CPU Overheating, No Hardware Change

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Flamefang

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Hi,

I've owned my current computer for a little over a year now, and until about a week ago it's performed beautifully. I purchased it from Cyberpower, they put it together for me, and I've used it for gaming ever since. A week ago, my computer suddenly started freezing about five or so minutes into a game. Noticing that my computer was excessively hot the second time this happened, I kept an eye on my computer temps through the Razer Game Booster and noted that my CPU heat seemed to dramatically climb any time I did anything remotely intensive (up to 190 F). Prior to this point I hadn't even touched my computer, but then decided that perhaps I ought to clean dust out of the fans etc.

After doing so a little earlier today (finally got a hold of some compressed air), I hoped that my problem would be fixed, and indeed upon startup my CPU temp seemed much lower than it was before (90-100). After maybe 20 minutes or so of simple internet browsing, it went up to levels more like those I experienced earlier at idle (110-140). When attempting to play a game, the computer then proceeded to shut itself off suddenly after about five minutes. I then took note that the temp was up to 190 a second time.

At this point I don't really know what could have happened, and it's especially strange that it shut itself off this time (instead of freezing and forcing me to shut it off manually). I've noted that the fan speed doesn't seem to increase proportionally to CPU temp, but beyond that I'm entirely lost.

Maybe someone can help?

My thanks in advance,

~Flamefang/Gabe


I've included my specs as 'snapshotted' by Speccy:

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/qNJKoqx0JFSuSeAip5QfKRL
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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1. get a program that can monitor fan speeds and watch the temps and fan speeds to see if they are rising properly. www.CPUID.com Hardware monitor will work most of the time.
2. what Cooler do you have? speccy does not tell us this. is it stock? aftermarket tower cooler? band and name will help significantly.
3. are the other case fans working properly?
4. have you entered the Bios at all? maybe you changed something and caused this.

EDIT: is there any way we could use the Celsius scale as most are used to it and then we don't have to convert the temps?
 
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Flamefang

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1. Done, will watch once I return from dinner.
2. Well, my computer has three fans, one front, one back, and one mounted on the graphics card. The rear fan is attached to the processor through something, and I suspect it's a heat-sink of some sort.
3. All fans appear to be working fine.
4. I haven't touched the BIOS since I updated it six or so months ago.

I'm also more than happy to use Celcius, and will do so throughout all further posts.

Thanks for responding!

 
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Flamefang

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I cleaned the interior side of the heat sink (might be more accurate to call it some form of radiator), which sits across the fan, which is in turn against the exterior frame of the tower. I did a cursory cleaning of that exterior frame (with a vacuum), but I can't say that I reached the mostly enclosed space between the radiator and fan. I'd have opened it up if I thought there was anything inside, and if I had a compatible screwdriver. I suppose there could be something in there.

As for heat/fans:
Web browsing - CPU 48C - Fan 1250-1350 RPM
4 Mins of Infinite - CPU 88C - Fan 1394 RPM max

Note that I'm not sure which fan is which, but given that the other one's RPM is about 100 less I assume the above is the rear one.

 
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bgunner

bgunner

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When cleaning a CPU heat sink it is better to remove the fan and spray compressed air through the fins.

Do you know what cooler it is? There is no ramp up of RPM's makes me wonder what fan is on there also. maybe a pic would help if you don't know what cooler it is.

do you have any overclocking programs running on the PC that could cause a high voltage or OC the CPU?


Has the system taken a major jar/ bump recently? cooler could have lost good connection to the CPU.

make sure that the Core voltage on the CPU is not to high also. This can lead to over heating although if you didn't change anything I doubt it would be high.

apon looking up your board is there a chance that the system got switched to the Back up bios? as the at board has 2 sets.
 
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Danra

Danra

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I do not fully understand your cleaning method after you said you needed the proper tool, and it sounds as though you are using water cooling if you have a radiator with a fan attached to it outside of the case.

If you needed a vacuum cleaner I wonder how filthy it is inside your case.

You need to get the cover off of the case. If some areas are packed with filth and dust bunnies, take the computer outside and use the vacuum cleaner [first clean the portions of the vacuum cleaner attachment that you will be inserting into the computer. After cleaning it, put some watered down fabric softener [used with washing clothes] and use an old cloth or rag and wipe down the plastic parts of the vacuum. This will remove static and keep static from forming while you clean with a vacuum cleaner - just be careful and do not poke anything hard enough to damage something inside the computer.

