CPU Performance terrible after thermal paste fail.

Feb 19, 2018
5
0
10
This starts a while back, one day I noticed my CPU was overheating while playing PUBG which is more high end than the other games I play. I was worried about this so I decided to re apply thermal paste, I put too much and did not give enough time for it to set so it overheated, melted and covered my CPU. Post of this event, my CPU has been running like absolute shit, 5 times worse than it was before and after completely cleaning the CPU with Alcohol wipes more than 3 times, it still runs just as bad as it was after I messed it up the first time. Don't roast me, I know i'm an idiot :) My question is, is there anything I can do to revert this mess, some sort of rub or anything, thanks for your time and consideration!

i5 2500k - 3.30GHz - Stock Fan
GTX 770
15.95 GB DDR3

EDIT - I was reaching temperatures of 100 degrees after the mess up of thermal paste, these temps have gotten better but still not good.

Light Processing Gaming - 80-90
Heavy Processing Gaming - 100
Idle - 40 - 60
 
Solution
What is your idle temperature?
You should be seeing 10-15c. over ambient if your cooler is mounted well.

Likely, you need to remount.
Here is my canned instructions for that:
----------------how to mount the stock Intel cooler--------------

The stock Intel cooler can be tricky to install.
A poor installation will result in higher cpu temperatures.
If properly mounted, you should expect temperatures at idle to be 10-15c. over ambient.

To mount the Intel stock cooler properly, place the motherboard on top of the foam or cardboard backing that was packed with the motherboard.
The stock cooler will come with paste pre applied, it looks like three grey strips.
The 4 push pins should come in the proper position for installation, that is...

Dunlop0078

Titan
Ambassador
If you are going to ask a question about temps don't you think you should post your load temps?

Too much thermal paste typically does not affect temps all that much assuming the cooler is mounted correctly. Nor should thermal paste melt or change density very much when cold or hot. What paste are you using?
 
What is your idle temperature?
You should be seeing 10-15c. over ambient if your cooler is mounted well.

Likely, you need to remount.
Here is my canned instructions for that:
----------------how to mount the stock Intel cooler--------------

The stock Intel cooler can be tricky to install.
A poor installation will result in higher cpu temperatures.
If properly mounted, you should expect temperatures at idle to be 10-15c. over ambient.

To mount the Intel stock cooler properly, place the motherboard on top of the foam or cardboard backing that was packed with the motherboard.
The stock cooler will come with paste pre applied, it looks like three grey strips.
The 4 push pins should come in the proper position for installation, that is with the pins rotated in the opposite direction of the arrow,(clockwise)
and pulled up as far as they can go.
Take the time to play with the pushpin mechanism until you know how they work.

Orient the 4 pins so that they are exactly over the motherboard holes.
If one is out of place, you will damage the pins which are delicate.
Push down on a DIAGONAL pair of pins at the same time. Then the other pair.

When you push down on the top black pins, it expands the white plastic pins to fix the cooler in place.

If you do them one at a time, you will not get the cooler on straight.
Lastly, look at the back of the motherboard to verify that all 4 pins are equally through the motherboard, and that the cooler is on firmly.
This last step must be done, which is why the motherboard should be out of the case to do the job. Or you need a case with a opening that lets you see the pins.
It is possible to mount the cooler with the motherboard mounted in the case, but you can then never be certain that the push pins are inserted properly
unless you can verify that the pins are through the motherboard and locked.

If you should need to remove the cooler, turn the pins counter clockwise to unlock them.
You will need to clean off the old paste and reapply new if you ever take the cooler off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, any cooler needs fresh air to do it's job.
Check that your case can feed the cooler.
If taking the case covers off helps, look to case cooling solutions.
 
Solution
Feb 19, 2018
5
0
10
None of these worked, performance is the same, I think I know why now. When I originally smothered the CPU in thermal paste, it was getting to temps over 100 degrees, this must have fried something in the chip or broken something because after this one day it has always ran bad, thanks for your help guys think I need a new CPU!