Member Avatar for spirogyra

my P4 (3 GHz ) cpu is overheating seriously !
it reached 100'C today.. and is (acording to the bios) @ about 72'C at startup...

ive got an intel 915GAV Motherboard and the standard cpu fan & heatsink...
ive also got about 3 other chassis fans.
the motherboard sensors read about 33'C

could it be the cpu fan (it is spinning) ,or the sensor.

i put on some new thermal paste earlier today... it helped a bit ( lowered the temp from 100'C to 80'C)

PLEASE HELP..

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by nizzy1115

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A short, practical troubleshooting guide to complement the replies from and — focused on safe checks you can do right away and reliable ways to verify whether readings are real.

If any sensor or software is reporting temperatures close to the processor’s specified limit, power down and check things carefully: Intel documents how processors use internal thermal control (throttling then shutdown) and shows the published case/junction limits for each model — those numbers are the correct safety thresholds to use when deciding whether to stop using the PC. (intel.com)

A simple, ordered checklist (fast to run through):

  • Confirm the CPU fan is plugged into the CPU_FAN header and actually spins at boot (visual check + BIOS fan RPM readout). Some boards won’t start low‑speed fans until they hit a threshold; try a different header if needed. (noctua.at)
  • Remove the cooler, clean both IHS and cooler base with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol, inspect for leftover protective film or uneven contact, then reseat carefully. Tighten mounting hardware evenly (diagonal pattern) so the spread and pressure are uniform. (tomshardware.com)
  • Reapply a small, controlled amount of TIM (dot/short line as the cooler vendor suggests) rather than globs — modern TIMs spread under mounting pressure and excess can reduce heat transfer. (noctua.at)

Verify with software and only stress-test when idle temps look sensible:

  • Use BIOS readings plus one trusted monitoring tool (Core Temp / Open Hardware Monitor / HWiNFO or similar) to cross-check values — different utilities and the BIOS can disagree, so look for consistent trends rather than single spikes. (howtogeek.com)
  • Don’t run prolonged torture tests until the cooler, mounting, and fans are confirmed good; stress tools can prove a thermal problem but will push the CPU very hard — stop immediately if temps approach the processor’s published limits. (corsair.com)

If after these checks temperatures still look anomalous, try updating the motherboard BIOS (sensor/monitoring fixes are common), and consider replacing the stock cooler with a beefier aftermarket unit — older stock Intel coolers are marginal on compact or dusty cases.

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Member Avatar for nizzy1115

woa! if that is true stop using it immediatly! the thermal threshold of that processor is 69*. Are you sure that is celcius it is reading in? If it is, make sure your fan is spinning up to speed and make sure you are not using too much thermal paste. Less is better. Also, make sure your heatsink is seated firmly onto your processor. Lastly, change your bios settings of your motherboard so that your computer shuts off it reaches 70*C.

Member Avatar for spirogyra

thanx.. i removed some of the excess thermal paste.. now least it runs at 48 - 52'C.. well thats what my bios reads.. the niether processor nor the MB shows any sign of heat damage on the exterior... so i still dont know if the sensor might be wrong..
afterall. it is the same sensor that read 100'C earlier...

Member Avatar for nizzy1115

That sounds much more acceptable. I have the 3.2 ghz version and it runs around the same temps at idle. (46-52*C).

Remember that with thermal paste, just a paper thin layer is required, any more will prohibit heat transfering to the heatsink from the processor. Also, your temps will probably start to drop with in the next few weeks as the thermal paste takes a little time to fully cure, so it seems like you will be alright now.

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