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I think it would climb to 45-48 C under at 100% CPU usage, running
Sisoft Sandra and Prime 95 simultaneously, for example. Now it bounces
between 65-80 C at idle and bounces around 95-100+ C at 100% cpu
usage. I've got to think that if those temps were remotely accurate,
my cpu would have given up by now.
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Sensors dying is probably the least likely possibility, unless you've been
in there with a ham handed screw driver and damaged them.
The 4PDA2+ is supposedly notorious for producing unstable temp
readings. They've bounced all over the place since Day 1. This is why
I suspect the sensors or sensing complex has simply competely
deteriorated.
None of those are likely. Assuming temps really have risen under the same
operating conditions it's more likely either a dirty heatsink, heatsink fan
failing (running slow), thermal compound migration/dry, heatsink
mechanically shifted (either the fan or on the processor), or a case
cooling problem caused by dirty fans, fan failure (or running slow), or
airflow blockage.
Everything's clean. I checked that first thing. I've also suspected
mechanical shifting or otherwise mechanical compromise of the HSF/cpu
arrangement. But this machine is absolutely stationary and screws
firmly torques. It's hard to envision the HSF simply drifting out of
place.
Is Arctic Silver prone to migration?
Other causes could be a software/configuration problem preventing the
normal idle power saving or something (e.g. a virus/worm) causing 100% CPU
activity.
The problem shows up in BIOS which makes me suspect it's not a Win2000
infection problem. Task Manager shows normal 1-2% usage at idle in
Windows.
BIOS, which I just flashed to latest (no change), could be infected, I
assume.
I guess I have no choice but to pull the HSF and examine the interface
then re-install as per your advice. I've hesitated doing so because
the the Zalman 7000Cu was a nightmare to install. It tends to slide
around on the compound (used specified amount). I know others have
reported ease of installation with that cooler.
Yesterday I had a cpu temp alarm at boot even though that function is
disabled in BIOS. I re-booted successfully without alarm and USDM
showed cpu temps bouncing between 0 and 90 deg C. Such flakiness looks
electronic to me in nature, but I'm pulling the HSF to rule that out.
Dave