Issues with overheating

[Lorien42]

Hey,

So to start with my pc specs:

HP 0AA0h
Intel Core QuadCPU Q9450 @2.66GHz
4gb ram
Msi Geforce GTX 750 ti
500w psu

I used to have an nvidia quadro fx1700 which was barely able to run anything, I could play CS:GO or Heroes of the Storm but at the absolute lowest graphics, but there were no problems with overheating.

Now I borrowed the aforementioned GTX from a friend to test it, and while I can run the games I used to play with ease, the system overheats(70-75c +-) and forces the computer to shutdown/restart after about 1-4 hours. It seems that the more straining the game is, the faster the restart. Oh and I should probably add that it's not an "instant" restart, rather it's like shutting down manually, where the programs start closing one-by-one.

What's your take on this? Thanks alot in advance.

 

[P4-630]

Did you clean out the dust bunnies of that GTX750Ti and your PC?
Made sure all fans are spinning?

What PSU brand/model is it that you have and for how long did you had it?

75 degrees is quite warm but shouldn't cause a shutdown.
And is this 75 degrees for the CPU or GPU?

I suspect the PSU could be the cause.

 

[MIG 29]

I agree , what is the make and model of power supply.

 

[alucasa]

Temp wise, you got no issue. It's something else, likely power supply or something else overheating.

 

[arbiter]

70-75c for cpu and gpu is nothing both shouldn't shut down the machine. intel cpu's can go up to 100c or so and nvidia gpu's can go up to 95c, though you don't want to get that high but 70c should be just fine, as other 2 posted i would have a look at psu since its an HP its probably some very cheap model if its the OEM one.

 

[Jetster]

Typical, l not enough information

 

[alucasa]

In OEM machines, PSU is generally the first one to call quits. Next ones in queue are motherboard capacitors.

 

[Lorien42]

I did clean it, and I checked the fans after a restart and they seemed fine, albeit a bit on the warm side. I'm using speedfan for the temps, and mainly the "cores" are the one reaching the temp, which I'm guessing is the cpu.

http://imgur.com/KBvNfbJ An image of the psu.


Cheers

 

[P4-630]

Your CPU temps are a little warm but it's not an issue and it's not the cause of the system shutting down.

Can you borrow a PSU to test from your friend?

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I did clean it, and I checked the fans after a restart and they seemed fine, albeit a bit on the warm side. I'm using speedfan for the temps, and mainly the "cores" are the one reaching the temp, which I'm guessing is the cpu.

http://imgur.com/KBvNfbJ An image of the psu.


Cheers

your not over heating, the PSU doesn't have enough power for that system would be my guess. 240 watts from a cheap and old (I'm assuming the PSU is old considering the CPU) for a C2Q Q9450 with a GTX 750 ti is not enough juice IMHO.

EDIT: mis-read the PSU label. But I'd still think it's an issue with the PSU not being adequate either because of exaggerated stats or age.

 

[Lorien42]

Your CPU temps are a little warm but it's not an issue and it's not the cause of the system shutting down.

Can you borrow a PSU to test from your friend?

I had a 475w previously, and when I replaced the gpu I also replaced that with the aforementioned 500w one. Will switch them out and post results.

 

[MIG 29]

With the very low quality of the PSU , good chance that is the culprit. Also check the power supply voltages with HWINFO.

 

[Caring1]

Tcase for that Processor is 71.4c, so it could be a thermal protection shutdown.
If it is the stock cooler, clean it up and replace the thermal paste.

 

[Bill_Bright]

75°C for that specific Intel CPU is too hot!

As Caring1 correctly noted and as easily verified here, the Tcase limit for that CPU is 71.4°C. So if you are hitting 75°C, then clearly your temps have crossed the threshold and that could be the cause of this problem.

Note it only takes a few clock cycles for a CPU to go from cool to over-heated. And that CPU is running at 2.66 billion clock cycles every second. It only takes a few clock cycles to cool back down below the threshold once the load is removed as well. So that could easily explain why it simply reboots.

If overclocking, reset all your clocks until this problem is resolved.

