CPU getting too hot?

While trying to do a clean install of my video card drivers I accedentally deleted some other Nvidia stuff of my computer and lost my internet connection completely, so I decided to start again and format my drive.

While reinstalling everything I came across Asus PC Probe, which monitors fan speed, volts and temps, so I installed it.

Started playing GW and within 3 minutes my CPU temp had reached 80 C and so the PC Probe started beeping to warn me. Now after 5 minutes of not playing GW the temp is at a constant 59 C.

Now I know that this is too hot for a CPU, but I dont know if it is gonna cause any damage if I leave it the way it is. Also could this be the cause of my many crashes, rather than my suspected video cards?

I dont over clock my system, and I already have an after market fan, one that scan.co.uk recommended.

My system consist of, asus sli deluxe MB, AMD 3500+ CPU, 2 x asus 6600GT GPU (Sli), 4Gb Ram ((PC4000) or (PC4200)?), 2 exhaust fans, 2 case fans plus fans on MB.

How can I cool my CPU down, can anyone recommend any good fans, heat sinks for me to use?

Thanks

Is your pc case on the floor or on a desk.

Most pc cases now, have an intake fan at the bottom, if this is covered then the cool air can not enter the case and cool the pc down. Make Sure it is not covered by carpet, or if its on a desk, let the air intake overhang.

its also a good idea to clean your pc out every 3 months or so, as the dust which gets inside can increase the temperature a little bit. Wen i say clean, i dont mean water and cloth, i mean those compressed air cannisters that you can buy from shops for like £3.

Are the temperature of the MB and other components overheating or are they ok?

If you already have an aftermarket HSF, you might be having an issue due to poor contact between your cpu and the HSF. Try removing the heatsink and reinstalling. If that doesnt work you might want to look into a thermal interface material. It's a paste the goes between the CPU and the HSF and allows better heat transfer. I can definatly recommend arctic silver 5. Other than that it sounds like you should have a decent temp. I have a 300+ with stock HSF overclocked to 2.3gHz (so a little faster than stock 3500+) and i run at about 35 degrees.

first do the simple things first.

1. take off the side panel of the case and put a small table fan (or any fan) so it blows fresh cool air into the case and see if interior hot air is hurting you.

2. if ok remount the heatsink with approved thermal compound (artic silver as above) making sure it is truly seated in full contact. (install it, remove it and check the *footprint* which should be only a faint haze in the contact area)

3. maximum pc did a review of top coolers in a recent article you might check as it gave some extremely good choices.

the one i chose was the Gigabyte 4 heatpipe design weighing less than 500 grams and very quiet with top ratings for cooling

Unless you live on the equator and you don't have air conditioning, its very strange that a modern AMD processor would hit almost 60C idle. As the others have suggessted something isn't right. Remount the HSF (with some good thermal paste like arctic silver 5 or the like) for starters, then start investigating some of the other things people in this thread mention. Even with lousy airflow in the case that CPU temp is strangely high for an operating environment at "normal" ambient room temperatures.

My case is extremely large, use to have a Tiny PC that would constantly overheat, so changed the case, but there are no air in takes on the bottom, just the sides, and its on the floor.

I blew some of the dust out the other week while swapping the grapics cards around, but yeah Ill think Ill get some compressed air.

Asus probe monitors the MB temp and I have monitors on the graphics cards and non of them have gone of.

Ive read about the arctic silver 5 somewhere else so I think ill give that a go. In the mean time Ill also check the heat sink and cpu to make sure there propaly secured.

thanks for your advice everyone

Artic Silver is very nice if applied properly. It really does drop your CPU temp by a few degrees C (2-5 in my exp.) vs. the cheap stuff. If you are really unhealthily obsessed (like me) you can lap your heatsink down to a mirror finish and drop another degree or two. For the truly deragned, lapping your CPU's core or protective slug can make a slight difference as well, but you will be voiding your warranty.

My Athlon 64 3000+ runs at the same clock as the 3500+ and usually ranges from 28-34 C depending on the load.

