[RESOLVED] AMD X2 5000 CPU overheating

[safai]

Hi

I have a PC built around an ASUS M3A mobo and an AMD X2 5000 CPU. Recently (after one year of use) I'm facing the following problem:

From the moment I turn on the PC, the CPU temperature gradually rises until the PC turns itself off (final temperature is around 110 degress Celcius within 5 minutes).

It makes no difference when I'm inside BIOS or inside windows. I have used both BIOS and Everst/Coretemp temperature monitoring which show the same temperature rise.

These are my observation and some things I've already tried:
- change of the thermal paste had no effect
- CPU fan speed is around 3200 rpm almost all the time which seems to be OK I suppose.
- changing thermal related settings in the BIOS like 'cool and quite' etc has no effect
- Vcore is set to AUTO and is reported to be around 1.3 volts which seems to be standard for this CPU

Any idea where this problem comes from? CPU, mainboard or something else?

I appreciate your help
SAFAI

[SuperSparks]

How much thermal paste did you apply? It wants to be a very thin layer indeed, less than a sheet of paper.

[Midknyte]

Sounds like the heatsink isn't mounted properly. Make sure it is flush against the top of the CPU. When you remove the heatsink, you should see a perfect imprint of the thermal paste on the bottom.

What make/model heatsink/fan are you running? Did you clean it out with compressed air?

[safai]

SuperSparks and Midknyte
Thanks for your replies.

- the heatsink and fan are the original I received with the CPU (all inside a box)
- The heatsink is really clean because the PC hasn't been used much. I really didn't see the need for compressed air. But I can give it a try.
- The heatsink seems to be properly seated because the clip mechanism doesn't allow for displacements.
- I have applied the paste a few times. I think it was OK because it had covered all over the CPU. and yes a thin layer, not too much. At least that's what I think.

Is this problem usually related to the heatsink/thermal compound? Do you rule out any problem with the mobo / CPU completely?

Thanks again

[Midknyte]

Don't assume anything. I've seen CPU heatsink brackets break. It's possible that the bracket isn't installed correctly. That's why I said to verify the bottom of the heatsink.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/instructions.htm
Check the the instructions for Arctic Silver 5. That should give you an idea of how much paste to use.

[SuperSparks]

Overvoltage would be about the only motherboard problem that I could think of here, but the Vcore looks fine. It definitely does look like an HSF problem. It really is a puzzler

I think I would be inclined to get another heatsink and try that if it were my rig.

[safai]

Midknyte and SuperSparks

Thanks a lot folks. I really appreciate your help.

It seems both of you are pointing me towards the same direction. OK then. I will inspect the heatsink/bracket, reapply paste according to the instructions and will remount the heatsink. If not solved I will give another heatsink a go too.

But honestly I could never imagine the simplest part of the PC (the heatsink) would cause such big problems! I will keep you posted/

Thanks again

[Train]

Remember paper thin at a maximum with the paste

[safai]

Sure Train.

Thanks

[safai]

Hi everybody,

Yes the problem is finally solved !

As Midknyte had already suggested it was a cooling (heatsink/compound) problem.

I used another kind of 'silver' compound and tried my best to align the heatsink correctly on the CPU, and finally the overheating and shut down problem was gone. Coretemp and Everest now both report around 40 degrees celcius idle temperature which seems to be OK considering I'm using the stock AMD fan.

Thanks you all for the guidance and the inputs.

Kind Regards

[SuperSparks]

Excellent news, I'm glad you got it sorted out

Thanks for posting back and letting us know.