Note too, it is the case's responsibility to provide a sufficient supply of cool air flowing through the case. The CPU's cooler needs to just toss the CPU's heat into that flow. If the cured bond of the TIM (thermal interface material) between the heatsink and CPU is not broken, I am not a fan of replacing the TIM. TIM does not go bad or wear out just because it is 5 or 10 years or even old - AS LONG AS the cured bond it not broken. Even if it dries out, the solids left behind are still fulfilling the task of filling the microscopic pits and valleys in the mating surfaces to prevent insulating air from getting in between. The risks of ESD destruction or pin/contact damage from mishandling are too great for the returns, IMO - especially considering this is a new problem. You typically only get 4 - 5°C improvement with a fresh application of TIM and if you "need" just 4 - 5° to prevent triggering thermal protection, then you have other cooling issues to address first.

That graphics card only pulls 60W so your 500W supply with 240 and 264W capabilities on the +12V rails is plenty - IF the supply is working properly. Since everything else depends on good, clean and stable power, I agree with the others who recommend swapping in a known good PSU to see what happens.

Also, while having only 4GB would not be a cause for sudden shutdowns and reboots, failing RAM could be. If your 4GB comes from 2 sticks, you might try running with one stick at a time and see what happens. If only 1 x 4GB installed, you can test with MemTest86. Allow the diagnostics to run for several passes or even overnight. You should have no reported errors - not even 1. And once this problem is resolved, I would consider bumping up your installed RAM to 8GB - assuming you are running with 64-bit Windows.

Last, if pulling RAM or replacing the TIM, ensure you shutdown the computer, unplug the supply from the wall and touch bare metal of the case interior BEFORE reaching in or touching the RAM to discharge any static in body that may destroy ESD sensitive devices (like CPUs, RAM modules, and other high-density ICs).

 

[MIG 29]

Must be heat , most pre-builts have very poor Airflow.

 

[eidairaman1]

Replace the thermal compound on the cpu, or get a better cpu cooler

 

[Jetster]

What are you measuring the temp with? And during what? A benchmark, stress test or running a game. If so which Game?
What does the event log say?
What your ambient temps?

 

[Lorien42]

I'm using Speedfan for the temps. The cpu is at 45-55 while idling/surfing. The gpu is sitting at 30-40 tops even if I'm playing.

I changed into the other psu which is 475w and managed to play a good few hours of Heroes of the Storms and later on Diablo 3, the cpu was again hitting 75+- but there were no restarts for a lot of time, a new record.

So my guess is that either both psu's are old and/or bad or the cpu can't cool itself anymore, even though its state is the same as always. Problem is, before I changed into the new gpu(GTX750ti) there were no problems at all, I could still play HotS and Diablo, albeit in low settings.

My question is, how come this issue started happening now when it should've happened before, where the pc was straining alot more due to the way-too-old gpu trying to run games?

 

[alucasa]

Ya know, a nice photo of your PC's interior would be nice.

 

[slozomby]

Ya know, a nice photo of your PC's interior would be nice.

+1

 

[Toothless]

It's almost like the CPU was being bottlenecked by the old GPU but is now actually getting used by the new GPU , hmm...

Time for repaste?

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Run with side panel off and a small room or box fan directed at the CPU heatsink. If that works out fine, get a better heatsink and you can replace the thermal paste installing that.

 

[arbiter]

As Caring1 correctly noted and as easily verified here, the Tcase limit for that CPU is 71.4°C. So if you are hitting 75°C, then clearly your temps have crossed the threshold and that could be the cause of this problem.

Might want to read that little closer as that is Air temp INSIDE the case not what the cpu can hit.

"Case Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS)."

 

[eidairaman1]

Run with side panel off and a small room or box fan directed at the CPU heatsink. If that works out fine, get a better heatsink and you can replace the thermal paste installing that.

Yup-stop trying to make due with bare minimum. Im using an Ashura for overclocking and its stable under gaming.

 

[rtwjunkie]

As @Caring1 and @Bill_Bright correctly point out, that 75 C is too high for that CPU. It needs a better heatsink and better airflow in general.

I am a one-time owner of one of those, and can attest that the Q9450 is a warm-running CPU anyway, even at idle, as the OP's idle temps show. It is a very difficult CPU to keep cool. Overclocking on t because of that was a major challenge.