PC Keeps Resetting = Athlon XP Overheating?

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J

John

My PC keeps resetting whenever it's doing intense processing for any
extended period of time (e.g. encoding mp3s, avis). The first screen after
the reset shows the temperature of my Athlon XP2000+ to be 71-72 degrees. Is
this, as I suspect, because the CPU is overheating?

When it goes back into Windows XP I get a message saying "The system has
recovered from a serious error" due to a "device".

If I leave the PC off for half an hour, the CPU goes down to 25 degrees when
it starts up and I can then redo the thing that caused the crash originally
without any problem.

Should I get better cooling for my machine? I already have a standard cooler
on my CPU and it's attached with the special glue. If I was to get a better
fan/cooler is it safe and easy to remove the old cooler and put a new one
on? Any other recommendations on how keep my PC/CPU cool (without too much
noise if possible)?

TIA.
 
Look in your case for room to add additional fans. (they're cheap) If you're
going to add fans, be sure and measure the size you need.

Alternatively, make sure the box isn't enclosed in a desk and has plenty of
air circulation. Likewise, you could open up the case to permit more air
circulation.
 
John wrote:

I suffered a similar problem and when I opened up the case I found that the cpu
fan was not running. They are easily replaced. Also, make sure the power
supply fan is working.
 
Miggsee said:
Look in your case for room to add additional fans. (they're cheap) If you're
going to add fans, be sure and measure the size you need.

Alternatively, make sure the box isn't enclosed in a desk and has plenty of
air circulation. Likewise, you could open up the case to permit more air
circulation.
Click to expand...
Yeah, start with running the thing with as much of the case open as
possible.

If the problem persists your main CPU fan isn't doing the job it
should and adding extra fans won't make any difference.
 
John said:
John wrote:

I suffered a similar problem and when I opened up the case I found that the cpu
fan was not running. They are easily replaced. Also, make sure the power
supply fan is working.
Click to expand...

CPU fans have a tendency to crap out... You can definitly get abetter fan
aftermarket...
Does your BIOS info have a section to monitor fan speed and temp.... it may
have
an overheat alarm in there too... Save my old Athlon w/ the alarm when one
of the
fans took a crap....
 
It would probably help a lot just to clean your CPU heatsink....I'm willing
to bet it's filled with dust. Dust = bad.
 
My PC keeps resetting whenever it's doing intense processing for any
extended period of time (e.g. encoding mp3s, avis). The first screen after
the reset shows the temperature of my Athlon XP2000+ to be 71-72 degrees. Is
this, as I suspect, because the CPU is overheating?

When it goes back into Windows XP I get a message saying "The system has
recovered from a serious error" due to a "device".

If I leave the PC off for half an hour, the CPU goes down to 25 degrees when
it starts up and I can then redo the thing that caused the crash originally
without any problem.

Should I get better cooling for my machine? I already have a standard cooler
on my CPU and it's attached with the special glue. If I was to get a better
fan/cooler is it safe and easy to remove the old cooler and put a new one
on? Any other recommendations on how keep my PC/CPU cool (without too much
noise if possible)?

TIA.
Click to expand...

There's definitely something wrong somewhere with those temps.
Even a stock cooler wouldn't do that.Make sure that the HS is
correctly orientated onto the Athlon Raised Die.They have a lip
underneath that should match the raised lip of the CPU well.Also if
it's been supplied with a thermal gum patch remove this,lap-polish the
HS bottom and use some thermal paste.
Check the Fan's rotational speed as well,
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
The larger the COU fan the less speed is required for cooling e.g my
HSF combo has a slim 70 mm fan usually running at around 3,500 RPM so
to all intents and purposes it's silent.
http://tinyurl.com/ybtn
http://www.cclcomputers.biz/specs/cooler/microflow2/spec.htm

HTH :)



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John said:
My PC keeps resetting whenever it's doing intense processing for
any extended period of time (e.g. encoding mp3s, avis). The first
screen after the reset shows the temperature of my Athlon XP2000+
to be 71-72 degrees. Is this, as I suspect, because the CPU is
overheating?
Click to expand...
If I leave the PC off for half an hour, the CPU goes down to 25
degrees when it starts up and I can then redo the thing that
caused the crash originally without any problem.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't surprise me if it exceeds the maximum 85C rating of the
CPU.

How does the power supply sit relative to the CPU? Does it block air
flow into the CPU fan? Does it have a fan right next to the CPU fan
that pulls air away from it? These situations often occur when the
power supply sits vertically, and if either apply, then you need
either a CPU cooler that leaves more room between the fan and power
supply, or you need a case where the power supply sits horizontally.

What happens when you run the computer with the cover removed? If
that puts an end to the crashes, then try to improve the air flow
inside the case by removing blockages (but don't resort to round
cables, which are almost always electrically inferior), such as by
moving cards out of the way or tying cables togehter with wire ties or
Velcro (don't use anything containing metal), preventing hot exhaust
air from being immediately sucked back into the CPU fan, and changing
the number or directions of the fans. Eliminate all but one case fan
(case fans include hard drive coolers that bring in outside air), such
as the one farthest from the power supply, and see which flow
direction keeps the case the coolest. Final measurements should be
taken at least 30 minutes after the computer has been running. Then
try adding a second fan, again trying it in both flow directions, but
don't bother adding any more fans because no case should require more
than 1-2.

Unless space is a problem, I wouldn't replace a factory CPU cooler
because it's the only kind guaranteed not just against its own
failure but against CPU failure, and factory coolers tend to be quite
good.
 
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