CPU or MOBO fired? Please help, tried various solutions and am still uncertain!

Hi,
I had my computer overclocked to 3.4GHz for the past year and other than some instability at the beginning, it always worked fine. Last week, I purchased a Xigmatek s1284 to reduce the cpu temperatures.

This morning, however, I noticed that something was making a similar sound to a rusty bearing; it was very soft but noticeable. I quickly checked speedfan and noticed that the cpu temperature were unusually high at around 60 in idle (usual is around 30) so then I ran the program heavyload and noticed the temperature skyrocket to 80 and the core0 go to 85 then the core0 temperature went down to -37, then suddenly the computer shut off, no blue screen, nothing. I realized it was over heating so I let it cool for about an hour then cleared the CMOS and restarted. I checked speedfan and the temperatures were at 30 and it was no longer making the bearing sounds. I ran heavyload again and at 50-60 cpu temperature, the bearing sounds resumed, and the core0 temperature went to -37. This time however the screen went completely off, but the computer remained on. Suddenly, I smelt something (no smoke) so I quickly unplugged the power supply. Waited a few minutes and restarted the computer, this time no beeps just the power supply went on with all fans spinning, the back-light of the screen also went on. I decided to check for a ram issue, by extracting them individually, no success. I tried to disconnect the GPU, no success. So then I extracted the cpu to check the cpu for fissures or something, it looked and smelled fine. The smell seemed to originate from the area of the mainboard around the cpu.

My system specs are:
Q6600 G0 @ 3.4GHz
x4 Corsair CL5 800mhz 1024mb ram
sapphire hd4850 1024mb
asus xonar d2
x2 750gb samsung F1 753 HDD
PSU Corsair HX620

HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED! :-D
cheers

 

Could someone please give me some advice. It's really important, my computer is essential to me, I need it for my work.
I don't want to make the mistake of buying both components.
I'll try to buy thermal paste tomorrow and insert the CPU in another computer.

 

Well, from what you described, it sure sounds like a fan went on you prolly the CPU cooler fan so test it and northbridge fan out too while you're at it. I really doubt that your goop is at fault as it's worked well before. The Q6600 has a thermal shutdown so it may be the board. Sniff the board with a straw in various places, that stink doesn't disappear quickly.

 

Alright so I forgot to mention that I have the Asus Commando motherboard, if that makes a difference. I think it might of been the thermal paste but then it wouldn't make sense for it to work fine for a week and the suddenly not. I had the case open while it still worked and noticed that it was very hot, but all fans were definitely working. I have a Lian Li case with 2 fans so ventilation should be fine.
If it just shutdown because it overheated, it should be fine and restart or not? I've had it overheat before (hence the new cpu cooler) but never has it smelled and not restarted. It doesn't even beep :'(
Thanks for the reply

 

Was the original OC done on the stock Intel cooler? I have a Q6600 and I can only OC it to 2.7GHz as running all cores pinned has it up to 75C, I can't imagine my machine @ 3.4 with that HSF.

 

No before I used to have a Zalmann 7700CU i had it at 3.3 with the new fan I changed overclocked to 3.4, it never went above 70C

 

Any more advice? Does someone know of a definite way of telling whether your cpu is busted?
Is it risky to insert it into another operational system? How about inserting a opperational cpu in my mainboard?

 

I would try the chip in another board as your board might fry a new CPU as it's an unknown quantity at the moment. If your CPU is good then it's your motherboard but if it's bad then there's no way to know without chancing to fry another CPU. Perhaps it's best to have things checked out professionally if your CPU is fried.