Overheating CPU

[Nik]

Hi

I have an Asus P5GDC deluxe mo/bo with a P4 3.2GHZ Processor. It's factory
standard, I bought it from MESH about 6 months ago.

More recently the fan (I'm assuming on the processor) is getting really loud
when the CPU gets hot. Asus probe reports it at about 3500rpm when the CPU
gets to about 73deg. (c).

When I say loud, the whirring just gets very noisy as the RPM increases. As
it cools, the fan obviously slows down (due to the A.I. on the board)

There are various settings in the bios that I have checked in relation to
"Q-Fan" which is supposed to quiten things down, I suppose?

When the processor is really loaded, it gets hot. Such as rendering large DV
files to DVD format, and Graphics hungry games.

I have 1.5GB of PC3200 400mhz RAM, and a 128MB GF6600 NVidia Graphics card.

Below is the SiSandra report on the processor (which warns of the hi
temperature):-

SiSoftware Sandra



Processor

Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz

Speed : 3.21GHz

Performance Rating : PR4271 (estimated)

CPUs per Core : 1 Unit(s)

SMT Support : 2 Unit(s)

Type : Standard

Package : FC LGA775

Rated Speed/FSB : 3200MHz / 4x 200MHz

Multiplier : 16/1x

Minimum/Maximum Multiplier : 2/1x / 16/1x

Generation : G8

Name : P4P-T/J (Prescott) Pentium 4E 90nm 2.8-4GHz 1.25-1.40V

Revision/Stepping : 4 / 1 (0)

Stepping Mask : E0

Microcode : MU0F4112

Core Voltage Rating : 1.400V

Maximum Physical / Virtual Addressing : 36-bit / 32-bit

Native Page Size : 4kB

Part Number : To Be Filled By O.E.M.

Asset Tag : To Be Filled By O.E.M.

Serial Number : To Be Filled By O.E.M.



Co-Processor (FPU)

Type : Built-in

Revision/Stepping : 4 / 1 (0)



Processor Cache(s)

Internal Data Cache : 16kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way set, 64 byte line
size, 2 threads sharing

Internal Trace Cache : 12kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way set, 64 byte line
size

L2 On-board Cache : 1MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size,
2 lines per sector, 2 threads sharing

L2 Cache Multiplier : 1/1x (3211MHz)



Upgradeability

Socket/Slot : Socket 775

Upgrade Interface : Other

Supported Speed(s) : 3.60GHz+



Environment Monitor 1

Model : Winbond W83782D ISA

Version : 8.08

Mainboard Specific Support : No



Power Rating(s)

CPU Core Power : 311W (estimated)

CPU Cooling System Thermal Resistance : 0.14°C/W (estimated)



