CPU question

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:56 am

In this thread:
http://www.pcabusers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=49926

I mentioned an issue with the motherboard. While diagnosing the pc, I noticed that the CPU would get quite hot while running for only a few minutes. The fan was full on and would not throttle back.

I got a new MSI mobo as a test bed, and put in that CPU to test it. It works so the CPU is still good, but I noticed while in the BIOS screen - pc health - the CPU temps were over 60°C with the system on for only 2 minutes.

I shut it down and replaced the CPU with another one I had which was the exact replacement, and noticed that the temps were only 49°C after 2 minutes. So my question is: do you think that the first CPU is toast?

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:52 am

It is awfully close to it's max temp.. That's strange.. Are you sure you had it greased well?

eGo

Err · Post by **Err** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:01 am

It sounds like it's either a heatsink or a clocking issue. Make sure the multilplier is set correctly.

Another possibility is that the heat spreader on the CPU has detached itself from the core.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:08 am

All it takes is a small void in the heat sink compound.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 12:06 pm

I tried it twice with the same results. This CPU was in the bad motherboard that had the CPU fan run on max, and the huge heatsink was hotter than normal. The heatsink on this Dell was quite large. I know there are no gaps because I move the heatsink back and forth slightly before its clamped down with the holding screws

Err · Post by **Err** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 1:19 pm

Does the processor happen to be a Prescott core Pentium 4? If so, these suckers are notorious for running hot. I had one once. I think the thing would idle in the lower 50 C region with the stock heatsink. I installed a Thermalright XP-90 to rein in the temps. It was a decent processor otherwise.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 1:30 pm

Err wrote:Does the processor happen to be a Prescott core Pentium 4? If so, these suckers are notorious for running hot. I had one once. I think the thing would idle in the lower 50 C region with the stock heatsink. I installed a Thermalright XP-90 to rein in the temps. It was a decent processor otherwise.

Yep, a Prescott core. I'm using a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7LP heat sink and fan that is brand new. It has only 2 heat pipes, but the price was cheap. Its not as large as the heat sink on that Dell desktop though. It should not idle at 60°C+. Since these are not worth much anymore, I'm probably going to toss it.

GuardianAsher · Post by **GuardianAsher** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:12 pm

My home server is running a Prescott 3.0 with HT, and it idles around 48C with the stock heatsink, with what I imagine is the stock thermal compound from the factory. But I've never seen it go past 60C under load. I've been recently tempted to swap it out with a Celeron since it doesn't really need much processing power to begin with. These suckers run hot