HELP!! Overheating problem

[ACWingit]

I have an AMD Athlon 1.1ghz processor
Shuttle AK31 motherboard with KT266A chipset
ATI Radeon 9500 Pro video card
Running Win 98.

In the BIOS, I have the temperature shutdown set to 75 degrees C.
And the computer shuts off.

I installed Motherboard Monitor and set the warning at 75. Sure enough. It sets off the alarm.
In the BIOS, I turned off the auto-shutoff (because I wanted to see what the temps were getting up to).

Found it reached 84 degrees! Decided this was bad. Opened the case. Temps went down.

Looked at all 5 fans (power supply, processor, mb fan, video card, case fan). All were running.
Checked voltages in MBM as well as processor fan speed. All look normal.

I do NOT overclock anything at all!

Bought a can of compressed air and blasted all the dirt and dust out of the case, the boards and the vents on the case door panels. Closed up the case. Temps were lower after that but still hitting the 75 degree mark.

Getting tired of having computer on the floor with the case open and a box fan blowing into it.

What could be my problem here?

I've heard theories. Maybe the seal between the processor and heatsink has broken?
Perhaps it's possible to replace heatsink and fan?
Some say that trying to do that will damage the processor and I'll have to replace it.

If I have to replace the processor, probably doesn't make sense to replace with the same thing. According to Shuttle, the newest BIOS for that board will support up to athlon xp 2000+. Never burned a BIOS before. Any suggestions? Don't want to have to replace the mobo too.

Solutions, thoughts, suggestions, ideas are all greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

 

[GAZZA]

Sounds like either the heatsink isn't not seated correctly or there is no thermal interface between the cpu and heatsink.

Did you install the heatsink, and if so did it come with the thermal interface pad ?

If it's the stock heatsink then I would think it came with the little pad and that has probably gotten to the point of not being able to effectively transfer the heat away from your cpu.

I would suggest removing the heatsink and applying a light coating of thermal compound(such as artic silver), making sure the heatsink is nice and clean before hand.

Then reattach your heatsink making sure it is orientated correctly and then see if it makes any difference to your temps.

 

[mindwreck]

is it the stock amd heatsink? or the heatpipe one that comes in those shuttle boxes?

Originally posted by: GAZZA
Sounds like either the heatsink isn't not seated correctly or there is no thermal interface between the cpu and heatsink.

Did you install the heatsink, and if so did it come with the thermal interface pad ?

If it's the stock heatsink then I would think it came with the little pad and that has probably gotten to the point of not being able to effectively transfer the heat away from your cpu.

I would suggest removing the heatsink and applying a light coating of thermal compound(such as artic silver), making sure the heatsink is nice and clean before hand.

Then reattach your heatsink making sure it is orientated correctly and then see if it makes any difference to your temps.

do exactly what he said. must likely the heatsink wasn't put on right

 

[jepatbentley]

If your temp dropped a few degrees just by opening your case it is highly possible that you don't have enough of an airflow going through you case. Make sure you wires are clean and you really should have at least a front fan AND a back fan. Side and top fans don't hurt anything either.