CPU Temp problems

[Qyratar]

Hello, I have had problems with my CPU Temp the last year or so and now it has gotten to the part that (which I believe) it starts BSOD'ing the computer. I have been playing all sorts of games and it happens from time to time, once in a month was okay but then it got to the point where I could play for 2 hours straight and then get a BSOD, yesterday, I tried to make some short breaks and wait for the temp to go down, which resulted in 5~ hours of gaming, tried today with playing continuously and it BSOD on me after 2~ hours.

I kept Speedfan running in the background to log the temperatures and the last log it registered provided the following temps: GPU - 75C, CPU - 69C. (It had registered the CPU to be idle at 70C for 2 minutes or so and would later go down) So my best guess is that my CPU does not cool itself as it should do. (Currently idle at CPU 45~C and GPU 44~C this is with one side of the case removed)

I have reapplied Thermal Paste before and it did not improve the temps to an extent which I would say satisfactory (5~C or so). Also worth mentioning is that I have the Arctic Freezer 13 with max RPM.
(The Thermal Paste I use is the MX-4, along with some Thermal Material Remover and Thermal Surface Purifier Link: http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm)

So my question is, should I try reapplying the thermal paste again? Followed some tips before on how to apply it but doesn't look like it helped much
should I try getting a new heatsink as this one might be faulty?
Or do you think that I should do something else?

Grateful for any and all answers.
Qyratar

 

[RCoon]

Please give us:

CPU make/model
Motherboard make/model
Cooler make/model

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Yeah, like RCoon requested, can you give us your full system specs. 69'c on the CPU is just starting to get hot.

 

[Qyratar]

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1100T - http://products.amd.com/pages/desktopcpudetail.aspx?id=726
Motherboard: M4A88T-M - http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M4A88TM/
Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 - http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/arctic_cooling_freezer_13/ (Not the same on the pic but the same mark http://www.arctic.ac/eu_en/freezer-13.html)

EDIT: Also, GPU : EVGA gti 660ti SC

 

[Aquinus]

It's possible that the heat sink is defective, but rarely is that the case. How much thermal compound are you using? You're only supposed to use a little bit, a dab the size of a pea-ish, putting too much can make your temps go up.

Additionally, if your case has no airflow it doesn't matter how good the cooler is, recycling warm air will keep temperatures high as well.

 

[Qyratar]

The amount of thermal paste? Around the size of a pea.

I have not considered airflow, but with one side of the case off, should that not at least improve the temp by at least a few C?
(Sorry for noob-ish questions, might as well learn it properly)

 

[RCoon]

Following from this, could you do a little test for me?
Remove your heatsink, put a small pea sized dab of thermal paste on the cpu and mount the cooler normally. Once it's on, immediately take it off and look at both the processor and the heatsink. Check to see both have a nice circular thin spread across both. Look for gaps where the paste hasn't spread evenly, or isn't making contact at all.

Also, check your BIOS settings, ensure you're not blasting 1.5 volts through your processor. Set everything to defaults, like core frequency and boost settings etc.

 

[Aquinus]

Also, check your BIOS settings, ensure you're not blasting 1.5 volts through your processor. Set everything to defaults, like core frequency and boost settings etc.

Ohhh, yeah. This. I got a motherboard from Norton with a 965 BE in it and by default after a BIOS reset, out of the box, the board was shoving 1.5v through the CPU even though running at 1.35v would accomplish the same goal. That alone made that rig run at 60*C when crunching, even with decent airflow.

Just having the side of the case off might help a little but if there isn't any air movement, it probably won't do a whole lot.

This is a question you should be able to answer. When it says the CPU is running at >60*C is the heatsink warm? If it's not, there probably bad contact between the cooler and the CPU. On my rigs, if the CPU is running that toasty, the case it spitting out some pretty warm air.

 

[Qyratar]

Was not 100% sure on what I was looking for but I took two pics. And I changed the AMD Turbo Core Technology to [Disabled] from [Enabled]
http://imgur.com/X8Kj0Tu,mwo8jO2#0

I did not try reapplying new thermal paste as I have had some problems earlier with applying the heatsink on properly (Which has lead to some applying and removing of heatsinks)

EDIT: Will however do it if/when all other options are exhausted.

