Fried CPU

[YourFoxyGrandma]

My CPU began overheating for no apparent reason recently. In the time it took me to figure out what was going on, I'm pretty sure some permanent damage has been done as I'm getting blue screens now every once in a while. I'm not sure what to do--my heatsync and fan appear to be working properly and I have extra fans on the front and back of my case for improved airflow. Still, the CPU idles at around 60C.

What should I look into replacing? Just the CPU? Motherboard as well? A new case? Any ideas as to what's going on?

Well if you idle at 60C that's a bit hot, it's likely to go over 75 under load which isn't all that good. You could be getting the BSOD when the CPU pass 70C as it starts making some error.

What brand of CPU is it? some have different temp. threshold

Also regular maintance that I do with my computer include, vacumming the case, check if you can tuck away cable away from the HSF (Heatsink/fan) also try to have a clear path between your case's fans.

You might need to replace the thermal compound also...again depends on what kind of CPU it is. I just changed mine yesterday. If you can still boot there's a good chance nothing fried and is in working order.

[YourFoxyGrandma]

Hey, are CPU fans supposed to blow towards or away from the heatsync/processor?

Also, it's an AMD Athalon XP 2700+

[LethalRose]

away...

[YourFoxyGrandma]

Are you sure or are you just saying that based on common sense?

[LethalRose]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you sure or are you just saying that based on common sense?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'am saying that as having built several computers.

Heat sink fan blow TOWARD the heatsink. That's the best way t o push the hot air that otherwise would stay between the fins.

There aren't many HSF on the market that pull air from the HS unless they are designed that way. I'm pretty sure that since the OP asked he own the standard kind which push air to the CPU.

[LethalRose]

[ QUOTE ]
Heat sink fan blow TOWARD the heatsink. That's the best way t o push the hot air that otherwise would stay between the fins.

[/ QUOTE ]

this is wrong.

Ok...I guess my Vantec Aeroflow which have been keeping my overclocked AMD2500 under 40C idle is going backward then.

Most HSF that pull air have a shroud around them to stop the case air from rushing in...when you pull air you essentially create a vaccumm. When you push air you give it momentum and are able to direct it onto the CPU.

[LethalRose]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok...I guess my Vantec Aeroflow which have been keeping my overclocked AMD2500 under 40C idle is going backward then.

Most HSF that pull air have a shroud around them to stop the case air from rushing in...when you pull air you essentially create a vaccumm. When you push air you give it momentum and are able to direct it onto the CPU.

[/ QUOTE ]

Off of www.firingsquad.com (http://www.firingsquad.com)

After you've got your heatsink, the next logical step is to put a fan on it. But which way should it blow? There really isn't a set answer for this question. It all depends on the situations that this fan and heatsink are in. Let's take into account heatsink design; some coolers come with shrouds to go over them. In cases such as these, it is beneficial to have the fan suck the air out of the heatsink, as the shroud causes air from the bottom of the heatsink to be pulled up. Most shrouds have a small opening at the bottom, near the base to allow the influx of cooler air, to replace the heated air that was pulled out. If you are trying to pull air out of a heatsink without a shroud, the results can be mixed. Depending on the design of the heatsink and the airflow patterns that result from it, the only thing you can do is try both ways to see which works better. We're betting that air blowing onto the heatsink will be the better solution in this case. If the fan is going to be pulling air out of the heatsink, the airflow patterns will take the path of least resistance, and as these fans aren't terrible powerful, chances are that the hottest air (the air closest at the very bottom) will not be moved effectively.

so it really doesnt matter unless your HSF uses a shroud. I have had no issues with the air blowing away. but im not O/Cing

Well there /images/graemlins/smile.gif I'll agree that it depends on the current airflow in the case, etc. It's mainly related to design and I'm going to guess he has a standard HSF that came with the CPU, most HSF on the market push air through the HS.

Alpha HSF usually will suck as they are designed for it...however the shroud is removable for a reason...if you wanted to blow.

Since it depends on the particular situation it's always best to try both ways, but with a cheap HS it's almost always blow.

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart

[YourFoxyGrandma]

After some research and digging through my case I figured out that I had a simple airflow problem. My case takes in air from underneath and I just moved into a new apartment and had my computer on some fluffy carpet, almost completely blocking air intake. It also turns out that my CPU's normal idling temperature is around 55C and it's die temp is 85C, so it wasn't getting as hot as I thought. Those blue screens I was getting was Windows shutting off the computer to prevent the CPU from frying itself.

Just in case anyone was wondering...

Thanks for all the input.