Sensors

CPU Temperature : 72.5°C / 162.5°F td

Auto Fan Speed Control : No

CPU Fan Speed : 2344rpm

CPU Voltage : 2.58V



Features

FPU - Co-Processor Built-in : Yes

VME - Virtual Mode Extensions : Yes

DE - Debugging Extension : Yes

PSE - Page Size Extension : Yes

TSC - Time Stamp Counter : Yes

MSR - Model Specific Registers : Yes

PAE - Physical Address Extension : Yes

MCE - Machine Check Exception : Yes

CX8 - Compare & Exchange Instruction : Yes

APIC - Local APIC Built-in : Yes

SEP - Fast System Call : Yes

MTRR - Memory Type Range Registers : Yes

PGE - Page Global Enable : Yes

MCA - Machine Check Architecture : Yes

PAT - Page Attribute Table : Yes

PSE36 - 36-bit Page Size Extension : Yes

PSN - Unique Serial Number : No

CLF - Cache Line Flush Support : Yes

DS - Debug Trace & EMON Store : Yes

ACPI - Software Clock Control : Yes

(W)MMX Technology : Yes

FXSR - Fast Float Save & Restore : Yes

SSE Technology : Yes

SSE2 Technology : Yes

SS - Self Snoop : Yes

HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : Yes

TM - Thermal Monitor : Yes

PBE - Pending Break Enable : Yes

IA64 Technology : No

SSE3 Technology : Yes

MON - Monitor/MWait : Yes

DSCPL - CPL qualified Debug Store : Yes

VMX - Virtual Machine eXtensions : No

EST - Enhanced SpeedStep Technology : No

TM2 - Thermal Monitor 2 : No

CID - Context ID : Yes

xTPR - Send Task Priority Messages : Yes

DAZ - Denormals Are Zero : Yes



Advanced Settings

Data Error Checking : No

Fast Strings : Yes

x86 FPU Compatibility Mode : No

Prefetch Queue : Yes

Branch Trace Storage : Yes

Data Cache Active Mode : Yes

IO Queue Depth : 12 request(s)

TM - Thermal Monitor : Yes

TM2 - Thermal Monitor 2 : No

Specific Platform Requirements : No

Control Temperature : 68.0°C / 154.4°F



Machine Check Architecture Settings

Number of Reporting Banks : 4 bank(s)

Extended Machine Check Support : Yes

Number of Extended Reporting Banks : 12 bank(s)



Variable Range MTRR Settings

MTRR 0 : 00000000-3FFFFFFF (0MB-1024MB) WB

MTRR 1 : 40000000-5FFFFFFF (1024MB-1536MB) WB



PAT Settings

PAT 0 : WB

PAT 1 : WC

PAT 2 : UC-

PAT 3 : UC

PAT 4 : WB

PAT 5 : WC

PAT 6 : UC-

PAT 7 : UC



Performance Tips

Tip 210 : Mainboard supports faster CPUs, so the CPU can be upgraded when
needed.

Notice 224 : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.

Warning 215 : CPU temperature is too high! Check fan(s)!

Warning 236 : Vcore higher than rated maximum. Check Vcore setting!

Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more
information about the tip.





Any help/advice greatly appreciated.



By the way, I won't even BOTHER ringing MESH, the last time I had a problem
with the Hard Drive I had to send it back and they kept it for 2 months, I'd
rather pay locally to have it sorted, or do it myself!!



Cheers



Nik.

 

[DaveW]

For the sake of the life of your CPU it should NEVER run 70 C, which is it's
themal limit. You need to immediately get a better quality high capacity
cooling fan for the CPU before you toast it.

 

[kony]

Hi

I have an Asus P5GDC deluxe mo/bo with a P4 3.2GHZ Processor. It's factory
standard, I bought it from MESH about 6 months ago.

More recently the fan (I'm assuming on the processor) is getting really loud
when the CPU gets hot. Asus probe reports it at about 3500rpm when the CPU
gets to about 73deg. (c).

When I say loud, the whirring just gets very noisy as the RPM increases. As
it cools, the fan obviously slows down (due to the A.I. on the board)

There are various settings in the bios that I have checked in relation to
"Q-Fan" which is supposed to quiten things down, I suppose?

Yes, except that at 73C, Q-Fan should be running the fan at
full speed. Q-Fan only lowers fan speed when CPU isn't so
hot, under 50C or 60C, IIRC, though I thought they had also
allowed manually setting the temp threshold?

When the processor is really loaded, it gets hot. Such as rendering large DV
files to DVD format, and Graphics hungry games.

Your system is subject to the same issues as any other-

Changes in ambient room temp

Accumulation of dust on heatsink, fan, case intake or
exahaust.

Amount of case intake and exahaust area, unrestricted. IF
you add drives for example, and they further restrict the
front intake area, it can raise case temp which in turn
raises other temps.

