Brand-New CPU Overheating Issue

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Quinn Bierbaum

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Aug 8, 2013
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I just did my first full PC build. The parts used are as follows:
-Lian-Li PC K-65 Case w/ 2 140 mm fans and 1 120 mm fan.
-Intel Core i5 Processor with stock cooler.
-MSI Z77A-G45 Motherboard
-Geforce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2GB GPU
-Seasonic S12II 520 Bronze PSU
-Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB RAM
-A 1 TB HDD (if that matters)
-ASUS PCE-N10 wireless card

All of these parts just came out of the box a few days ago. After I assembled everything, it worked fine for a while and then spontaneously crashed, indicative of overheating. Upon checking the CPU heat, I found that it was running incredibly hot, usually over 100 C before crashing. This is not under any load, literally just sitting on my desktop, and with the stock HSF running perfectly. This happens even with the side panels off and a desk fan blowing into it. It also doesn't seem to radiate any heat, or none that I can feel at least.
I really just want to know if this is a problem with the CPU itself, or perhaps the cooler, or another part entirely. I want to know which part needs to be replaced, repaired, or troubleshot.
 
Solution
F
User error on installation. If the cpu isn't in firm contact with the cpu it can't transfer the heat. If you want to keep using that stock heat sink you may want to remove the thermal paste and apply some better thermal paste. I'm using Noctua's thermal compound, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608008.

To remove the old thermal compound use a napkin or a coffee filter, something disposable that won't leave lint behind. And for cleaning solution get some 99% rubbing alcohol because it will evaporate and not leave behind any water. Soak a corner your choice of napkin or a coffee filter with some rubbing alcohol then wipe the surface of your processor clean and wipe your cpu cooler clean of thermal compound...
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Jaxem

Jaxem

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Jul 22, 2013
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I'm not sure if Intel does it, but some CPU coolers will have a thin clear plastic piece on the CPU contact area to keep it clean, if there's something between the CPU and the contact area (or nothing at all) it would heat up like that. Is there a big blotch of thermal grease on the CPU when you take the cooler off? It may just be seated a little off.
 
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Quinn Bierbaum

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Aug 8, 2013
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There is a blotch of thermal grease there. It's worth mentioning that I could never quite get all the pegs in tight, I figured it would be okay as long as it was secure. Was I wrong about that? I'll be sure to try it at different orientations to see if it'll mount better. I won't boot it, though. Thanks.
 
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bigpinkdragon286

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Oct 3, 2012
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Are you running the computer in a hot environment? It is always possible that the cooler is working fine, but inadequate for the conditions. Agree with Jaxem however that you should verify the installation of the heat sink and fan. You should not have to spend a bunch of money on an aftermarket cooler when you purchased a complete solution. Have you verified the RPM your processor fan is running at? Is your processor fan plugged into the correct pin header on the motherboard?

Also, is this a new installation of Windows? Is it possible you have a process that has inadvertently used an unusually high amount of CPU resources without indication? Have you at the very least, checked in Task Manager to determine whether your processor is idling or under load?
 
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Jaxem

Jaxem

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Jul 22, 2013
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Yes, that's worth mentioning, if they're not all in right, the cooler isn't sitting level on the CPU and not contacting fully, the grease is not enough to transfer the heat, the cooler needs to be touching, the grease is just to improve heat transfer in the tiny areas where the metal isn't touching.
 
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PyjamasCat

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Mar 20, 2013
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bigpinkdragon286

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Oct 3, 2012
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Whether you boot the system or not, you can have overheating issues just sitting in BIOS. You need to be sure the heat sink is fully seated against the integrated heat spreader of the processor. If your thermal compound is not deforming or spreading very much, I would suspect poor contact as your culprit.
 
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fixer762

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Jan 31, 2013
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User error on installation. If the cpu isn't in firm contact with the cpu it can't transfer the heat. If you want to keep using that stock heat sink you may want to remove the thermal paste and apply some better thermal paste. I'm using Noctua's thermal compound, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608008.

To remove the old thermal compound use a napkin or a coffee filter, something disposable that won't leave lint behind. And for cleaning solution get some 99% rubbing alcohol because it will evaporate and not leave behind any water. Soak a corner your choice of napkin or a coffee filter with some rubbing alcohol then wipe the surface of your processor clean and wipe your cpu cooler clean of thermal compound. After the alcohol has dried and you have made 2-3 passes cleaning, apply the thermal compound according to its instructions.

Here is a video of Linus installing the stock heat sink, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qczGR4KMnY

An after market cooler like a Cooler Master 212 Evo
or a Noctua NH-U12P SE2 http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=42819&vpn=NH-U12P%20SE2&manufacture=Noctua
or Noctua NH-U14S http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=82802&vpn=NH-U14S&manufacture=Noctua
The reason I like Noctua is the mounting solution is better, it works for me, and they will give you new mounting brackets for the next socket (if it is possible for that cooler).
 
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