After this procedure, use compressed air to blow out filth or dust bunnies ANYWHERE they may remain.

If you have an old squirt bottle, such as used by Windex, put about an inch of softener in the bottom and fill the rest of the bottle with filtered water. You can use this if your computer is in a carpeted room. Just spray a light amount every couple of months on the carpet to keep static electricity from forming.

Also, you will need to see if the coolant level is low or if you have a coolant leak if you are using water cooling. You have to get the case open, and look at everything closely. Get any filth out [do this out of doors or will be sorry if the computer is filthy - it will fill the air in the room with filth], check all hoses and connections carefully for a leak, and check the coolant level if the unit is not sealed.
 
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Flamefang

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The 'cooler' appears to be labeled "Asetek LCLC". I've also taken two pictures with my laptop's webcam, which I'll link at the bottom. My apologies for having nothing better quality.

I have no overclocking programs, aside from those that come with my graphics card by default (AMD Overdrive). I briefly messed around with it a few months back, but haven't done anything since. AMD Overdrive has been set to "off" the entire time this issue has occurred.

No jars or bumps, unless there was a mysterious earthquake in upstate NY recently.

How do you check core voltage on the CPU? Device manager?

Back up BIOS... not sure how that might have happened but, how would I check?



Unfortunately I am not a cleaning Ninja, and so my 'cleaning method' consisted mainly of using my vacuum externally to ensure that each of my fans was entirely clear, and then using compressed air on the interior much as any person might. I didn't use the vacuum because it was necessary, but rather because it was convenient.

However, you did mention water cooling, which is an interesting point. I had the option of making my computer water cooled upon purchase, but decided not to because it was rather expensive and seemed unnecessary. Initially, upon seeing my CPU's cooler, I thought it looked quite a bit like a liquid cooling unit of some sort, but obviously it isn't because there's no fluid in there as far as I can tell. Not to mention the fact that the computer has been running fine for over a year. I don't think that's related to the problem but I suppose it could be. I'm hardly an expert, that's why I came here.

Images:
http://imageshack.us/a/img203/4458/coolerlw.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img27/452/heatsinkt.jpg
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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My friend, you have water cooling. That system is what they call a " Closed Loop Water Cooling" it is a self contained water cooling solution with no maintenance except cleaning the Radiator. The radiator is located on the back of the case and is attached to the rear fan and what you labeled as "Heatsink?". If you have sprayed this out GOOD with compressed air then I would call it clean.

I don't know exactly how to switch between bios on your board so i can't help much there. One thing that sticks out in my mind is If the CPU fan is not scaling up then the pump is most likely not scaling either.

try entering you bios and setting the CPU fan to max this should force both the pump and fan to max and see if this help with the temps.

EDIT: also make sure the water block that attaches to the CPU is securely attached. It most likely has a twist lock to attach it. DO NOT remove it just make sure it is attached securely.

If forcing the CPU fan to Full does not help then you may have to re-seat the water block. For this you would need to get some thermal paste and rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol is to clean the mating surfaces of the water block and CPU with. I like using a coffee filter and rubbing alcohol to remove the old thermal paste then then apply a small pea amount of thermal paste to the top of the CPU and secure the water block. If you are afraid there are tons of videos on how to do it.
 
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Flamefang

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I've decided to pursue the Thermal Paste route for the moment, do you know if there's any specific kind I should use for my CPU/Cooler? Thanks so much for all the help so far!

 
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bgunner

bgunner

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there are many different brands and kinds out there. I personally use Artic silver 5 but for the novice it can cause issues because it can conduct electricity. There are ones that don't like MX-4 but I have never used it.

There is no particular one made just for a cooler so I recommend doing a little research on which one you want to use. The reason for novices to use a non-conductive thermal paste is if some squeezes out from under the cooling block, due to placing too much on, and touches the board there is less of a chance for damage to be done by electricity flowing from the board to the CPU.

There are many You-tube videos on how to apply the thermal paste. you only need a little, small pea / grain of rice size, dab on the CPU. In this case less is better but if there is not enough you can have the issue your running into now with temp issues.

The purpose of thermal paste is: the CPU and the cooler have imperfections in the mating surfaces so they don't make good contact with each other. The thermal paste fills in these imperfections and helps conduct the heat from the CPU to the cooler. For this purpose you only need just enough to fill the imperfections and help the CPU make the best contact possible.

There are articles on which ones work better but don't tell you which ones are conductive. Like I mentioned before you will need to do some research online to find the one that will fit your needs best.
 
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