OK I was happily playing Red Alert 3 last night and my PC died. I actually smelt something akin to burning.

 

 

 

I tried a reboot and it lasted about 5 minutes before dying again.

 

 

 

After that it didn't get past the boot screen.

 

 

 

I took the top off and the smell seemed to be coming from the CPU heatsink. I took it off and checked out the cpu - it looked ok (well ok for something which has seen continuous heavy use for almost 3 years).

 

 

 

I waited a bit and then plugged everything back in and then turned the system on - this time the system and heatsink fans wirred for a bit and then shutdown. Power is getting to the motherboard as the light is on and I just swapped in a new PSU a few months ago, so I doubt that is the problem.

 

 

 

Do you think my suspicions are right and the CPU heat sink is buggered?

 

 

 

I guess that means I need to buy a new CPU at least (the heatsinks come with the CPUs right?). Not a big problem as it was probably time to update anyway...however is there any possibility it could be a motherboard problem? I don't want to buy a new cpu and then find out it was my motherboard all along (unlikely given the smell from the heatsink, I guess.).

 

 

 

Thanks for any tips!

DIdn't your motherboard come with some bundled software/utilities that can show CPU temperature?

 

That is, if you can run it and read the values before it dies of course

 

There is an entire industry out there making a living of cooling for this and that, including cpus. No need to buy a new cpu

I think you should try cleaning up the sink and fan and applying a bit of new thermal paste like Arctic Silver 5 to the CPU, before remounting the sink. You can use a swab stick or cutton bud or what's its name, to clean it up i.e. the CPU, fan and sink, with.

 

My system gets really dusty after a few months, but I'm using some pretty big sinks from Thermalright and there is a good airflow in the case so it's not that critical, but it helps to clean it up still.

 

You got any new hardware lately?

You got any new hardware lately?

 

I replaced the PSU 5 months ago as the last one burnt out.

 

I guess I'll try the thermal paste and see how I go as there didn't seem to be any left when I took the heatsink off.

If the CPU fan isn't a snug fit it could well cause the mobo to auto shutdown. Since your machine could boot and work for a while the processor must still work.

Next step is to order a new CPU fan and heatsink, it's quite cheap compared to anything else in there so i'd say you are in luck.

Also I wouldn't keep trial running the system at critical temperatures, that could kill the processor. What does the BIOS read as CPU temperature.