 Apaches in push pull at 100% speed and they are more quiet than the 2 SP120s that come with the rad, providing superior cooling)

Also from the above most loud are the Piranhas and Vipers at 23db compared to the SP120 40db hoovers.
 
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