CPU overheats

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mink Deli
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Mink Deli

hi,

i'm using a free version ("previously free", that is...) of an app called
"Rawshooter" to convert Nikon's proprietary image filetypes to JPG's. I
set it to work on batches, so it's grinding away for an hour or 2 sometimes.

Invariably this software causes Intel's "active monitor" to come up and
inform me that I'm overheating the motherboard ("processor zone" and "system
zone 2"). It occassionally comes up when I'm rendeirng video with TMPGENC
and running other software at the same time.

Is there any way to downscale the CPU resources allotted to greedy little
apps like this, or am I stuck with shoving the system alert box off to the
side. (so far, no damage done. themo is in yellow zone, not red).

thanks for any advice.


mike
 
Mink said:
hi,

i'm using a free version ("previously free", that is...) of an app called
"Rawshooter" to convert Nikon's proprietary image filetypes to JPG's. I
set it to work on batches, so it's grinding away for an hour or 2 sometimes.

Invariably this software causes Intel's "active monitor" to come up and
inform me that I'm overheating the motherboard ("processor zone" and "system
zone 2"). It occassionally comes up when I'm rendeirng video with TMPGENC
and running other software at the same time.

Is there any way to downscale the CPU resources allotted to greedy little
apps like this, or am I stuck with shoving the system alert box off to the
side. (so far, no damage done. themo is in yellow zone, not red).

thanks for any advice.


mike
Click to expand...

The answer would be, to improve the cooling on the computer.
That is preferable to fiddling with something else.

Computer are designed to work at 100% load, forever. And
at some level of elevated external temperature. One of my
old computers, for example, states in the documentation that
it can work at up to 45C. (Hotter than I'm willing to work.)
So making the computer into a "wimp" should not be necessary.

First, take the side off the computer. I'm assuming the computer
case is relatively modern, and has easy access to the inside of
the computer. (I have a couple cases, that are hard to get into,
so I'd understand if this was not possible.)

Run the Rawshooter batch with the side off. Does the situation
improve ? If it does, you need better ventilation through the
computer case.

In some cases, the situation will get worse. And that is a
testament to the effectiveness of the through-the-case
ventilation.

Reasons for bad cooling -

1) Exhaust fan not high enough capacity. If fan speed is
automatically controlled (speeds up when hot), it could be
the thing is not aggressive enough. Some BIOS have adjustments
for that stuff, and some don't.

2) Intakes vents not wide enough. I had that problem on my case,
and removed some plastic trim pieces, to expose more intake
vent area. Check for the "vacuum cleaner effect". If you
take the side off the computer, and hear the fan speed
change dramatically, that could be a sign the fan is
starved for air.

At the CPU, you can have

1) Dust clogging the fins.
2) Heatsink clip snaps a plastic tab, leaving the
heatsink unsecured and making poor contact with
the processor.
3) Insufficient thermal interface material between
CPU and heatsink. For factory applied products,
this isn't likely to be a problem. This is more of
a problem with home-built computers.
4) Fan on the CPU heatsink not working properly.

Note that some designs (BTX?), may blow air out the
front of the case, and the one fan pulls air through
the CPU heatsink and through the case as well. Make sure
the heatsink fins are clean in that case. The heatsink could
have a plastic shroud over top of it. Inspect for
hair balls etc.

If the computer never threw up those "zone alarms"
when it was new, then chances are some cleaning is
all it needs. A hardware failure is possible, and
with some luck, you'll be able to see or hear what
the problem is.

If you know the model number of the computer, the Dell
and HP sites have pictures of some of the components,
making it easy to see and understand what to expect
inside the computer. If the computer is home-built,
talk to your builder.

HTH,
Paul
 
thanks for a very informative and well-penned reply, Paul.

I did note that the response was more exaggerated in the summer, and that
removal of the side-cover alleviated somewhat.

I had also previously broken the thermal "glue" seal betwixt CPU & heat
sink, but I had this replaced professionally; and still the same response to
CPU-hungry software.

