Can heatsink/fan cause CPU/Motherboard failure?

[Joe Befumo]

I had three no-name machines, each with Athlon XP CPU, no overclocking or
anything, that were all experiencing heat problems (shutting down
unexpectedly.). Actually, I first thought it might be power supply, so I
replaced it with a good unit, but the problem persisted, so, I went out and
bought big thermaltake heatsink/fan combos for two of them. Installed them
as per instructions, used thermal grease, etc. That seemed to take care of
the heat problem, but after a month or so, one of them just died. Power
would come on, I could hear the drives spinning up, but no BIOS, no Video --
nothing.

So, I moved all my drives, new power supply & such to the second machine &
experienced the same problem -- almost. This time it would boot if I didn't
have the network card plugged in to the network, but as soon as I connected
the network cable, it wouldn't boot again. I tried swapping out various
components, but nothing worked.

So, I figured I'd at least use one of those spanking new cooling fans/heat
sinks, and installed it in the third machine, which was also having heat
problems. It worked fine for a month or so, but this morning, IT died
too -- same deal as the others.

So, at this point the only thing I'm sure of is that the motherboard and/or
the CPU is dead. (I moved all of my peripheral cards, disk drives & power
supply into an old Dell 450, and haven't had any problems.

I figure I'll buy a new motherboard for one of them & see what happens. If
it still won'r run, I'll conclude that it's the CPU & will try replacing
that (getting to be an expensive way to diagnose it, but I can;t think of
anything else to do.

So, the question is: could installing those Heat-Sink/Fans have caused the
problem? If so, is it more likely to have blown the motherboard in some
manner, or the CPU (i.e., which should I try replacing first)?

Thanks,

Joe

 

[Htnakirs]

How is the quality of power over there? Do you use an UPS?

You haven't mentioned about temperatures. Did you check the BIOS for
CPU temperatures?

Improper heatsink installation could cause heat problems. Cooling
depends entirely on the contact area between the CPU and the heatsink.
If the heatsink is placed at an angle, reducing the contact area,
improper cooling could result.

 

[Joe Befumo]

Yeah, I'm running through an APC UPS. I'm pretty sure the heat sinks were
making good contact, but at this point, I'm certainly prepared to entertain
the possibility of having screwed up. I've done this (built PCs) before,
however, and would be amazed if I screwed them up not once, not twice, but
three times. That's what's got me so totally baffled -- that the same thing
has happened to three machines.

Joe

 

[Joe Befumo]

also --

The situation with the one machine not booting when the network is connected
seems pretty bizarre.

Maybe the cases are cursed ;^)

 

[Chris Hill]

I had three no-name machines, each with Athlon XP CPU, no overclocking or
anything, that were all experiencing heat problems (shutting down
unexpectedly.). Actually, I first thought it might be power supply, so I
replaced it with a good unit, but the problem persisted, so, I went out and
bought big thermaltake heatsink/fan combos for two of them. Installed them
as per instructions, used thermal grease, etc. That seemed to take care of
the heat problem, but after a month or so, one of them just died. Power
would come on, I could hear the drives spinning up, but no BIOS, no Video --
nothing.

So, I moved all my drives, new power supply & such to the second machine &
experienced the same problem -- almost. This time it would boot if I didn't
have the network card plugged in to the network, but as soon as I connected
the network cable, it wouldn't boot again. I tried swapping out various
components, but nothing worked.

So, I figured I'd at least use one of those spanking new cooling fans/heat
sinks, and installed it in the third machine, which was also having heat
problems. It worked fine for a month or so, but this morning, IT died
too -- same deal as the others.

So, at this point the only thing I'm sure of is that the motherboard and/or
the CPU is dead. (I moved all of my peripheral cards, disk drives & power
supply into an old Dell 450, and haven't had any problems.

I figure I'll buy a new motherboard for one of them & see what happens. If
it still won'r run, I'll conclude that it's the CPU & will try replacing
that (getting to be an expensive way to diagnose it, but I can;t think of
anything else to do.

So, the question is: could installing those Heat-Sink/Fans have caused the
problem? If so, is it more likely to have blown the motherboard in some
manner, or the CPU (i.e., which should I try replacing first)?

Name the power supplies. Sounds like they could be crap. Same
mainboards? These could also be crap. I don't think the hs/fans had
anything to do with it, unless your case temps were way too high
causing parts failures.

 

[nos1eep]

On Sun, 30 Jul 2006 12:02:49 -0400, in alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt

|also --
|
|The situation with the one machine not booting when the network is connected
|seems pretty bizarre.
|
|Maybe the cases are cursed ;^)
|
Is the possessed machine set to boot from a network device in BIOS?

 

[Rod Speed]

Yeah, I'm running through an APC UPS. I'm pretty sure the heat sinks
were making good contact, but at this point, I'm certainly prepared
to entertain the possibility of having screwed up. I've done this
(built PCs) before, however, and would be amazed if I screwed them up
not once, not twice, but three times.

That would be possible if it possible to put it on backwards
and you put it on the same way every time.

That's what's got me so totally baffled -- that the same thing has happened to three
machines.

Yeah, unlikely to be a coincidence.

 

[Rod Speed]

also --

The situation with the one machine not booting when the network is connected seems
pretty bizarre.

Yeah, tho I spose you could claim that its
just a rather bizarre symptom of a dying cpu.

Maybe the cases are cursed ;^)

Nar, its that furious grave dancing you are into.
You were warned, you wouldnt listen...

 

[Joe Befumo]

bios

 

[Joe Befumo]

A flash of insight ---

These heatsink/fan units were REALLY heavy, and the fans are pretty
powerful -- I'm wondering of the weight hanging off the CPU socket might
have, after a time, caused a connection to fail in the motherboard? Seems
like the only thing that remotely makes any kind of sense.

Joe

 

[job]

Possible.Not likely though.Could have been installed backwards.

 

[Guest]

A flash of insight ---

These heatsink/fan units were REALLY heavy, and the fans are pretty
powerful -- I'm wondering of the weight hanging off the CPU socket might
have, after a time, caused a connection to fail in the motherboard?
No.

Seems like the only thing that remotely makes any kind of sense.

Definitely no.

If the computer displays anything legible on the monitor, the CPU is
all right.

A heatsink-fan assembly can cause problems only if the heatsink doesn't
make good contact with the center of the CPU package (immediate burn
out of CPU is likely), the fan doesn't spin (failure in minutes,
possibly prevented by motherboard's overtemperature shutdown
protection), or the heatsink is so large it presses against surrounding
capacitors (plastic covered aluminum cylinders). Installation of a
heatsink-fan assembly can cause damage if precautions aren't taken
against electrostatic discharge (what precautions did you take?).

I had three no-name machines, each with Athlon XP CPU, no overclocking or
anything, that were all experiencing heat problems (shutting down unexpectedly.).

Shutdown is not necessarily caused by heat. What were your case and
CPU temperatures?