Bios error, voltage, temperature

[SarahL]

I have just acquired a 'rebuilt' pc. It is a PIII 866. When I boot up I always get an error message telling me there is a problem and I should enter bios setting to look in the power manager. When I get there, the -12v voltage is highlighted in red and reads about 13.02. Also, the MB temperature ( motherboard?) is at 93 degrees and the CPU temp is at 185. The fan is at 5769RPM.

If I disable the voltage monitor, the temperature jumps up to about 97.

The machine itself is extremely unstable - it crashes after about 5 minutes of use , always taking me back on reboot to this message about Hardware manager.

I'm completely lost and would appreciate any ideas. Do I need to alter the bios settings, or is it a fan or a more serious problem ?

Thanks

Sarah

[123456]

Welcome! It looks like a fan problem. Open up the case, get rid of all dust bunnies if there are any, check to see if the cables are scattered about, blocking the airflow. Those temperatures are really high. It better be fahreinheit!;)

[Paleo Pete]

Do I need to alter the bios settings, or is it a fan or a more serious problem ?

With the fan speed you posted, 5769 RPM, it shouldn't be a fan problem. Heat is definitely a problem at those temperatures, getting the dust out will help a lot and leave the side cover off and run it with a small fan blowing inside. See if it runs better and more stable. If so, some better cooling ideas are in order.

Since this is a "rebuilt" computer, I would do some more digging into the system, especially BIOS and motherboard jumpers, and see if it might be overclocked to the point it's both hot and unstable.

Also remove the heatsink for the CPU and replace the thermal compound, getting that hot it can't be doing much good. Use only a light film of thermal compound, not much is needed. To get the old thermal compound off, use lighter fluid and a paper towel, if it's a thermal pad, use a plastic drive bay cover to scrape it off, credit card will work, [gently please] then lighter fluid to remove leftovers. Use rubbing alcohol after it dries to remove all residue. Both alcohol and lighter fluid dry in a few seconds, it won't take long.

Oh, almost forgot, watch the fan when starting up, for two things. Make sure it's turning in the right direction, usually CPU heatsink fans should blow into the heatsink, and watch to be sure it is actually spinning fast and the sensors are not lying to you...

[123456]

I did not mean to say fan, I meant heat!

[Sylvander]

Casting my mind waaaayy back to when I was taught thermodynamics. :)

The definition we were given for "heat" was:

"Heat is an interaction between a system and its surroundings due solely to the temperature difference between them."

Now if that seems like gobbledegook, join the club. :D

I always thought of heat as "Thermal energy in transit".
And of course it always tends to transfer from a high temperature region [usually a high temperature mass] to a low temperature region.
It is given that special name "heat", only when in the process of transferring.

It's a bit like water being called "rain", only when it is in the process of falling from a cloud to the earth beneath.

It's called "Internal Energy" when not being transferred [due to a temperature difference].
Hence, masses hold "Internal Energy", but give off "Heat".

[HippyWarlock]

1st Law of thermodynamics:

Heat will always pass from a hotter body to a cooler body

I hope they get a bit less obvious as they go on?

As for that paste, remember to put it on but scrape it all back off with a credit card.

Thermal paste is a very poor heat transfer medium, and any layer between the CPU and HS will cause an overheated chip.

/me sits back smugly and waits for the usual comments.