Help needed / CPU Overheating

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Steven Battisti

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Hi folks,

I built myself a computer a few years back with the following specs:

- COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED, 1x 140mm rear, 1x 230mm top, and 1x 230mm side
- Corsair CMFSSD-64GBG2D 2.5" 64GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
- SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223B
- CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
- Western Digital WD Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive
- HIS H577F1GDG Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
- Nippon Labs Premium 18" (1.5 ft.) SATA II Cable with locking latch for SATA I and SATA II Hard Drive Model SATA-L0.5-R
- Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80605I7860
- ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
- G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH

It's running Win 7 right now.

In general, it has been awesome. No problems to speak of.

However, in the past few weeks, I've noticed it has been overheating. Upon booting, the BIOS screen will appear with the error message "CPU Overheat Error! Press F1 to resume!" (That may not be the exact wording, but that's the gist.) The thing is, sometimes I get that message even when the computer hasn't been on, so it's not like it happens after the machine has been running for hours.

I opened the case and cleaned the fans. I don't see anything obviously wrong with them. Typically, if I continue the boot, it runs fine, but it makes me nervous, so when I get this message I typically turn the machine off for a while.

Thoughts on how I could troubleshoot this? Despite having built the machine, hardware isn't really my strong suit...

I ran a hardware monitor utility (HWMonitor), and could post the results here, but they are kinda lengthy, so I'll wait for someone to ask for it...

Thanks!

Steve
 
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BIOS and some temp monitors read off the Motherboard temp sensor, some read off the CPU, i think realtemp does, so give that a whirl and show us a screenie, just to be sure :D

But it does seem like a sensor problem, i just dont want you using it, thinking it's OK from what i've said, come back to your PC an hour later and find it melted away :lol:

http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/1162/ASUS_P7P55D_Deluxe_top.jpg

This your Mobo? The cmos battery is that big round silver thing under the first PCI-E Slot
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Steven Battisti

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Ack. So, the temp on my CPU was 98 C! That's not good, right? So, what, do I just buy some Arctic Silver and dab it on there?
 
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Azrael47

Azrael47

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Your CPU cant surely be hitting 90+ Degrees, if so it would automatically shutdown the system. To keep your CPU cool I recommend:

Getting a better CPU cooler (preferably water cooler if money isn't a concern)
Some aftermarket thermal compound (This is good> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arctic-Cooling-MX-4-Thermal-Compound/dp/B0045JCFLY)
Purchase more cooling fans to keep your other important components cool (NB, SB motherboard etc)

And in answer to your question yes, You can put the compound on different ways but I tend to put a pea size in the middle then place the heatsink on the CPU then gently add pressure.

 
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Steven Battisti

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Hey folks,

First off, thanks very much for your help everyone!

Next, a quick update. I opened up the case and was SHOCKED at how dusty everything was. (I was sure I had checked this, but apparently I only cleaned the fans from the outside.) So I did a very thorough cleanup job. So, clearly that could have been having some impact. I also got some Arctic Silver 5 and applied it to the CPU (after cleaning off the old compound). So, I had very high hopes that this would magically fix things.

I booted up and went straight into the BIOS to monitor the temp. Unfortunately, the CPU temp shot right up to 96+ C (in my BIOS, the characters turned red once it reached 95). So I powered right back down. :( I watched all of the fans while the computer booted, and all of the fans are spinning. Not quite sure how to tell if perhaps they aren't spinning enough.

photo1.jpg


The only dodgy thing I found is that one of four "pins" that sticks the heat sink down isn't catching, although the sink seems relatively firmly attached despite this.

So, I'm not quite sure what to do next. I don't have water cooling by the way, just case fans and a heat sink over the CPU of course. This machine ran great for several years, so I don't know if there was anything fundamentally wrong with my cooling in the first place.

And of course, if the CPU was truly hitting this temp, I wonder if I have already permanently damaged it... Sigh. I guess we should figure out the temp problem first and can go from there to figure out if the whole thing is shot. :(

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
 
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DEADLY9996

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Well sounds like the dust caused it too overheat, i'm guessing the heatsink had the standard sticky pad on underneath, due to the overheating it may have affected the thermal pad/paste.

Next best step is to get say, a tube of artic silver & arcticlean (i use it anyway) clean off the heatsink and CPU then apply some arctic silver (or better) as instructed and retest it all
 
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Steven Battisti

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Blakmumba, the heat sink is an Intel E41759-002.

images


Deadly, the heatsink originally had Arctic Silver 5 that I put on when I put the machine together two years ago. But as I mentioned in my last post, I did clean off the heatsink and CPU and put some more arctic silver on it just an hour ago. It's still overheating after that. :(

 
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DEADLY9996

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I dont think it is overheating then.. could it be a problem with the internal temperature sensor? or the BIOS?

What you can do, if the system doesnt shut down, is install HWmonitor and check the temps on that, maybe it's the BIOS, or the sensor itself.

The system will shutdown or crash if that sensor is correct, least it will be very unstable.

