Overheating (processor?) when playing games, locking up, black screen....Help!!!

[VaioVenom]

Hi, was wondering if anyone can help.
I just built my second pc (specs are below). Within minutes of starting games, the screen goes black and I cannot pull up the task manager to exit the game, and the pc locks up. I cant reboot and I need to completely shut down, wait a few, and reboot. I then get the error messages. I thought it was possibly my video card and have messed around with the BIOS settings hoping to fix the problem, but no dice. I loaded a utility that came with the board to monitor settings. As I went into a game again, a window popped up and said that my processor temp was climbing. I shut down the game and here I am. The cpu temp maintains 48C at an idle or surfing.

I have plenty of fans (front, rear, side panel, and CPU fan). Could my CPU fan speed be the issue? Also, I spread the thermal grease on the CPU evenly, but not overabundantly.

Any help would be great. Would love to get this beast up and running! Thanks

[mjc]

The cpu temp maintains 48C at an idle or surfing.

I have plenty of fans (front, rear, side panel, and CPU fan). Could my CPU fan speed be the issue? Also, I spread the thermal grease on the CPU evenly, but not overabundantly.


48 is not a great starting point for an idle system...it is a bit on the high side. That is around where it should be during a game.

Did you remove the thermal pad and use heat sink compound instead? If so, did you thoroughly clean the heat sink?

What heatsink are you using?

There is also a chance that the heatsink is not very flat, therefore, not making good contact with the CPU...in that case some sandpaper, a flat surface and some elbow grease are required. The process, known as lapping can dramatically reduce temps. I just did one today, it idled around 50 C, after lapping it idled at 32C...18 degree drop, rather impressive in my book.

http://www.a1-electronics.net/Heatsinks/Lapping.shtml

[VaioVenom]

[QUOTE=mjc;326112]48 is not a great starting point for an idle system...it is a bit on the high side. That is around where it should be during a game.

Did you remove the thermal pad and use heat sink compound instead? If so, did you thoroughly clean the heat sink?



I'm not really sure what you mean when you say "thermal pad". The CPU heatsink had a plastic label on the mounting base. I removed this and applied thermal grease that I got at the local pc store to the processor, set the heatsink on, and screwed it down. I didnt clean the heatsink nor sand the base.
One more thing, I just discovered that my rear case fan was blowing into the case, not out. So, the front panel fan, the side panel fan, and the rear fan were all pushing air into the case. I have reversed it, but could this possibly be the source of my problems?
Sounds like it will probably be a good idea as well to lap the heatsink base and reapply. The cooler I can keep this, the better.
Please clarify "thermal pad". ThANKS

[jlreich]

Often times on HSF's there is preinstalled thermal compound. It is usually pretty thick, and usually known as a thermal pad.

If reversing the exhaust fan doesn't help I would start with cleaning the CPU and HSF reapplying the thermal compound. Use at least 91% purity alcohol and a lint free cloth.

If it still doesn't bring it down to acceptable temps go for lapping it.

The PD's are known to have heat problems, so you want to do everything you can to keep them cool.

BTW MJC, 18C difference a great result. :cool:

[mjc]

With the only exhaust being the power supply fan, yeah, that could be a contributing factor.

There wasn't a pad on the heatsink, under the plastic? Good, because using both at the same time is very counter-productive.

I find lapping the heatsink is almost always beneficial, my average results are around a 5 degree drop, but every once in a while something impressive happens....like the 18 degree drop today.

[saphalline]

Just out of curiosity, when did you build this PC? When did you buy the parts?