AMD Athlon X4 860K idle at 60C, goes to 100C at max load

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senlim

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Aug 17, 2015
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Mobo: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-H
GPU: PowerColor Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
RAM: 8GB (don't remember brand)
PSU: 500W (don't remember brand, either EVGA or Corsair)
HDD: ADATA 120GB SSD
OS: Win10 64bit
Overclocked: No

AMD overdrive says 40-60 thermal margin
Tested "stability" function and thermal margin goes down to around 10 then back up to 16-18 (does not go below 10).

Ran memtest86 overnight and no errors.
Used Furmark for 10 minutes and no crash/freeze.

Issue:
Playing "Don't Starve Together" for 10+ minutes = computer freezes (screen is black) and have to be rebooted.
BUT playing "Team Fortress 2" for 30+ minutes with no issue.
Playing "PvZ garden warfare 1" for 30+ minutes with no issue.

I just reapplied new thermal paste (Dynex brand, wish it was Arctic Silver) = same issue.

Another issue:
BIOS says side panel is open (it's not).
Maybe some mobo jumper issue or bios misconfiguration?

What can I do?

Thanks.
 
Solution
clutchc
I haven't gotten the latest Furmark yet that includes the new CPU burner. But any stress testing app that loads the cores to 100% usage should do the same thing. Your idle TM is good. But for some reason the load TM is quite low. Do you have the CPU fan set at full speed in BIOS? If not, do so and check load again.
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clutchc

clutchc

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Since you've verified several problems already, I'd consider that the (stock?) cooler's fan may not be running at the needed speed. Or that you may be using too much TIM. Did you have this issue with the factory applied TIM?
The side panel open indication no doubt is because the board has a case-open header connection that has no cable from the case tamper switch. Most don't have this switch. There should be a setting in BIOS to disable that.
 
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senlim

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TIM is thermal paste, yes?

I may have put too much thermal paste... need to google how to do it properly.
I ordered arctic silver thermal paste... I'm sure it'll help. (Right?)

Same issue with stock cooler's thermal paste.

I may also need to get a better cpu cooler... will "Arctic Freezer A11" help? (and is it compatible, it says FM2 but mobo is FM2+).

Thanks for fast response!
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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Yes on the TIM definition... thermal interface material is what it actually stands for. Same thing but shorter to type. Yes, all AMD retention brackets since the AM2 have been the same; will accpt the same cooler mounting.

If the problem occurred with the stock cooler too, I suspect the issue is elsewhere. Different TIM won't make any difference. And if two coolers gave the same problem, a huge cooler may only hide the cause. At idle, the 860K should run in the low 30Cs. Or less.
Are you in an extremely hot climate? Extremely dirty or dusty?
Is the retention bracket loose from the board? Did you have any problem closing the cooler's mounting latch?

Next time you remove the cooler, check to see that the TIM is spread in a nice round-ish pattern in the center of the CPU. And don't remove the cooler once clamped and the TIM has been compressed. Doing so can introduce microscopic air bubbles into the TIM and retard thermal transfer between CPU and cooler heat sink.
 
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senlim

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I only have one stock cooler. Have not tried a different one.
Stock cooler with stock TIM = issue.
Stock cooler with new TIM = same issue.
I live in San Diego CA and it's 80+ F even 90 sometimes.

Retention bracket... I don't think it's loose but I could check...
No problem with closing the cooler's mounting latch... then again I'm not an expert.

The bios says CPU core temp is 70C... but isn't the sensor wrong? (that's why we need to use AMD Overdrive?)

I will try to redo the TIM.

Thanks.
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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AoD is useful if you don't trust the core temp reading (some APUs and their Athlon counterparts have an issue with accurate temp readings at idle).

I had to go back and re-read your post. I must have missed the AoD results you posted. Was the (40-60) at idle? At load (16-18), is OK-ish. But that is usually what I'd expect to see with a healthy OC on the chip.
Disable as much as possible of the apps and stuff you have starting with windows. Check your tray for stuff you can disable. Then let me know the idle TM again after it sits for a minute. And you are using the stock cooler, right?

If you re-apply the TIM, use just a tiny dab in the center of the CPU. Let the pressure and heat spread the TIM. All you want to do is fill in the microscopic metal pores so heat transfers with no air gaps.
 
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senlim

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Only things running are: antivirus (qihoo 360), steam valve and CCCleaner.

AMD overdrive:
4 cores
Frequency is 1690-1710 ish Mhz
Multiplier is 17-29x
VID is 0.95-1.3v
Thermal Margin is 40-57 (idle)
Using Furmark CPU burner, TM goes down to 20 then 13 then 7 then 4.9.
Stays at 4.9 for awhile... and now it's going back and forth between 4.8 and 8.2

Yes I'm using stock cooler.
I just took out the cooler, cleaned the paste, reapply just a tiny blob of TIM and reattached the stock cooler.
Same result in temp.

I haven't tried playing "Don't Starve Together" yet but I suspect it will be the same result.

Thanks.
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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I haven't gotten the latest Furmark yet that includes the new CPU burner. But any stress testing app that loads the cores to 100% usage should do the same thing. Your idle TM is good. But for some reason the load TM is quite low. Do you have the CPU fan set at full speed in BIOS? If not, do so and check load again.
 
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