What kind of warranty and resolution options do you have?
I'm not so sure a "loud" fan qualifies as a justifiable
reason to insist on Mesh doing anything, but overheating
should. They could argue 73C is cool enough though, if it
isn't crashing yet. So basically you have to decide if you
want to persure this through having mesh fix things or take
matters into your own hands- which resolves mesh of
responsibility for cooling since you have then altered the
stock cooling- which would be a GOOD alternation if you use
a good 'sink, fan, and improve chassis airflow if/when
possible, but nevertheless mesh would have a valid argument
that since you changed the system, it's not their obligation
to cover any further heat-related issues.

You might take the side panel off and see how that effects
temps, and next, point a desk fan at the open case. If
either helps a lot, you need more case cooling. If neither
helps much, you could try remounting the heatsink with a
fresh coat of thermal compound after cleaning off the
original interface material, but more likely you'd need a
different heatsink.

If you find ~ 3500 RPM too loud, it is likely your best
course is to buy a better 'sink as it's expected that the
fan will be in that range with full load on a P4. Not just
a better 'sink, but of course a good, large/thick fan too.
You might fiddle with the Q-Fan settings just to confirm
that Q-Fan works properly, because if it does, that allows
you to choose a little bit higher RPM fan and depend on
Q-Fan to throttle it as desired.

Even so, having better case airflow is often of further
benefit but I don't know exaclty what your mesh case is
like, if you could link to good internal pictues it would
help us assess it better.

 

[Nik]

That's great Info.

I'll get on to some internal piccies and post a link to them.

Watch this space, and many thanks (so far...)

Nik

 

[Nik]

OK, I think I found the problem. When taking the side off the case to take
photos I noticed just how dusty it had got.

I vaccuumed around the CPU (with a soft brush attachment) and all around the
main case fan.

Now the fan stays at 2100rpm, the CPU temp sits at 50deg. off load, and goes
up to 60deg. on CPU intensive/graphic intensive applications. With the side
off it drops to 40 deg.

I assume that these stats are now normal, and I need to learn to keep my
fans clean?

Thanks for your advice!

Nik.

 

[Bob]

I vacuumed around the CPU (with a soft brush attachment) and all around the
main case fan.

Now the fan stays at 2100rpm, the CPU temp sits at 50deg. off load, and goes
up to 60deg. on CPU intensive/graphic intensive applications. With the side
off it drops to 40 deg.

I assume that these stats are now normal, and I need to learn to keep my
fans clean?

50C is still too hot if the CPU is at idle. You should be between 30C
and 40C.

You need to blow the dirt out of the heat sink fins with compressed
gas. Just make sure you carefully restrain the fan (best take it off
if you can) because the compressed gas can spin the fan and if you
accidentally hit it with the nozzle on the gas can, it will break the
blades off. Been there, got the t-shirt.

 

[FML]

OK, I think I found the problem. When taking the side off the case to take
photos I noticed just how dusty it had got.

I vaccuumed around the CPU (with a soft brush attachment) and all around the
main case fan.

Now the fan stays at 2100rpm, the CPU temp sits at 50deg. off load, and goes
up to 60deg. on CPU intensive/graphic intensive applications. With the side
off it drops to 40 deg.

I assume that these stats are now normal, and I need to learn to keep my
fans clean?

Thanks for your advice!

Nik.

A 10 degree drop with the side off typically means your case ventilation
is suspect. Mine drops around 2 or 3 degrees with the sides off.

 

[kony]

50C is still too hot if the CPU is at idle. You should be between 30C
and 40C.

You need to blow the dirt out of the heat sink fins with compressed
gas. Just make sure you carefully restrain the fan (best take it off
if you can) because the compressed gas can spin the fan and if you
accidentally hit it with the nozzle on the gas can, it will break the
blades off. Been there, got the t-shirt.

One can ignore idle temp and focus on maximum temp.
Prime95's Torture Test is one way to come nearest that.

60C is higher than ideal, but not high enough that it,
alone, should cause concern about CPU rather than the fact
that CPU became 10C cooler with side-panel off. That might
be a sign that case impedes airflow too much and that there
are other parts heating up a bit much.