CPU OVERHEATING

[kriptokool]

I just build up my computer and it seems to work fine until I play a game or something that requieres a lot of the CPU I suddenly get the warning that CPU is overheating.. and that is dangerous I know.. the fan and the heatsink are working fine.. I have a 1.2 GHZ Athlon FSB 266, 256 DDR RAM, ATI Radeon 32 DDR RAM windows me...my MOBO is the ASUS A7A266 it comes with a program that measures the temp of the cpu(PC PROB)... my CPU is always around 149ºF 65ºC If I play lets say Quake 3 after 5 minutes in to the game I hear the internal Beeeeeeeeeepppppppp and it crashes that means it just reached 155ºF 70ºC .... How can I make it cool down.. or is that a normal temp and the prog is just scaring me!!??

[Paleo Pete]

I don't claim to know much about AMD's, but looked up a link wiht a chart of generic maximum temperatures. Temps (http://www.heatsink-guide.com/maxtemp.htm), it says the 1.1GHz and higher can go up to 90°C which is quite a bit higher than the 70°C you're getting. Note these are temps for CPU's that are NOT overclocked. I may be way offbase here, but you might check the program to see if you can set the alarm a bit higher, say 75°C, and see if it will stop the alarms and shut downs. That should still be well under the max.

This AMD (http://www.admicro.com.au/techo/coolamd.htm) page has some good info that may be worth reading.

You might also need to check into a better heatsink and fan.

Stick around, some other folks much more familiar with AMD issues will certainly be here later and might have lots better suggestions.

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[Rick]

Kriptokool.
The Program Pcprob is a POS.
I have it and its worthless on every system I have built using Asus mother boards.

You should check the Bios reading for the correct CPU and Mother board temps.
You should pickup another monitor program.
I prefer MBM5 ( Mother board monitor ) It's accurate and allows you to adjust idle temps in the MBM5 temps to match the bios temps.

The AMD Tbird will be damaged at temps of 90-95 C..
Melt down so to speak.

Also Your Idle temp of 65 is too high. ( Pcprob reporting it wrong I'll bet)
Should be at or less than 50c (Pcprob reports about 10 to 15 c to high)

Here is a link to MBM5 download site. http://mbm.livewiredev.com/

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To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[iisbob]

Go to this post (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/001650.html), where i gave some explanation on the athlon's and heat. You'll want to keep it as low as possible ( 30-50*c) and Rick's right, you need a better system monitor. As for it crashing, sounds like you need to reapply the heatsink/fan, or get a better one-i like swiftech myself, but there are many good choices; go here (http://2cooltek.safeshopper.com/1/cat1.htm?630) at 2cooltek, they have an excellant choice of fans/heatsinks and an honest review on performance of said items.

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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 07-26-2001).]

[Rick]

Before you pickup a new Heatsink and fan.
Disable the Pcprobe program.
What may be causing the crash is pcprob attempting to shutdown the system.
Or kick it into idle mode.

Also be sure to check the Bios Temps at boot and after a crash reboot.
If you find the temps in Bios to high after a crash then it is time to deal with the heat.


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To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[ranchdog]

Was your CPU the retail box version? If so -- The CoolerMaster HSF isn't going to cut the 'ol mustard for what you are asking of it. When you assembled this unit you did use a Good thermal grease between the HSF and the CPU? It's a must. Please remember, too much is worse than not enough. The ASUS temp. probe thingie sets in the middle of your CPU socket base. And they are notorius for giving incorrect readings. Not to say you don't have a heat problem here. The higher end T-birds get HOT. If you are going to do some gaming be careful how much you push the core voltage. Try to run it 1.75 or 1.80 if you can. Keep it down to help keep the heat of the CPU down. I didn't have much luck until I went to a FOP38 w/Black Label Fan. (GlobalWin) Fan makes some noise at 7K but it's liveable. Go to the local hardware store and pick up some super fine sandpaper, lay it on a piece of glass and lap the base of the heatsink in a figure 8 motion. Start out with a mark scribed accross the bottom with a magic marker. Lap it 'till the mark is gone. Don't get in a hurry. When you know the base is flat then assemble everything. Slowly and carefully. The heatsink clips can be a Bear! Use a good third-party program for temp readings, etc. Luck.

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......

[This message has been edited by ranchdog (edited 07-26-2001).]

[kriptokool]

Well I manage to cool down the CPU but giving up a bit of preformance I set my 1200 MHZ to 1008 MHZ well 1008 is pretty good still. Until I get a better heatsink the one I'm using is the one that comes with the AMD processor is it bad ?? If I open the case and put my house fan shooting at it is it a bad idea.. or it doesn't matter to have the Pc open that much time...

Pd: RICK the MBM software only detected the voltages not the TEMP.. my bios is throwing the same results as the Probe so I guess my CPU is overheeated....

[ranchdog]

I think what we have here is a failure to communicate. You can lead a Horse to water..........

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......

[Rick]

If you are able to drop the temp of the cpu by opening the case and pushing air into it with a fan,
You may also want to check the air flow in the case.
The AMD site has a good design diagram for the Tbird.

If you are using an old style case or an Intel case layout you will need to add an exhaust fan below the Power supply on the rear of the case .
This will draw air across the H/S and cool it better.

By All means Replace the standard H/S and Fan

You will not hurt the system by using an extra fan to cool it till you get a new one.
I always use a fan to push air into a system anytime I have the case open.

If all you are getting with MBM5 is the voltage ..
You need to change the configuration for the temp sensors .

No Guess about it. If the Bios shows Over heat your risking a melt down.

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To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[BamBam]

im not as good as the others but if it is really over heating there is a cooling system you could use the cool it dramatically http://www.silversink.com

this is a good system for cooling your cpu and not expensive. $34 is not bad for this system



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[Dr DRAM]

Right when I saw this topics title, I knew you had an Asus A7A266 Mobo. I have the same one. I'm running a 1.4 ghz Athlon on mine and mine runs really hot too. As long as your CPU stays under 70c you should be fine. I have to keep a desk fan on the floor with the case open until I can get something for better cooling. and I suggest you do the same thing. Try a desk fan until you do. Just aim it right into the case. Its cooling mine Down by 10 degrees.

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- - Load Universe into Cannon. Aim at Brain. Fire. - -

[Dr DRAM]

Right when I saw this topics title, I knew you had an Asus A7A266 Mobo. I have the same one. I'm running a 1.4 ghz Athlon on mine and mine runs really hot too. As long as your CPU stays under 70c you should be fine. I have to keep a desk fan on the floor with the case open until I can get something for better cooling. and I suggest you do the same thing. Try a desk fan until you do. Just aim it right into the case. Its cooling mine Down by 10 degrees.

Also, check your BIOS version. I think you should have Ver. 1004. Thats the one with people complaining about overheating. From what i hear this BIOS ver. is really buggy. I have a 1.4Ghz CPU in mine and i can only run it at 1.3 because of the BIOS. Theres a Beta BIOS that you can Download from the Asus website. Alot of issues are fixed in that version. If you dont mind you BIOS being german you might want to check it out. As for me, im sticking with my floor fan and my 1.3 until atleast an English Ver of the Beta comes out.
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- - Load Universe into Cannon. Aim at Brain. Fire. - -

[This message has been edited by Dr DRAM (edited 07-29-2001).]