Possible Cpu Problem Advice Please

A few months ago I got the occasional desktop crash, suddenly, like a power cut.
I also got the windows message about it being overloaded, etc, and restore chrome pages etc.
I didn't think about it much. Just re-booted, and presumed it was because i had speakers running, external hdd playing music etc, maybe my pi was running, maybe not.
Anyway, in the last few weeks it has happened far more, and sometimes cuts within minutes or even less. Once or twice the on off switch illuminated on and went off immediately.
So I've took the case off, gave it a good dust inside, etc, using an air duster spray, and it made no difference.
So I'm now thinking is it the power box, switch, or something else like the mobo which due to the age of the desktop , about 8 or 9 years, it was originally windows 7 and i upgraded it to windows 10 etc a couple of years with more RAM but that was all.
Does anybody have any suggestions please, I am reluctant to upgrade as I like windows 10 and so long as they support it I don't want to change again.

I did a speccy report, it isn't overheating.
Also since I attached a new power lead its been fine, and now I'm reluctant to move it back or put the cover back on in case it disturbs it. I supposed blowing the dust out could have settled it down now and nothing is wrong.
However, if the CPU is being overloaded, or crashed, how dangerous is it, is buying a new CPU still the best option

 

As far as I know, there is no Windows message about being "overloaded" so you will need to be more precise and, if/when it happens again. tell us exactly what the error message says.

Also, you say it isn't over heating but didn't say what your temps are so we cannot verify heat it not the issue. This matters because your symptoms are common for heat related issues. Do note that simply running Speccy is not a demanding task.

What do you mean by you attached a new power lead? What power lead?

Also, note that an "overloaded" CPU does not suggest a "faulty" CPU. It typically suggest a corrupt program, bad setting, or malware. Plus, CPUs typically work, or they don't work at all.

As a technician, when dealing with possible hardware issues, I always start at the wall. Is it plugged in? Turned on? Am I providing good, clean stable power? The first 2 are obvious. And since everything inside the case depends on good, clean, stable power, I typically start by swapping in a known good power supply to see if the problem remains, or clears.

That said you said for now, the computer seems to be working fine. And you said you cleaned out the heat-trapping dust - which is good. So if me, I would carefully ensure every power and data cable connection is tight and secure. Then inspect your cabling to make nothing is pinched, or may be pinched when you close it up. If you have good cable management, carefully replace the cover and put the computer back in place. Then, with fingers and toes crossed, start it up and see what happen.

If it boots, immediately back up any data you don't want to lose. Then, because the computer is already 8-9 year old, it is time to start looking for a new on. And do note that W11, like nearly every version before it, is just fine, once you get familiar with it.

If it fails again, we are going to need to know the system specs.

 

Thank you... when it cut out (like a power cut) , on rebooting I got this "overload" message (as best i remember) and offeredcme to press f1 and reset settings (poss bios) but as its worked fine i just took it as a power cut or overload. Only when it happened a nunber of times, once or twice during boot up, i realised it was a bigger problem.

I attached a different power lead from the mains, and its been fine since, so far.

Here is a bit of the speccy screenshot if its any help re the temparature etc.

I'm running malwarebytes free, and also did a windows defender offline scan.


I'm on my phone as I'm away for the weekend. Lifting it is a problem right now but i'll recheck everything, give it another blow and put the cover back on when I'm home. And investigate any other suggestions.

If it fails again, I'll take photograghs.

I was hoping to keep windows 10 while they support it but as you say it might be time to think about a new one regardless , thanks for the advice.

 

You need to check your temps with something else because Speccy is showing your motherboard temps are 115°C! That's extremely hot and hopefully, just a faulty reading or sensor.

I suggest trying HWiNFO64. It is very (if not too) informative and for new users, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming. So, when using for the first time, I recommend you select “Sensors only” when prompted. Then scroll down to your motherboard’s section to see the temps. Hopefully, it will show something more comforting - like in the 30s or 40s, or less.

If it also shows way up there, it could be a bad sensor. That motherboard reading is typically on the chipset. This will normally be the 2nd largest chip on the board, after the CPU. It likely will be under a heatsink - for example, that large black finned heatsink in the lower right of the below board. A laser guided IR thermometer gun can help verify temps.

https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6523/6523135_sd.jpg;maxHeight=640;maxWidth=550

 

do i need to download lansweeper as well, for a single home PC ?

 

and.... the speccy showed the 115 degs with a green box next to it, I presumed if it was too high it would have been red. I've gave it another dust with the air can, but I still have the side case off, would putting that on bring the temp down ?

which of the 4 hwinfo downloads to i download ?

 

I don't know why Speccy would have shown green. 115°C, or 239°F is literally "boiling" hot!

Lansweeper? Why would you ask that? You don't need lansweeper.

For HWiNFO, I would use the "Installer" version.

 

On my phone but this is the same options i get on the desktop

 

Use the link I provided above.

 

Is this it ?

 

Is this it

 

so speccy is wrong ?

For confirmation, i read you can check it in your bios when you boot up, is that right ?

So far, since I dusted out the case and fan etc, the PC has been fine.

 

Not sure it is "wrong" in the sense it is "not right". It just appears it is not reading the correct sensor. Same with HWiNFO.

Or the sensor could be faulty. Note those sensors are very low tech and probably cost $1 for a 100 of them.

As far as checking temps in the BIOS, it depends on the BIOS, but typically you can. However, it should be noted that viewing the BIOS Setup Menu is about the least demanding task we can ask of our computers. So those temps should be pretty close to your ambient (room) temp. But sadly, they tell us nothing about the temps when the system is being tasked. And you can't task the system and view the BIOS Setup Menu at the same time.

Do note when CPUs reach a certain temperature (as determined by the CPU maker), they typically throttle back in speed automatically to prevent overheating. This results in lower performance, but safe operation. Laptops do this frequently simply because their tiny cases are incapable of supporting the necessary cooling when the computers are being heavily taxed.

When heat is causing problems, it typically manifests in telltale symptoms. You see unstable systems causing system freezes, sudden shutdowns, or unexpected reboots. Are you seeing any of that?

 

Heres another one and i've had the PC on all day

 

Atyached

 

i understand, it makes logical sense.

It doesn't FEEL hot, if I put my hand close to it.

it has never rebooted, only cut out like a power cut, but hasn't done this once since I dusted it all out.

Now and again it has slowed down, but I've put this down to me either having both my external hard drives plugged into the hub, or needing more RAM, or both. It has immediately corrected when I unplugged 1 of the external drives.

I was told I could need a bios update to my ASUS ?

 

Upgrading a BIOS for a machine with a removable EEPROM is kind of normal with a performance board. If you can't replace your chip easily, I wouldn't do it unless you really need the added features/changes provided by the upgrade. Bricking a machine is not a good day, but it's less likely these days than it used to be. Oh, and to put things another way: sensors 3, 4, and 5 do not physically exist on your system board. The program is thorough. Values are maxed where there is no input.

 

https://www.asus.com/supportonly/h81mplus/helpdesk_bios/ another lad, and here is the link to the update, which I haven't done yet.

If I do, because basically, since i dusted and blew out the case with a can of spray air, it has been fine.

 

I'm presuming these new temps are correct, and it isn't overheating, as the PC has been fine since I blew the dust out using a can of spray air.

 

It is highly unlikely updating the BIOS will fix this. Note the date on the updated BIOS you linked to is from 2015. If it was running fine all these years, and you have not made any recent hardware changes, and only recently has the computer started to mess up, something else is the problem.

 

sounds about right, I hope so, but if its just been dusty its now clean. I googled around, and a few people say speccy gives incorrect temps. Thanks Bill.