CPU overheating problem?

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

System specs are

3200+
512 DDR400
120 gig WD....blah blah blah

Just the past couple of days, running anything that causes my CPU to work under 100% load (mostly original Starcraft) my CPU diode has has reached 70 C, and my computer goes into auto-shutoff. Now this has just started happening, and I have been running the same setup in the same room for almost 2 months now. Checked the HSF (Zalman AlCu-7000) and it seems to be running properly, running it at max rpm. Any ideas?

 

[gotensan01]

Is your system dusty. Believe it or not, my cpu would overheat because I hadn't dusted my case out in about 2 years. Get a can of compressed air and clean EVERYTHING off.

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

It's actually a pretty new system, and there is zero dust in there. Thanks for the reply though.

 

[Operandi]

Sounds like your Zalman isn't making good contact with the CPU.

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

That's what I thought.....but it just started happening and the Zalman has been on there for a long time...

 

[gotensan01]

If you are very confident that the fan is running fine then the only other thing you could check before getting into bad territory is the mounting. If I were you I'd remove the Zalman hsf and remount it. Make sure you put very little thermal junk on there and I'd recommend using AS5. If it isn't dust, the fan, or the mounting, I think you may have more trouble.

Are you overclocking?

 

[PCHPlayer]

Originally posted by: DaWhYteDraGoN
It's actually a pretty new system, and there is zero dust in there. Thanks for the reply though.

Originally posted by: DaWhYteDraGoN
That's what I thought.....but it just started happening and the Zalman has been on there for a long time...

OK, which is it? Is it a new system or is an old system where the Zalman has been on for a long time?
BTW. Two months is an eternity for dust build up. Get some canned air and blast the heat sink. If it just started to happen then something has changed. I concur with gotensan01 suggestions.

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

Not overclocking, and sorry for the confusion, it has been in the system for 2 months. I didn't think that was long enough for a ton of buildup. I will try remounting the heatsink later this evening. Thanks for the help guys. How much thermal paste should actually be on it?

 

[Fern]

How much thermal paste should actually be on it?

If it's AS5, about the size of 1/2 a grain of rice (per their website). I think I actually use just a wee bit more.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: DaWhYteDraGoN
Not overclocking, and sorry for the confusion, it has been in the system for 2 months. I didn't think that was long enough for a ton of buildup. I will try remounting the heatsink later this evening. Thanks for the help guys. How much thermal paste should actually be on it?

It should be a "paper thin" layer between the CPU and HS/F. Don't swee it too much though excess isn't good but it won't cause temp problems like your having.

 

[effee]

Also, do some wire management, it would give you better airflow and possibly reduce your temps by 2 or 3 C

 

[DaWhYteDraGoN]

Took off the Zalman, dusted off everything I could find (there wasn't much) and reinstalled it making sure everything was secure. Problem solved. Don't know exactly what the problem was, but THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE GUYS! I knew you all could help me out.