Processor alarm!

Post by **Mr Bean** » 10 Oct 2008, 10:05

Any nerdy types out there know why my PC goes into alarm if I ask it to do anything complicated? CPU sits at just under 50 degrees under normal circumstances but goes up as high a 75 if I for instance use the webcam on skype while I am doing other stuff. I know this as I have ABIT Guru clock thingy. I put new fans in and cleaned the finning. Maybe I got something in the bios set too low or maybe my ECU is poorly! When he CPU fan is on foot off cruising and you stop it with yor finger it goes into alarm straight away. Bleep, Bleep etc. And every now and again the Task Manager shows a burst of 100% Processor usage. I duno its hard enough doing all the other stuff I do without trying to becom a once in a blue moon IT Service Engineer! Maybe those savagesaren't so stupid afer all!!:roll:
Cheers
Smiffy

Post by **Red Westie** » 11 Oct 2008, 00:37

yellow wire to the CPU fan measures RPM and needs to sense the fan is spinning or the alarm goes off (as you have found out)
75C is too high under load and is reaching the alarm threshold that has been set in the bios. Have you properly blown out the dust from the heatsink? have you ever remove the cooler? if so, did you clean and re-apply thermal paste to the contact area between CPU and heatsink base?
Is the heatsink/fan unit properly fastened down? what socket type is this?
478, 462, 754, 939, 940, 775....Intel or AMD?
Martin

Post by **Mr Bean** » 11 Oct 2008, 07:31

Red Westie wrote:yellow wire to the CPU fan measures RPM and needs to sense the fan is spinning or the alarm goes off (as you have found out)
75C is too high under load and is reaching the alarm threshold that has been set in the bios. Have you properly blown out the dust from the heatsink? have you ever remove the cooler? if so, did you clean and re-apply thermal paste to the contact area between CPU and heatsink base?
Is the heatsink/fan unit properly fastened down? what socket type is this?
478, 462, 754, 939, 940, 775....Intel or AMD?
Martin

Yes done all that and it is a 775. Is there any way I can check if the processor is wounded?

By the way I like your signature thingy. Earlier on I was thinking of using this one:
Little birdie broken wing.
Cannot fly cannot sing
Splat - usless twit!

But thats not me really as I even walk round ants on the pavement.

Post by **conrad** » 11 Oct 2008, 11:15

I don't think it's a problem with your processor. My money's on you having an inadequate heat sink and fan.

What sort or PC is it? Home brew or brand name? What's your processor? Have you over clocked it (either in the BIOS or with that ABIT software?)

I wouldn't worry too much about the 100% spikes but what % does it sit at normally? Are there any processes running that are hogging the processor? (press CTRL+ALT+ESC, click on processes tab and sort by CPU usage by clicking on the CPU column header)

Post by **Red Westie** » 13 Oct 2008, 00:25

Socket 775 (intel) have four plastic push down clips that have a habit of not clicking down properly, if all four don't pull down evenly the heatsink doesn't sit squarely on the heat spreader (CPU top) so heat transfer between the CPU and heatsink base is compromised.
Thermal paste is also essential for good heat transfer.
Good airflow (extra case fans) may be of benefit as well.

You like my signature thingy?
Well I wrote it for Hayley, my 16 year old daughter who died very unexpectedly of meningitis (she had beautiful brown eyes)
Bit corny I know
Martin

Post by **Mr Bean** » 13 Oct 2008, 15:21

Red Westie wrote:Socket 775 (intel) have four plastic push down clips that have a habit of not clicking down properly, if all four don't pull down evenly the heatsink doesn't sit squarely on the heat spreader (CPU top)

You like my signature thingy?
Well I wrote it for Hayley, my 16 year old daughter who died very unexpectedly of meningitis (she had beautiful brown eyes)
Bit corny I know
Martin

Yes I guess I have to have another go at that heatsink gismo. Seems a good idea spoiled in the execution.
Sorry about the birdy crack. I got Meningitis as a child and was reportedly saved by the new May & Baker tablets. Or maybe I just got lucky!
Corny no - Life is far too crass these days.
Best wishes
Ken

Post by **Red Westie** » 13 Oct 2008, 22:11

NP you weren't to know...
Yeah...these clips have to be wound 90 degrees one way (clockwise I think) to lock the pin before pushing. You need to be pretty brave as it takes a fair bit of weight before you hear a positive 'CLICK' as the head locks in to place. Releasing the pins to remove the fan is simply a matter of using a flat blade screwdriver in the slots on the pins, turning them 90 degrees anti-clockwise. (I may have the direction wrong but the explaination right, but it will be obvious once you try it)
Martin