How can I fix my Dell Precision T3500's overheating problem?

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Mihaere

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Apr 3, 2017
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Hello all!

I have recently acquired a used Dell Precision T3500 but have been experiencing overheating problems. In SpeedFan it reads my core temps at 40-50 degrees at idle (i don't know if these are normal temps). After 10 minutes or so it shuts down without warning. After re-booting it displays the message "previous shutdown due to thermal event" and in the bios logs it says cpu/chipset overheated.

So naturally I reapplied thermal paste to the cpu thinking that would have solved the problem but it still shuts down to thermal events. I felt the heatsink on the chipset and it was hot to the touch, so I zip tied a case fan to it and now it's cool but it's still shutting down! So I thought maybe the heatsink wasn't cooling the cpu enough so I added 2 fans on either side of the heatsink but to no avail.

But for some reason when I boot in safe mode, it can run for hours. So I tried a fresh install of Windows 10 but yet again, thermal event.

I have a new cpu coming soon so I'll try that and see if it's the cpu but other than that I have no clue what else I could try, is there anything I might have done wrong or am doing wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

Specs:

Intel Xeon W3503 2.40Ghz cpu
Dell 0XPDFK Mobo
Intel X58 chipset
8GBs ddr3 ram
Geforce GTX 750 ti gpu
WD 320GB hdd
Dell 525 watt psu

I have also tried almost all heating solutions for this particular model I could find on the internet. I have also used the vertical line method for the thermal paste on the cpu.
 
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Susquehannock

Susquehannock

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Dec 8, 2016
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Hello - I have built a few T3500 as gaming systems and have some experience with them.
1] - which CPU cooler do you have? The solid aluminum type, or the copper heat pipe?
2] - did you drive the four screws on the CPU cooler tight? They are spring loaded and made to bottom out.
3] - are the two front 120mm fans working? Do they change speed when things heat up?

 
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Mihaere

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Apr 3, 2017
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I have a copper pipe type heatsink. I did screw them tight, they are springloaded. And yes the fans do work but I don't notice any change in speed when it this happens. Thanks!
 
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Mihaere

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Apr 3, 2017
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In SpeedFan I can change the speed of the fans but I don't think they do speed up independently when temps rise, that I've noticed. I have swapped out the cpu for a W3550 and I'm still getting thermal events. Someone on another thread I made said something about voltages but I'm not sure how to read the voltages on the mobo nor do I know what I'm to do when I get the voltages. Would a replacement mobo fix this issue do you think?
 
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Susquehannock

Susquehannock

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Dec 8, 2016
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Perhaps. More inclined to suspect a defective front panel/controller board. Have seen similar issues. Cheaper and easier fix than a mobo. Worth a try. Here is a new (not used) one complete with cables. The ribbon connects to black header above the top PCI slot.

[edit]
Oops. Forgot the link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-OEM-Dell-M884G-Front-I-O-Panel-w-Cables-JN454-for-Precision-T3500-T5500-/152481773451?hash=item23809f378b:g:ehEAAOSwol5Y0pfV

Also, here is a Dell thread which may help.
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19589015
 
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Mihaere

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Apr 3, 2017
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I just moved around some fans and now I'm not getting thermal events, but it's still shutting down. It then powers back on after 2 seconds but shows no message or error like "previous shutdown due to thermal event", just the windows safe mode screen. Would the front panel cause this to happen? Thanks for your help btw :)
 
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Susquehannock

Susquehannock

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Dec 8, 2016
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Hey, no problem. Hope you get it solved soon.

Hard to say from this end. Did solve a fan error issue replacing one. A lot is tied into that part. Far more than the average retail case. Thermal probe and PWM for the case fans. That's why it uses a 40-pin cable. Could have suffered damage from USB devices being plugged & unplugged countless times. Also look for leaking or bulged capacitors.

Another thing you might try is re-flashing the BIOS. Latest is A17. Updating chipset driver could not hurt either. First thing I do with them.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/precision-t3500/drivers
 
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Mihaere

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Apr 3, 2017
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I have removed the mobo from the case to inspect the capacitors but I don't see any bulging or leaking ones. There have been some that appears to have come out of there original position but I just pushed them back down into position. I have noticed that this component: http://i.imgur.com/SahN2K9.jpg gets quite hot too. Would this be a problem?

Edit: It seems like every time the cpu is put to hard work it shuts down. Something as simple as installing gta or moving files is difficult because it shuts down a little while into the work load but something like staying idle is okay. Could this be a voltage thing?
 
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Susquehannock

Susquehannock

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Dec 8, 2016
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image: That is the I/O (input output) controller chipset for the SATA and USB. Could definitely be a problem. Further reason to suspect the front panel, which does have two USB ports. That is what I was referring to when checking for bad caps. But good you saw none on the main board. Do both the front USB ports work OK?
 
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Mihaere

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Apr 3, 2017
8
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510
Yes both usb ports work. I'll check the front panel for bad caps now.

I have no idea how to read voltages so I don't know what I would do when I got them.

Edit: I have just checked the front panel and all seems well.
 
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