Is my CPU f-ed?

All, I have been reading all over the web on this and cannot completely figure it out. I have moderate computer knowledge, as I build my own systems, but have no experience with advanced things such as overclocking etc.

My problem is my computer shut off randomly. I have been trouble shooting this and it seems as if my processor is overheating. I downloaded EVEREST and it appears that my CPU is idling @ 72C!! From what I can tell it should be around 35-50C with a max temp of 95C, based on what I have read. I do realize that it shuld never come close to 95C, but it seems that it has.

I run adobe photoshop and lightroom at the same time A LOT and they hang quite a bit. I am thinking that one of my two cores is not working but I do not know how to verify it. I started processing images in both the above mentioned programs and looked at the CPU utilization in EVEREST and if I am reading it correctly... one core is pegged and the other is doing nothing. Can anyone help me out with this mess? Below is the quick report from EVEREST while both lightroom and photoshop are running.

CPU Properties:
CPU Type Unknown, 1866 MHz (11.5 x 162)
Instruction Set x86, x86-64, MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
Original Clock 1866 MHz
L1 Code Cache 32 KB
L1 Data Cache 32 KB
L2 Cache 2 MB (On-Die, ATC, Full-Speed)

Multi CPU:
Motherboard ID OEM00000 PROD00000000
CPU #0 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86GHz, 1866 MHz
CPU #1 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86GHz, 1866 MHz

CPU Utilization:
CPU #1 / Core #1 / HTT Unit #1 0 %
CPU #1 / Core #1 / HTT Unit #2 100 %

 

The first thing you should check is the fan on the cpu heatsink and be sure it is running. If it is, i would suggest pulling heatsink off and reapplying thermal grease to cpu. I dont believe one core should run at 100%, 50% if i remember right on each core. Have you done a bios update? Does your bios support dual core.? ed

 

The heatsink fan is working... It is the stock heatsink but it is working. I will try the thermal grease but can that account for a 20C swing in temps? Also can anyone confirm for a fact that based on my original description along with the output from EVEREST that my processor is not functioning properly?

Thanks,
Shaun

 

thermal paste can get really old and will eventually get all dry and super goey, sometimes even dry and brittle. If you've never done it before or it's been a while, i agree with ed that you should reapply it. Sometimes it wasnt done properly the first time (too much or too little, not seated well etc...) and that can affect temps significantly

 

I had that same problem with not applying the compound properly also. I would suggest cleaning all the old compound off with rubbing alcohol 'til it's nice and shiny with a lint free cloth and then reapplying.