Possible Overheating Problem

Zakkwyld

New Member
Hi, this is my first post here on the forums. Before I go any further, i'll list my specs:

Mobo: Biotek T-Series
Processor: AMD Phenom 9750 Quad-Core 2.4ghz
GPU: Nvidia GeForce 260 GTX MaxCore OC (I didn't actually over-clock it yet).
Case: NZXT Apollo

Now the problem I'm having is that the processor temperature hovers around 51 degrees celcius at all times, and recently with GTA IV it's been as high as 70. Now, if you look up the max temperature for the processor, it's 61, so this is a problem. Ever since I installed the GPU I've been having this problem.

When I restart the computer after playing GTA IV, the bios/charts while booting says it's at 43 or lower. How is this possible? To my understanding, the CPU cannot drop that low in temperature that quickly. Is something wrong with my Speedfan (CPU Temperature Monitoring program). Is something throwing it off?
 
It sounds like your cooler isn't working properly. Does the fan on the heatsink work?
Aftermarket coolers are always better than stock coolers, AMD or Intel.

Does your case have good airflow? more intake than outtake is better.
Intake fans at front, outtake fans at back or top of case.

Your GPU could also be directing hot air towards your cpu. if you can, move your GPU into i different slot.
 
He's been having the problem ever since he installed the GPU, so I don't think the CPU cooler is a problem. What are the temps on your GPU? The card could be getting too hot, and if your airflow isn't up to par, all that hot air coming off the top of your video card would be heading straight towards your CPU cooler. Download EVGA Precision and check your GPU temps when you play GTA4, maybe ramp up the GPU fan a bit. Can you post pics of your fan configuration?
 
I already have EVGA Precision, fan speed is already set to 100, on GTA it'll still run up to 85+

My airflow is as good as it's gonna get, I have a fan in front(intake), side (intake), and back (outtake). There is no other spot for me to move my GPU, there is a vga cooler above it that is supposed to cool it down, hasn't done anything productive yet. The airflow in my case is lacking, but i'm not sure on how to correct it.

All my fans/cooling items are functional. But referring to my first post, my CPU isn't actually that hot, right? I'm getting ready for work, I'll post pics tomorrow.
 
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Obviously you can see the GPU cooler, the processor fan, the GPU, and the side fan(intake). What you don't see is the 120mm outtake fan in the back, and the 80mm intake fan in the front.

P.S. I know, the cables are a mess, I'm still working on a permanent solution to that issue.
 

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Well, your idle temps aren't too bad, meaning you don't have a bad cooling problem (as in heatsink problems). The problem is that you can't exhaust all of the heat that a max load generates when gaming. Try working on your cable management, it should help to get much better airflow and thus keep the temps more stable. If that doesn't help at all, I would try making the side fan an exhaust. It would help to give a single direction of airflow. Since the front intake fan is so isolated behind all the front bays, you have a strong current going straight from the side intake fan to the top exhaust fan, passing over the hot video card and straight across the CPU cooler.

You say the front intake fan is 80mm? Is there an option to replace it with a 120mm? That seems rather small for a front intake fan.
 
I just checked the pic again, is that video card cooler the Thermaltake model? I'm pretty sure that's an intake fan, and that could also be screwing up your airflow. Look into getting something like the Antec Cyclone or Super Cyclone, as they are exhaust slot fans.

And again, you CPU idle temps aren't bad but your airflow has a little room for improvement so the temps could improve too. What are the idle temps on your GPU?
 
I'm not sure what the model is, all I know is it's from BestBuy and it's crap. I was thinking about making the side fan an exhaust, but I'm not sure if that will help. My CPU idle is 51, which is 10 degrees higher than an AMD cpu should be running at. I am still thinking the GPU is pushing too much hot air up to the CPU.
 
Yeah, I think that slot fan that you have is an intake fan. You can always get a slip of paper and put it at the vent to see which direction the air is blowing. Again I would just try making the side fan an exhaust fan, and clean up some of the cables. Is there an option to make the front fan a 120mm fan? I would just do two things as of now.

1. Check the direction of flow on the slot fan. If it's exhaust keep it, if it's an intake fan get rid of it.
2. I would secondly make the side fan an exhaust fan and see if that helps your temps.
 
Yeah, I can get a 120mm fan for the front, plan on it next pay. As for the side becoming an exhaust, that might work, i'll have to try it. I also might as well throw out the GPU cooler, as it does basically nothing.
 
So no particular change from wire clean-up and fan switching. Soon i'll take a trip out to BB and grab another 120mm fan for the front intake.
 
Could it by any chance be crappily applied thermal paste on the GPU? I've had that on one my graphics cards before. putting new paste on really helped.
 
So no particular change from wire clean-up and fan switching. Soon i'll take a trip out to BB and grab another 120mm fan for the front intake.

Unless it's on sale, best buy would rape you. Go to Fry's if you need instant satisfaction, or just buy it online. Last week fry's had a sale on apevia 120's, 2.99 each.
 
I really don't mind the small difference in price considering I'm not in the mood to wait for computer parts, and there are either no "Fry's" around me, it's not a familiar name. I can't figure it out, I think I just need a new heatsink.

Update: According to speedfan
GPU: 50C
Temp1: 44C (I'm pretty sure this is my first core)
Temp2:385C
Temp3:32C
Core: 31C

Fresh startup heats. Still too high, according to an AMD forum, the processor should be idling at 41C, not 51 as it normally does, which means it also shouldn't be starting at 44C.
 
I SAY THIS A MILLION TIMES TO PEOPLE, why do you have fans on the sides of a machine? It NEVER helps! Airflow is simple and straight forward, intake from the front and exhale from the front!, nothing fancy! Side fans disrupt airflow, oh yeah make sure your cpu fan BLOWS ON the cpu. And you should also use no software to increase fan speed, it creates turbulence and disturbs airflow.
 
I was thinking of removing the sidefan, might have to anyway. As for the fanspeed, i just use it to tell me the temperatures. I'm still thinking i'll have to either re-seat the heatsink or buy a new one. Because the processor keeps idling and starting too hot. UGH more money down the drain. ((I took the side fan off, used it as a front intake, to no avail.))
 
If you can't get the temps below that from resetting the heatsink then I wouldn't worry. 50C is a great idle temp for that card. Of course it could be lower but 50C is well within tolerance of the card. Chips like that are made to tolerate temps up to 95C. Same with your CPU temp, if you can't get it down I wouldn't worry but it couldn't hurt to try.
 
Well, I'm mainly worried that the heat will do damage to the cpu/gpu. The cpu's max temp is 61 it gets really close to that sometimes, and I'm not really too worried about the gpu as of now, but I'd like to overclock it eventually. It has so much more potential.
 
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