I also have an amd 3500+ and 60C is the absolute highest I've ever seen it go, it idles at less than 40C but usually creeps up to almost 50C when I'm playing games. (And I'm in Austin, it's been 100+ for the last week and I don't think my office ever dips below 80F )

It's not a long term solution, but you might want to try pulling out one of the video cards to see what effect that has on the temperature and you may also want to look into a water cooler before you fry something...

If your processor dye core temperature reaches 80 degress celcius, you should be scared. I could tell you why, but that'd be boring. The truth is, I have cooked an egg on an AMD processor before. Seriously. I would start at the very first place: the gap between the dye and the thermoradiant absorption device ("heatsink"). Is your heatsink rated for that processor? Did you put enough thermoconductive compound between the dye and the heatsink? And, have you taken into consideration that the core CPU thermal diodes are notoriously off?

Just something to think about.

Before I would mess around with the heatsinks I would open the case and watch the system work. See if the processor/case fans are failing. Run Guild Wars when the temps rise see if the fans are working.

Remember this, you are depending on a software product to check your heat output. I would like to know by using a tool to check if the temp really is that high.

I would also make sure that your other cards installed are not blocking air flow as well.

All in all I always look at the basics before going to extremes. Sometimes it is the simple things that need fixing.

This can definitely be the cause of unexplained crashes. As was already said, try running without the side on to eliminate case cooling as the problem. If temps don't drop substantially, then its most likely the HSF causing the problem.

One thing to pay close attention to if you remove and remount the heatsink is, make sure you get every last spec of old compound cleaned off before putting new on. Arctic silver is one of the best thermal compounds going, and is pretty cheap. Remember also, too much compound can cause the same problems as too little. Also, after cleaning the heat sink, take a look at it and make sure it has a reflective contact surface. Easy way to test that is, lay the heat sink on its side and set a coin on the table against it. If you can't read the coins reflection quite clearly, then your heatsink has too course a surface and needs to be "lapped", that's just term for sanding it smooth, which you can find tutorials for on many computer sites and forums, and you'll want to be carefull if you do it, as to not damage the surface. Its not a hard process, but time comsuming, and when done right, can lower you temps by a significant amount simply because of the better heat transfer.

heh i would RMA the cpu and say its defective.

cmon 80 degree's celcious...

well my temps increased from Win2000 to WinXp...

was 32 idle 38 after playing UT2K4 on max settings

now on WinXP its...
41 idle (just now) and im on forums... gah...

all i did was do a WinXp upgrade.

I would be suspicious about the accuracy of the CPU's thermosister -- unless your environment changed somehow (seasonal temp. change, etc.). Perhaps it was reading low before and now it is more accurate, or vice-versa. Regardless, 41C isn't really anything to be alarmed about. Heck thats downright cool on a modern P4.

Ive just ordered some arctic 5 of the net, so I think I wont bother messing with my heat sink and fan until it arrives. In the mean time Im gonna have the case open on both sides an just keep my eye on it.

Ill let you know how I get on thanks

ok, 1 thing that could be at fault here, i know its done it to me b4! is asus probe. From time to time i have known it to kick out the wrong temperature of people CPUs, though i doubt tht is the case it could be worth investigating.

As in previous post - it could be asus probe.

I use it and recently it started saying that my CPU fan was spinning at MINUS 17k rpm!!!

Other than that, the only thing it could be to get such crazy temps (Assuming the fans are turning) is the contact between heatsink and CPU, as has been mentioned.

still wainting for my arctic silver to arrive. Thanks for the info about asus probe. What Im gonna do play GW till Asus probe tells me its too hot then restart & check the temp in Bios

UPDATE: just checked my bios an it said that my CPU was at 70 C and when I restarted the comp Asus probe also said 70 C

I would tend to think it is probably right then - *carefully* touch the metal of the heatsink near the CPU core when its at load. If it is hot enough to burn your finger (70C = 154F or so) its too hot.

well ive got my arctic silver on, ive moved my pc from my floor to on top of my desk and all sides have been taken of the pc. it now runs idle at around 50 (9 degrees lower than before), not played any games 4 ages so gonna give it a go now