Sudden e6600 temp spike

I was happily o/c ing my e6600 to 3.0 ghz (9*333Mhz) no problems. Idling at around 38-42ish and going up to 46 max under load. (read under speedfan)

Yesterday was just surfing the net. No massive rise in ambient temp. CPU temp rose to 60 degrees and would not shift.

Now have reduced overclock down to stock. Idling at 43-46, before at stock it idled in early to mid 30s.

I will be having a gander at the heat sink this pm, checking its properly seated and isnt dusty. (its the Zalman 9500 LED - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/show [...] subcat=821 )

can anyone think what else it may be before i crank open the case and have a look see so i can rule out common things all at once with the case open in front of me.

Plus while I'm here, can i mix RAM sizes in my PC and retain Dual channel as long as I keep them in the relevant slots (2x1Gb and 2x2Gb)

Cheers

Chris

Rest of specs.

BFG 680i
2 X Corsair 1Gb dominator C4 6400 DDR2
Corsair HX 620
BFG 8800 GTX
Xfi Xtreme Gamer

But his idle temps changed too, at stock. Don't worry dude I'm in the same boat, my E6600 runs 50-52C idle and 59-62C load, and I can't really explain it. Oh, and thats stock. Although unlike you, mine was always like that. Yours changed, kinda weird.

factors:

case cooling - in and out and blow on or side fan
cpu cooler
air temp
cpu voltage
memory cooling
chipset or mobo cooling

speedstep on - does the voltage change with demand?

normal is too see from all core 2 cpus - 2180 or e4400 or q6600 - large spikes regardless of cooling.

its not only the size of the cooling device but it is dependant on voltage, demand, throttle control on/off etc.


normal ---------> this is part of the micro code in the cpu allow it too run faster, use less power and reduce energy consumption.

did you ever think of the spike in reverse? you do not see an increase in temp, your used to a decrease due to energy effecinecy and throttling.


its is reversed you see drop in normal temps due to micro code throttling etc

i am sorry i miss read this

i read it going from 38-42 to 46

if your temp is going up to 60c its under full load

you have virus or something

sweep your system

Check in task manager to see what is using a lot of processor.
@ Zorg, not sure, but I think you may have it wrong as well.
While OCed it stayed @60c, now @ stock it idles @ 46ish.

check you fan speed and do you use same version speedfan to monitor the temp?

Cheers all. You guys line of thought was similar to mine which is reassuring.

Got back from "work" today and had a gander inside the case.

1) Heat sink was correctly located and secured. Tightened screws just in case
2) Fans are all working, controlled by Zalman front panel fan controller
3) CPU usage at 16% ATM.
4) Defender and Avast Scans all in the clear
5) there was a dust bunny invasion. Took my trusty brush and air cylinder to them and cleared them out.
6) Idle has settled now to mid 30s which is more like normal

So the plan is to leave it and then try and re up the OC. Gonna replace the CPU cooler soon with the Thermalright IX14 when I upgrade my case.

Gonna put this one down to dust bunnies, but remain cautious, bit odd that one.

Thanks again and apologies if my original post wasn't 100% clear

Chris

Trix are for kids. Sorry, I had to say it.