Overheating Computer

Hey MajorGeeks!

I've encountered yet another problem with my computer - it just seems to be going from bad to worse. It started randomly crashing in the middle of gaming, getting worse if you just turned it back on. You couldn't turn it back on without unplugging the power connection and waiting for all power to drain from the computer. I had wanted to format the HDD for some time, so I went ahead and did that in case it was a software problem. I've now reinstalled windows, installed all windows updates and updates all my drivers (at least the major ones, I may have missed something like USB drivers). Crashes still occuring, so I know it's a hardware issue and not software. The logical place to check next was temperature, and sure enough my CPU temp is going wild! I boot up my computer, check emails, reply, open up CoreTemp to check the temperature and it's about 60 degrees celcius! I've cleaned up the computer, getting all the dust and junk out of the fans and it's still at this temperature. All the fans ARE running, however the CPU fan makes a little 'clunk' noise about once every 10 seconds when it's not spinning fasts, and more often when it is. I'm not entirely sure what caused it, but the problems started after the power shorted with the computer turned on. I don't have any thermal paste on me, would you reccomend that as the next step, or do you think I should try and replace the fan?

 

If the CPU fan's making a noise and you can't stop that noise from occurring, replace it. If you have one, grab a house fan, set it on high and point it towards the open case side of your machine. This has got me through times when I "needed" to play games or put the processor under heavy load.


When you pick up a new fan assembly, don't forget the thermal paste.

 

I would suggest that 60 degrees c is not that high for a processor. Most processors made after about 2002 are rated up to 70 degrees and the newer ones can operate at higher temperatures.

As holiday said, you can purchase replacement fans which are removable from the heatsink (the metal block) or the entire fan and heatsink unit.

If you choose to replace the fan only, get one of the same size and type to ensure it will move air in the way the manufacturer intended.

If you choose to replace the entire heatsink, make sure you get one that moves the same amount of heat or more.

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

I know 60 degrees isn't that hot if it was gaming, but thats simply from booting up and then browsing the internet for maybe 5 minutes. Thats really hot for almost no use. It reaches 80 degrees after about 1-2 minutes of gaming - I checked today. It holds at 80 degrees for about 15 minutes before it crashes. I know the max for my CPU is 80 degrees, which is why the computer auto shuts down at 80 degrees.

My CPU is pretty old (about 4 years now) but I don't think I need to replace the heatsink. I'll try reapplying the thermal paste I have (I found it!) and if that doesn't fix it then I guess I'll have to buy a new fan. This computers given me so much pain