My cpu is running too hot, plz help

**blinky** · July 11th, 2002, 11:52 PM

I posted a message a while back about how my cpu was overheating due to my OEM cooler and EVERYONE said I should get a Volcano 7+. I took their advice and got a Volcano 7+ but after installing it I checked the temperature of the cpu and it was at 75C!!!! I'm only using a 1.2 ghz AMD T-bird so I don't know how it could possible be running this hot. I'm not overclocking it or anything in fact, I even have the case open so it's getting plenty of circulation. Their is nothing covering or blocking the Volcano's fan and I have it set on the high setting. I'm sure I've installed the fan correctly I had a friend come over and help me and he assured me everything was installed and set-up fine. I used Arctic Allumina thermal grease so that shouldn't be a problem. I thought that maybe the program that showed me how hot the processor is was messed up so I got another one and it said the same thing. I have a Giga-byte GA-7VRXP motherboard if that matters. If anyone has any idea on why my cpu is running so hot with that fan please give me some input on what I can do to fix it. Thanks.

**OuTpaTienT** · July 12th, 2002, 12:10 AM

Reboot and jump into the bios settings and check the temp there (assuming it shows it). That should be your most accurate reading.

**Kuasimodem** · July 12th, 2002, 12:15 AM

Did you follow the directions for applying the thermal compound? A verrrrrry thin layer of Arctic Alumina is all that's required, too much is just as bad as none.

Is the heatsink sitting flat on the processor and making good contact? The Volcano 7+ has a notched base, and the notch has to be over the part of the socket that sticks out from under the CPU.

Also, what is your case temperature, and ambient room temperature? If the case is running super warm, the processor won't be cooled very well.

**blinky** · July 12th, 2002, 12:25 AM

I checked the temperature in the bios and it was at 74C and my system is running at 37C. I tried removing the current thermal compound and applied a new one as thin as I could (It's not transparant but it's a very thin layer.) This is really puzzling me I dont see why the temperatures would be so high. Another weird thing, when I open my Hardware monitoring program in windows it gives me the message that my C:\ is out of space, even though I have 100 gb available. I don't know if that means anything or if it's just some weird error in the software.

**ragtop** · July 12th, 2002, 12:41 AM

Do you have any stability problems with the system?? Did you make sure there are no flaws or dirt on the surface of the CPU or HSF?? If the system is stable, and you've re-checked everything, I would suspect a bad thermal sensor on the MB.

**appleman** · July 12th, 2002, 12:49 AM

Are you sure that temp reading is correct? The sensor might be dead. Open up your case while your computer is nice and heated up and touch your heat sink. At that temp it should be very warm. But if it is ice cold then your are getting no transfer of the heat, or your temp reading is way off.

I would check your voltage and make sure it is correct. If you have it set to auto I would set it manually and see what happens.

I just now converted it and thats 167F! I really dont think your computer would be running very well if at all at that temp...

**OuTpaTienT** · July 12th, 2002, 01:04 AM

Yeah, I was just about to say, that temp would be more than warm to the touch...it would be hot and you wouldn't be able to touch it for long.

**blinky** · July 12th, 2002, 01:36 AM

I already had the case open so I reached my hand down there and felt the heatsink and it was hot but not anywhere near 82C. (I just got done playing some CS so the temp went up.) I could leave my finger on there and it didn't burn me or anything. I felt all around the heatsink and fan and it was still at a reasonable temperature. Maybe my temperature sensor is broken but why would it say that it's running at 82C? Wouldn't it give me an error or just say the sensor is broken? Even so I'm glad it's not as hot as the sensor said it was. I just wish there was some way I could be sure what the temperature was.

**Etruscan** · July 12th, 2002, 02:52 AM

You might consider returning the board to have the reseller replace or repair it. The stat is pretty important. What have you got your safety cut-off set at, by the way. I didn't think they went up to 80 degrees. I keep mine set at 60 degrees.

**blinky** · July 12th, 2002, 03:21 AM

Well here's an interesting turn of events, I decided that I should try putting my old OEM fan/heatsink in to see what it rates that as and to my surprise after booting up it said the temperature was 65C. This makes no sense at all to me, I expected the Volcano 7+ to be in the 40's and it's in the 80's and my OEM heatsink/fan is getting in the 60's. I noticed that the Volcano 7+ didn't feel like it was at 80C but when I touched the processor it was scorching hot, so maybe there is something wrong with the Volcano 7+ it's not drawing the heat or something?? I really don't know this is all too weird for me. All I wanted was for my cpu to run at a decent temperature. Thanks for all the help and input you guys have given me thus far.

**OuTpaTienT** · July 12th, 2002, 03:36 AM

Sounds to me like the Volcano wasn't getting the correct contact between the core of the CPU and the bottom of the heatsink.

**blinky** · July 12th, 2002, 04:59 AM

Yea I was thinking that too, but whenever I pulled the Volcano 7+ off I could see the outline of the cpu core on the bottom of the heatsink in thermal grease. So I don't really know what to think.

**John C. Dechon** · July 12th, 2002, 05:21 AM

I can't say anything about the Volcano because I couldn't afford a more expensive HSF at the time I got mine: I'm running an AMD 1GHz T-Bird/266 with an $8.00 "AMD-Approved" CoolerMaster DP5-6i31c HSF and temps are on the low side...I'm quite pleased. I used Arctic Silver II for my thermal compound.

My large case is probably a big factor in getting lower temps: I have a full-tower Antec case and three 80mm case fans (two 80mm at the top rear blowing out), two 40mm fans for my Ultimate Hard Drive Cooler (sucking in air from the front as is the 80mm at the bottom front) plus the CoolerMaster CPU HSF and PS fans of course...case temps are low, too. I think they tend to be lower in a larger case.

But if your case were running hot due to a cooling problem, then I doubt you'd be getting BETTER results (lower temps) with your old HSF. I would agree with Kuasimodem that perhaps the Volcano isn't making solid contact with the CPU, but if it IS as you say, the HIGHER temps with the Volcano is indeed a real mystery.

I'd BE SURE that the Volcano is not touching the ZIF socket or anything else and the clip holding it down is secure...be careful not to press too hard to damage the CPU though.

Good luck,

John D.