Core 2 Quad Q6600 running too hot?

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itm

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I've been running a Windows 2008 server on a Core 2 Quad Q6600 for a few years, and today the server spontaneously powered off a couple of times (without leaving a trace in the event logs). I've been using the server to do large video encoding jobs for the last few days, but today is the first day that I've noticed the problem.
I've installed HW Monitor and it shows the CPU cores at around 70deg Celsius when not doing much, going up to 95-100deg when encoding the video. Does that sound too hot?
I've taken a look inside the case and all of the fans are operating normally.
If the CPU is running too hot any idea what I can do to fix/diagnose it?

The machine has been running fine for about 3 years, with no tweaks or overclocking - i.e. out-of-the-box BIOS settings.
 
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pasow

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it can depending on the paste used and how well it was applied, I've had systems that lasted 8 years on the same application and others that needed a new one after a year of usage. (i likely botched that application to be honest though) if you happen to remember the temperatures when you first started using it, that would help with determining if it was just a bad job from the get go or the paste has gone bad.

was this system bought by a custom PC marker or as an off the shelf OEM one?
 
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itm

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It was bought from a well established supplier of custom PCs (CCL computers in the UK). I selected the components and they built and delivered it.
Unfortunately I didn't make a note of the temperatures when I first started using it.

I've never applied thermal paste before (or assembled CPU/fan components) so am a little apprehensive about disassembling it!
 
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pasow

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If you still have a warranty on the system still, they might do the work for you. But given its 3 years old I doubt it’s an option. If you know a computer nerd, I would ask them to do it. The process of seating a heat sink can be quite nerve racking when your new to it (and done improperly can kill a computer), but at least you won’t need to reseat the CPU. Just clean the two surfaces, apply a small quantity of thermal paste to one of the surfaces, and then gently press together till you can tighten the fastening mechanism.

I recommend you read the tom’s hardware article on cooling a CPU before you do anything on your own (and maybe watch a YouTube video or two on your processor heat sink combo). Even if you decided to have someone else do it, it might still be a good read just to understand what they are doing.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermal-paste-heat-sink-heat-spreader,3600.html


lastly you could take it to a computer repair shop have them do it for a fee.
 
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GhislainG

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It may look OK, but does it move when you apply a bit of pressure on the sides? You could install Piriform Speccy and it will provide fan speed, individual core temp, etc.
 
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pasow

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I realized after posting to check fan speed that it would likely be running at its maximum rotation at all times given the CPU temperature, thus not really worth checking. give Speccy a try as GhislainG suggested and check what is being reported for the fan, and all temperature sensors. their should be one per core, and then one for the overall processor.
you can download the program from here https://www.piriform.com/speccy/download

my hunch still lies on bad contact between the CPU and heatsink.
 
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GhislainG

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You'll be able to monitor it with Speccy and if it doesn't spin fast enough, then cooling is affected. Like pasow I believe there's a contact issue between the CPU and heat sink.

 
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itm

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Speccy tells me that the CPU fan is running at about 940RPM - does that sound about right?

I'll need to wait for the next opportunity to power down before trying to physically manipulate the heatsink.
 
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pasow

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seems low to me for an overheating CPU result, but that's not out side of most fans operational limits. (most fans i have idle not much lower than that)
any idea what model the fan is and heat sink?
 
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itm

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No idea but I'll check when the server is down next
 
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