Help Computer Overheating

My home computer system today began just shutting down for no reason. Just surfing normally, and it would shut off as though power was cut off. When it shuts off, I an unable to restart the computer unless I wait 5 minutes or so. The computer will stay on for 20+ minutes, then shut down again.

I understand when that happens it is often because the cpu is overheating.

I downloaded a software program that monitors CPU usage, and sure enough, my CPU temp is 80+ C. (Pentium 4, 2.8Ghz, 1GB RAM)

The computer has 4 fans:
1) over the heatsink, which is working.
2) A fan at the back of the computer, which is working
3) A fan at the front of the computer, which is working
4) A fan on the power supply, which is working.

Don't know what could be causing it to overheat. This has never happened before, I haven't installed any new software recently.

Could it be a problem with the heatsink?

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Dom

 

1) check to see if your heatsink has come detatched from the CPU

2) Clean off all the dust and stuff (although not likely the cause of the problem)

3) Check to see if the chipset has any heatsinks that have come loose... on modern PCs often some chips other than the main CPU has a heatsink, which, if if comes loose will do this too

4) Could be a bad power supply

5) 80C is hot, but I dont know if it's reboot-hot? Sounds like it.... it could be the temp sensing circuit that adjusts fan speed is not working or has failed. The fans usually throttle back when its not that hot to save energy and be quiet. Try going into the BOIS and disabling auto fan speed adjustment

6) Could be the fan, while its spinning, is still defective and not spinning fast enough because its broken - is it spinning slower on the CPU than the others?

 

My computer was running too hot.... I opened it up and looked around. Found plenty of dust in some odd places. Computer runs great now.

I had a list of new fans and SW I was going to try... but just needed some internal dusting.

 

80 degrees on a P4 is getting pretty hot. I'm going to blame your heatsink, make sure it's all fitted properly and you have a good layer of thermal grease inbetween. If everything looks good heat-wise there's a possibility that it's shutting off because of a different reason. Check out the event viewer to see if there's anything going on in there and maybe look around in the BIOS.

 

try running your computer with the case open, it should run cooler. If it keeps running then its heat.

 

Mine did the same thing, changed the power supply and all was well

 

OK, did some research and learned a few things.

My processor is a Prescott P4 (Socket 478), which seems to run hot normally. I did go to the system control panel, advanced tab, and set it to maximize for best performance. I was able to run for a few hours last night without having a shutdown occur. I am beginning to suspect that Internet Explorer 7.0, which I installed a few weeks ago, may be taxing my system (I've noticed a slowdown since it was installed). The couple system shutdowns I had happened when I was looking at sites with lots of graphics. I wonder if just upgrading to new memory could improve things.

I also cleaned up the dust in the system and made sure nothing was loose.

As far as I can tell, I have a couple options.

1) Better heatsink/fan for the CPU. New fans for the case.
2) New powersupply
3) More memory (currently have 1 gig).

The problem is is that changing any one of the 3 items above may do nothing to rectify the issue. If I do them step by step, I've spent a few hundred dollars and haven't really changed anything.

It looks like I can get a new barebones system for $500-600, maybe I should just do that, rather than plunking down a hundred here, hundred there trying to fix this problem?

Currently, after being off the remainder of the night, my processer speed is in the high 60's C. Generally, though, I leave the computer on all day, so I will have to see how hot it runs at the end of the day. Unfortunately, I only downloaded this software to check temps after my problem started, so I don't know how hot the PC was running before.

Thanks,
Dom

 

I had the same problems with my Dell. So I took all the parts out and put it into a new case. Runs fine now.

 

you can buy a power supply for 20-30 dollars at computer store

 

I talked to a friend of mine who is a comp tech support guy, and when I described my symptoms, the first thing out of his mouth was: power supply.

I went out to Fry's this morning, and picked up a new case, with a built in 450watt power supply. Installed everything this morning, and so far so good.

One thing I noticed is that with this new case, temperature seems to be about 10-15 C lower, which is a good thing, I think. Probably due to better airflow in the new case.

I think I may pick up some more memory when I get a chance, probably would be a good thing to have.

Thanks for all of your help.

Dom

 

There is a white paste that should exist between the heatsink and the CPU, check to make sure that is has some there (you can buy it at most computer stores).

 

It's there. I installed the CPU when I built the system a few years ago. Everything was working fine until a couple days ago.

Dom

 

OH
MY
GOD
80C is wowowow.
I start to squirm when it hits about 60C, that's about the limit I'll let my systems go at.

If I were you, I'd get a top notch powersupply (which you did) but that still doesn't solve the heating issue.

Get yourself a decent heatsink/fan and some arctic silver paste if the hsf (heatsink+fan combo) doesn't come with some already.

Get your parts from newegg, just buy the heatsink/fan combo that is highest reviewed for your processor socket.

For your powersupply, make sure you got a name brand one, otherwise you're just setting yourself up for more headaches.

Paste and what not will get worn out after a few years. I repaste my systems every year or so, it keeps the temps down to a minimum.

Your computer should be fine at full throttle. If it's crashing, it's a heat issue and you should fix that asap, otherwise you're just going to shorten the life span of the components of your computer (but actually that'd debateable, since you'll need a computer every few years anyways).

 

Haven't been here in a week, myself...

As I slumbered before heading back to work (aka living hell) for 5 more life-shortening days, Power Supply on PC failed, as the waxwife was quick to notice, what with her incurable Spider Solitaire addiction.

So, I decided to just take a week off from "computing" and picked up a replacement Power Supply at Radio Shack after w-w-w-work - then eat, sleep and be horny and get to replacing the PS in the morning - which I did.

The Eagle has landed.

 

my computer shut down a couple times by itself before, at 1st i was suspecting virus..

before i send it to the shop, a friend told me that it was simply too DIRTY, so I open the box and cleaned inside with tiny brushes & q-tips, after i put it back together, it was working fine.

hope this helps!

Jimmy540i

 

Forget using q-tips, just use compressed air.