[Solved] CPU or heatsink problem?

[tixsao]

Hi,

 

 

I have a self build PC which is now just over 2 years old.

 

 

About a week ago it switched itself off while i was gaming. This started to happen more and more often since, and now the PC wont stay on for more than 10 mins.

 

 

After a bit of research i am pretty sure its the CPU overheating. I installed some temp monitoring software and under load the temp is hitting 99 degrees. In the BIOS its showing as 98 degrees. The lowest i have seen it go in 2 days is 55 degrees.

 

 

I have an i5-750 and am using the stock heatsink and fan. I took off the heatsink, cleaned the dust off which has made no difference.

 

 

I am not sure how you tell which one of the two is the problem, CPU or heatsink.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

If you removed the heatsink, you must clean off the old thermal paste and replace it with new paste, if you didn't do that then that is the main reason for the overheating, which is of course why it is shutting down.

I doubt anything will be wrong with the heatsink itself as it has been OK up till now, so a replacement of paste should see a great improvement.

There is though a slight possibility that the first time of overheating or even since, may have damaged the CPU, but do try the paste replacement first.

 

Nev.

[tixsao]

Thanks i will give it a go.

 

The original problem lasted a few days before i tried removing the heatsink though so not sure thats the original cause

[tixsao]

Turns out it must have been the thermal paste, installed a new heatsink and now temps are not getting much above 70 degrees even under heavy load.

 

 

I presume it degraded over a couple of years

 

 

Thanks for your help all

[KenB]

Just found this - many thanks for your feedback.

 

Good to hear that you managed to fix your overheating problem with Nev's advice :)