My computer overheats quickly, dont know why, help plz

PFCPerry16

New Member
Hi. I just posted another topic and remembered this....My HP desktop computer's (I'll find the model # in a little while along with the CPU's #) CPU heats up very quickly and kicks the fan on very high speed about 2 minutes after start up.

It's fine during boot up time, but as soon as it starts loading the programs that start automatically, the fan starts spinning very fast to cool the CPU. If I leave it for a minute or two, it will slow down and get quiet again. But If I load firefox or anything, BOOM! High temps....Around 60*C according to CPU Temp Monitor.

Could it be missing thermal paste on it or anything? It has a BIG Fu**ing heat sink on it along with a big brush-less fan to cool it. It's a rental computer from my online school so I can do my homework and stuff, but when I'm working it gets so hot it shuts down. I don't have a laptop or anything I could use, Just this. I'm thinking about taking it to BestBuy's GEEK SQUAD and asking them to see if they can find it.....Sorry this is so long
 
don't take it to geek squad; they overcharge so much.
why not exchange it for another pc if its a rental? if it overheats its the online schools fault, not yours
 
I called them and they said they would check it for free to see if it's missing thermal paste and my school doesn't have another available. They have a shortage, actually....lol
 
They may check it for free, but they'll probably charge $50 or more to put some more on, which HAS to be done if you take the heat sink off.

You can buy Arctic Silver 5 at Radio Shack for like $12 and do it yourself...

Have you checked to see if the heat sink is clogged with dust?
 
yes they said they'd charge $30 to apply it if it needs it and since i've never done it, okay. And i did check the heatsink for dust and it was very clean.
 
But they have to apply it no matter what. If you take off the heat sink, you have to reapply the thermal paste or you'll have bubbles in it, which will make your problem worse.

It's very doubtful that your thermal paste is missing, but it does sometimes dry out after a while. It's very easy to change it, but getting the cooler off after the paste has dried on can be a pain...all you have to do it pour some alcohol on it though.

As far as reapplying, it's simple. Once your computer if off and the power cord unplugged, do the following:

1- Remove the heat sink
2- Wipe the old paste off. Use alcohol to get the residue.
3- Put the cpu in the socket if you've taken it out.
4- Apply a small pea-sized drop of thermal paste onto the CPU.
5- Put the heat sink back on. You're done!
 
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