 

[Hood]

I agree with RCoon, the cooler isn't seating properly. I also recall a thread about these same coolers having a problem with the mounting brackets, causing bad contact with the heat spreader. I would perform the suggested test, check the TIM pattern, and carefully inspect the cooler. I would just replace the cooler with a CM Hyper 212 Evo, a proven $35 solution that has no problems with the mount.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Was not 100% sure on what I was looking for but I took two pics. And I changed the AMD Turbo Core Technology to [Disabled] from [Enabled]
http://imgur.com/X8Kj0Tu,mwo8jO2#0

I did not try reapplying new thermal paste as I have had some problems earlier with applying the heatsink on properly (Which has lead to some applying and removing of heatsinks)

EDIT: Will however do it if/when all other options are exhausted.

Damn, 64'c in BIOs with only 1.31 volts. I highly recommend following RCoon's advice and make sure the heatsink is seating properly with the CPU.

 

[Qyratar]

Tried with touching the heatsink with my fingertips at 60 C, the heatsink is warm but the air it spits out is pretty much a little bit warmer than my fingers are.

If you still think I should test the heatsink now I will do it, also if it does not form a proper circle, what should I do?

 

[RCoon]

also if it does not form a proper circle, what should I do?

Ideally it should create a circle-ish or just cover the entire processor with a little overlap. Trust me, you'll know if something isn't right. It either will create the most uneven circle you've ever seen in your life, or there will be massive thick patches on the heat sink and missing patches on the CPU or vice versa. Take a picture of both when you've done it so we can see for ourselves.

I could be entirely wrong, it might be something else, like a faulty IHS on the CPU/dodgy solder. It just smells like bad contact to me, especially if it's 60 degrees in BIOS.

It also could be your mounting brackets aren't snug against your board or are bending too much when the board is sideways on (so the cooler is bending downwards and losing contact). Check the brackets you strap the heatsink to aren't loose. Hell, you could try running the PC sideways so the motherboard is horizontal!

 

[Qyratar]

Ok, Off to do some Thermal paste appliance, will post pics in a couple of minutes.

 

[Qyratar]

Without further ado, I present to thee. The pictures who will stun the world!

http://imgur.com/qdLrGS6,flblJb4,04...jN,n64ST3j,6QlTxKT,Gip8r8g,YJ1xkwQ,jLW0b0e#10

Failed to apply once, sorry for taking such long time lol (couple of minutes, hours more likely)

 

[FR@NK]

Without further ado, I present to thee. The pictures who will stun the world!

http://imgur.com/qdLrGS6,flblJb4,04...jN,n64ST3j,6QlTxKT,Gip8r8g,YJ1xkwQ,jLW0b0e#10

Failed to apply once, sorry for taking such long time lol (couple of minutes, hours more likely)

Way too much TIM as far as i can tell.

 

[Qyratar]

Again, sorry for the noobish questions but what's TIM?

 

[R-T-B]

Thermal paste. You only need a little bit, that's a lot. I'd do about 2 grains of rice worth in mass, assuming a modern quad-core or such.

 

[Qyratar]

Out of curiosity, What does TIM stand for?

So, you mean this size? http://imgur.com/J5Hy9dz

 

[Ed_1]

A few things looking at those pics , looks like there no rear exhaust fan, is there one in top of case ?
Maybe give case model and how many fans and where .

Looks like you have tiny bit to much in that pic, HS side, the CPU heat spreader looks thick in center, try little less paste .

Make sure you clean that HS od dust while you have it off (and anywhere else in case so airflow passes through ok .

 

[Ed_1]

Out of curiosity, What does TIM stand for?

So, you mean this size? http://imgur.com/J5Hy9dz

As long as it spreads out well when mounted, yes .

Your going to have to test it as HS and CPU top may not be flat , so no one can tell till you try it .

 

[Qyratar]

I actually do not have a rear exhaust fan, it's something which I am always planning on buying but always forget to buy.

 

[Ed_1]

I actually do not have a rear exhaust fan, it's something which I am always planning on buying but always forget to buy.

Since this HS is mounted in the vertical , your pulling air from top of vid card area , if airflow is not good, then the incoming air to HS will be high while gaming .

Does case have top vents for fans too, that would be better for you with that HS, most other HS airflow are front to back, so rear fan would be better there .
I take it you only have front intake fan, where is PS mounted ?

 

[Qyratar]

With the new thermal paste the CPU is idling at 32~C, I thank you for all the answers solving my problem! It's appreciated!

And this is such an old case so the PSU is mounted in the top and I have only one exhaust fan which is directly underneath that PSU / right beside the CPU, I will purchase a fan to push out the air there and hope that it improves my temp with some additional degrees.

 

[Aquinus]

Out of curiosity, What does TIM stand for?

TIM: Thermal interface material.
In your case it's the thermal paste you're using. TIM is a generic term that encompasses many different materials used to assist in the transfer of heat between mediums.

Good to hear that it's all set. So you probably put too much on?