Need help to find new heatsink and fan

[jlphardy]

I'm pretty computer illiterate, and I'm sure this is all very obvious to many, but I don't know how to choose a new fan, as in, what fits in there? I know my board is an Intel D945PSN and the processor is a pentium d 2.8 GHz, I don't know a model number or anything for it. Came as a package straight from Intel, it had been running fine for quite awhile, which surprisingly enough I was able to build the computer just fine, but recently it has been overheating whenever asked to do too much, like running certain games. So I figure perhaps it needs something better? But I'm very confused as to what fan to get, could someone point me in the direction of what I should get, like on newegg.com or something?

[etnietering]

Pentium D's are socket 775, so anything compatible with socket 775 would work. Pentium D's do tend to run really hot (i have one too), so you should get something fairly high powered if you want to keep it cool. Here is one that looks simple to install and is very low cost: Newegg.com - Rosewill RCX-Z775-LX 92mm Ball CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks and the reviews are generally pretty good for it. other companies that make good coolers are Arctic Cooling, Zalman, Thermalright, and Zerotherm.

Here's something else that could be a problem. You said you are fairly computer illiterate, and you built your own system. Did you provide adequate exhaust airflow out the back of the case? You might consider getting a more powerful exhaust fan for the rear of the case - this would be less expensive and less of a bother to do. The fan on the processor may be working fine, but if the heat it generates can't get out of the case, it's cooling ability decreases. Here is a good article about case cooling: Computer Cooling Guide - Xoxide Resource Center

Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.


Edit:
The problem could also be as simple as dust build up. Take the side off of your case and look to see if everything is really dusty. If it is, get yourself some canned air and blow it out. I have worked on computers where a simple cleaning like this works wonders.

[jlphardy]

Thank you for your help, I bought that fan and received and installed it yesterday, and it is running much cooler, no overheating. It's also even quieter, which is surprising given the size of it when I got it out of the box! Also thanks for your other suggestions, it's very possible the exhaust fan is not powerful enough, but we'll see how it goes with the new fan. As far as dust goes, I have two cats and dust/cat hair build up gets bad very quickly in there so I do try to clean it out regularly, but perhaps not often enough!

I plan on building a new computer this year and I will start with replacing the stock fan with something better the next time around. Thanks again for the guidance.