I suppose you could remove the cmos battery unplug the power, for 5-10mins, to reset the BIOS, then put the battery back in, plug it back up, then check.

If the heatsink and paste is correct, i dont think it is overheating. If it is, the CPU is already faulty and the system wont work.



Orr... just a thought, keep the case side off and feel the heatsink, while in the BIOS, it if is that temp it wont take long too heat up!!


Do whichever test you prefer :D


EDIT: Just dont lose your fingers trying to touch that little heatsink :lol:
 
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Steven Battisti

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Awesome. I tried booting up. I have HW monitor on my machine and wanted to run that. But now it's saying "This copy of windows is not genuine". (Even though it is...)

Sigh.

However, in running HW monitor right now, it shows the temperatures of all four cores maxing out at high 70s. So perhaps it IS a BIOS thing?

What else should I do?
 
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DEADLY9996

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Unless your system is really slow and unresponsive, your usage probably isnt that high. But that temp is high.

Can you touch the heat sink? does it toast your fingers? :lol:

Leave it on for 15-30 mins and keep touching the heatsink, temps and testing responsiveness of you computer. See if it starts cooking or getting unstable.

If it doesnt, toast your fingers off, and you system doesnt become really unstable/crash then, i think your CPU will be fine.
Just slowly start using it more, and keep checking the heatsink, temps and stability.

If it goes ok, then you should be fine temporarily, but even if the HWmonitor temp isnt true (70 is hot!) i'd defiantely jump onto a better heatsink within the next couple of days.
Then check those temps again, if the sensor is faulty, they may still be high, but with the bigger better heatsink you should be good to go! :D


Oh btw did you take the cmos battery out? just to reset your bios? Unplug the computer, take the battery out from the motherboard for 5-10mins then put back in and run it.

 
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blakmumba

blakmumba

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Ok what to do since you've done everything else & BEFORE you purchase a new heatsink; 1st see if any dirt/floss/dust etc is stuck between the heatsink and fan (I just recently removed the fan from the heatsink to clean all the dust inbetween and refit back onto the heatsink for my lil cousin in his rig) & if all that's ok, lastly reset yr cmos as could be a voltage prob.
 
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Steven Battisti

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Actually, I reset the HW Monitor maxes, and now it hasn't gone above 50 in the last 30 mins, so perhaps that high number was from before I did all of this work.

I did not reset the cmos yet. I will do that.

Thanks guys!

In my frenzied cleaning today, I did take off the heatsink and thoroughly clean it, so I think that's pretty good to go.
 
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Steven Battisti

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Tried again today, and just FYI, BIOS is still hitting up to 95 C. It did take much longer to get there today for some reason (maybe 10 mins).

With the BIOS reporting 96, I booted the machine into Windows, downloaded realtemp, and got maximums as high as 98. I downloaded Core temp and so far my max is 80 C.

So, dare I ask, how do I go about getting a different heat sink? I can run over to Newegg, but what information do I need to know in order to select a model that will work? Is it motherboard-specific?

Still did not reboot CMOS.

(Incidentally, the "windows is not genuine" message disappeared. No idea what THAT was about.)

Thanks again guys!
 
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DEADLY9996

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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118003&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

Looks tasty and should handle it, it is for your socket. Just make sure there would be enough room in your case, if not something smaller might be in order.

If it can fit, that one seems to be well rated on newegg atleast!



Not genuine Q, is your windows OEM?



Heat Q, did/could you feel the heatsink? when your cpu was at 90? just tap it, or try feel the heat coming off. If in doubt leave it on for 10mins or more on windows, turn it off, unpug the power, then touch the heatsink.


If you can just run to the store, Socket :- LGA 1156 Intel, is really all you need, you can take your current heatsink with you, just to make sure, if the staff are willing to help :)

 
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Azrael47

Azrael47

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God damn it. This is a very odd situation. I thought that your monitor readings were corrupted but if your checking in your bios and the CPU temp is in red then you look like you have a serious problem. But on the other hand you said you put your finger on the heatsink and that it "wasn't noticeably warm" and if your CPU was 90 Degrees I am suprised steam isnt coming from the CPU, lol.

 
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DEADLY9996

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With the CPU that hot, you would certainly feel the heat from the heatsink, I think it's a sensor error, possibly due to overheating perhaps? not sure.

I think it will be fine, just slowly start using windows more and more, if it becomes unstable you'll know.

But defo get a new heatsink, you wont worry as much then :D
 
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Steven Battisti

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Well, it's no fun if I make it easy for you guys, is it? :)

I have ordered the improved heat sink that Deadly mentioned, so I'll just use the machine sparingly until then. I'm working from home this morning, so I will leave it on for a while, then turn it off and feel the heat sink.

Back to an earlier point: if it turns out there WAS a heat problem, how can I measure the performance of the machine that will give me some idea whether or not I permanently damaged something? Or is that even a possibility? (i.e. is degraded performance a possibility, or is it basically, "it's either working or not"?)...

Thanks so much guys!
 
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