10millionth question about over heating

[devilman0]

i have a system that will over heat over a period of time, usually when this happens temps are as follows:
cpu 122degF
case 95degF
chipset 95degF

i have a volcano 9 on an athalon xp 1600+
video card and chipset has a 60mm fan (simular to what is on a volcano 7 if i remember correctly
but i have also seen this happen at higher and lower temps, opening the case does help, however, is not a good solution. the ambient temp is 80degrees all the time (ac'd).
what i am thinking is my ps is over heating (temp out of the back of ps is quite warm) it only has one fan. Has anyone had any simular problem with this behavior?

Thanks,
James

"Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot." ~bumper sticker

 

[franklin97355]

If opening the case helps you need to add more fans to the case. I like to add one low in the front and one high in the back. Get the biggest fan you can fit in the case and run it at a moderate speed to keep the noise down.

 

[paparazi]

If all you have is the PSU fan expelling warm air at the rear then generally there won't be sufficient air flow through the case.
Stagnant air will slowly rise in temp, just being recycled in the case, introducing a couple of case fans will draw in cool air (lower front) and exhaust the warmed up air
(rear top) so constantly replacing the air with a cool fresh supply.
Other things to check:
I know some of the Volcano's have a weired thermal sensing temp strip that increases fan speed with temperature, unless they are fitted correctly the fan won't spin at the correct speed.
Have you properly applied thermal paste to the raised core of the CPU
Is the heatsink fitted the correct way around (recess in the heatsink base positioned over the socket "A" writing of the CPU Ziff socket.
Is you internal cabling tidy for unrestricted air flow.
Twin fan power supplies definately do help to keep temperatures down, might be your next purchase?
Martin

Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[AP81]

devilman0, one fan should be at the front and one at the back (at least).

I have three fans:
-a 120mm high speed fan at the front
-an 80mm exhaust fan for the rear
-a 60mm exhaust fan for the top

My temps stay very low.

 

[mainegeek]

122f is only 50c
I wouldn't exactly call that overheating.

 

[xomcat]

Mainegeek is right; 50c is OK for a athie, the other advice is also valid. The cooler the better. Have you tried vacuuming out your PSU? I had the inside fan on a PSU freeze - I could have heated the room with the exhaust from the back.

 

[devilman0]

I will post some more data.
Temps given are absolute temps measured with a digital temp sensor (escept for the cpu, measured with bios)

Cpu fan is set to run at top speed all the time, i have 2 80mm case fans, one front (intake) one rear (exhaust). 2 90degree angle exhaust fans (blowers from radio shack). The rear fan is a 35cfm, i think the two blowers are 13cfm each, front is also a 35cfm.

I think this problem is related to the ps because what ever the temp inside the case is (i lowered ambient down to 72, case was ~ 87 chipset ~87 cpu ~ 115 (all temps degrees F under load) I have recently cleaned this system out (can-o-air) and i am tending to lead toward the ps, this is the only unknown right now. These lockups can occur at higher temps, and the above lower temps.

Before swaping out the PS, i was wounding if any one else had any problems with this. I am certian it isn't the cpu. I have really no way of measureing what the ps is doing interms of output (has over current/over tempreture safeguards). Conversly, it is inside a 4 sided box (no rear pannel) I will also try removing it from the box (box is 16" wide by 24" tall by 24" deep, computer ~ 6" wide by 16" tall by 20" deep)

what i get when it locks up is the screen freezes at what the last image was, and i get a screeching noise out of the speakers. Don't know if that'll help.

Thanks for all your help thus far.


Thanks,
James

"Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot." ~bumper sticker

 

[mainegeek]

Your lock-ups may be due to bad capasitor(s) on the mobo. You can visually check this for splits,bulges or crowning on the tops.

 

[devilman0]

hmmm didn't think of that (mobo is only a year old) but will try every logical option. Thanks.

Thanks,
James

"Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot." ~bumper sticker

 

[Sierra25]

I wish my CPU only ran at 122f. I run an AMD 3000XP with an Ice Cool CPU Heatsink and Fan. My temps are around 130 - 140 (Max)

I have a inlet fan at the front of the case and a exhaust fan at the top of my PC case.

All ribbon cables have been replaced with round cables to help improve air circulation.

Not had one crash yet.

 

[devilman0]

As an update, I did blow out the case (using air in a can) along with the ps. When i did run another test, it did again lock up, but this time i had a temp probe at the output of the fan. Temp at the output was 140 degrees F!!! case temp is @ 95degrees, cpu 121, chip set 97. (all degrees F) it again locked up. I am looking to get a new PS. The one i have also isn't very percise when it comes to regulating voltage (swings +-1v in both directions during idle in bios). The model i have is a 400W DURO (found at

http://www.str8buy.com/400wap4andam.html)

thanks for all whom helped.


Thanks,
James

"Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot." ~bumper sticker