It sound like either a more robust CPU fan, or as you suggest, more air
throughput would help. It already sounds like a jet engine!

It seemed I once saw some kind of setting where software executables could
be either prioritized or allocated specific CPU restrictions; perhaps I was
hallucinating.

cheers,

Mike
 
Mink said:
thanks for a very informative and well-penned reply, Paul.

I did note that the response was more exaggerated in the summer, and that
removal of the side-cover alleviated somewhat.

I had also previously broken the thermal "glue" seal betwixt CPU & heat
sink, but I had this replaced professionally; and still the same response to
CPU-hungry software.

It sound like either a more robust CPU fan, or as you suggest, more air
throughput would help. It already sounds like a jet engine!

It seemed I once saw some kind of setting where software executables could
be either prioritized or allocated specific CPU restrictions; perhaps I was
hallucinating.

cheers,

Mike
Click to expand...

But that approach defeats the whole purpose of buying new computers.
It would be like buying a car, removing the engine, and having a
horse pull the car along the road :-) You bought the computer, so
you could use it.

One of my computers, has a removable filter grill in the front of the
case. That should be pulled every three months and cleaned. My
solution was to just get rid of it.

If you mention the make and model of machine, perhaps I can spot
a weakness in the design.

Paul
 
Paul said:
But that approach defeats the whole purpose of buying new computers.
It would be like buying a car, removing the engine, and having a
horse pull the car along the road :-) You bought the computer, so
you could use it.

One of my computers, has a removable filter grill in the front of the
case. That should be pulled every three months and cleaned. My
solution was to just get rid of it.

If you mention the make and model of machine, perhaps I can spot
a weakness in the design.

Paul
Click to expand...

Also, to make you feel a bit better, there have been cases of
inexplicably high temperatures on a CPU. Even when a larger
heatsink was installed, good thermal paste, the whole bit.
(Your professional shouldn't have returned the computer to
you, until verifying that the operating temperature was
normal. Proper verification involves running the CPU at
100%, while using a temperature monitoring utility. It
isn't good enough to just stick your finger on the heatsink,
while Windows is idle in the desktop.)

It is also possible your professional fix, isn't working right.
I would at least visually inspect the inside of the computer
case, for obvious problems (fans not working, heatsink clip
broken, etc).

For a fan to make a sound like a jet engine -

1) Implies an automated fan speed control is setting fans to
max, because the temperatures are so high. The Intel retail
cooler speeds up, if the computer case air is hot. Branded
computers have automated fan speed controls, for things like
the chassis fan.

2) A fan needs some separation between the blades and the
object being cooled. The blades on some heatsinks are
shaped, to reduce fan blade tip noise. In some cases,
if a plenum was present (short air channel spacer between
fan and heatsink), that would reduce the noise.

3) If there is insufficient intake vent area on the case, that
can cause the fan to run faster than normal - the vacuum
cleaner effect. Like sticking your hand over the tip of the
vacuum cleaner hose, and noticing the motor of the vacuum
cleaner speeds up. The same can happen with cooling fans in
a computer. (Mine did that.)

HTH,
Paul
 
Mink Deli said:
hi,

i'm using a free version ("previously free", that is...) of an app called
"Rawshooter" to convert Nikon's proprietary image filetypes to JPG's. I
set it to work on batches, so it's grinding away for an hour or 2
sometimes.

Invariably this software causes Intel's "active monitor" to come up and
inform me that I'm overheating the motherboard ("processor zone" and
"system zone 2"). It occassionally comes up when I'm rendeirng video with
TMPGENC and running other software at the same time.

Is there any way to downscale the CPU resources allotted to greedy little
apps like this, or am I stuck with shoving the system alert box off to
the side. (so far, no damage done. themo is in yellow zone, not red).
Click to expand...

The first thing that you want to check is that the cooling fan and heatsink
on the processor is free from dust and other blockages. You would be
surprised how quickly they get choked to the point where they no longer
cool. The application of a nozzle from a vacuum cleaner can make a big
difference.
 
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