Overheating Question

by **Major SONAR** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:52 pm

I think I'm having a problem with my computer overheating. I'm running an AMD 64 3700+, with 2 GB RAM, ATI X800 XT A-I-W, AGP video card. None of my components are overclocked. I also have the latest ATI Video drivers.

Several months ago I switch the majority of my components around between 2 computers. I started having problems playing BF2. My problems seemed video related. It appeared to me that heat may be the issue, so I took off the top and side of the case and I have been running it like that since then. (and have very few problems with BF2 since then) I occasionally (every 4 - 6 weeks) blow the dust off the components using canned air.

I was playing BF2 tonight and again the video goes out and the coomputer locks up. I check out my computer and the heat is immense! That's with the case off!! I checked all my fans and they are all working. I even have 2 additional case fans, and they are working too.

This problem only occurs with BF2 and I "assume" its a heat issue. I'm running the game at 1600 x 1200 (?) or something like that. I have a wide screen LCD monitor with a native resolution of 1900 x 1200. I would run BF 2 at that resolution, but I don't think my video card can handle it.

Okay... here's the question. Do you think heat is the problem? If heat is the problem, what do you suggest I do to resolve it? Buy a better CPU and Video card cooler? I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks.

by **cartboy519** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:56 pm

Sounds like a heat issue and i am no expert, but have minor experience with puters. Anyway, if you get a better case and leave the sides on and have a bunch of fans it would seem better to me then having the sides off because that way there is air flow through the components. So like your having front fans draw in cool air and rear and top ones blowing the hot air out. Those are my 2 cents

by **ANTONIUS** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:11 am

if your PC lock up or crash somethink must be written in EVENT VIEWER (control panel/maintenance&performance/administrative tools/event viewer)

by **TChicken** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:27 am

Yes heat is potentially the cause. The easiest and cheapest solutions are: open a window or ignore it.

by **Cleatus703** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:47 am

I've got two desktops at home. The first was theoretically capable of running BF2, after I updated the video card. The problem was that every time I started a game, I had the problems you described - system dying. I thought it might be heat related, but it turns out it was power related...adding the new video card bumped the power requirements up above what the power supply could handle. I went out and got an Alienware system that was tricked out and haven't had a similar problem. As with your case, the only time I had the problem was when I was playing BF2.

by **nameless** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:18 am

have you located the heatsource? is it the cpu or the gpu? for the cpu use speedfan , as the development of mbm has stopped at the end of 2004, for the gpu use your card-tool or rivatuner.

start bf2 and tab out after playing a while (preferably flying, cause this stresses the gpu most) and check the temperature. if the cpu temperature rises above 55-60°C there is something wrong. the gpu should not go higher than 60-65°C also. running fans are not a guaranty for good cooling (maybe the cooler is dirty beneath the fan).

i have a system with 8 hd's (4 of them running with 10000 rpm), 1 cd-rom, 1 dvd-burner, an amd 4000, 4 gig ram and a 6800gt and the temperatures are
cpu: 45°C
system: 40°C
gpu: 52°C
with the case closed (using normal fans, no water cooling)

if you're running a highend graphic board, more than one hd and an intel processor, your power supply should not be lower than 350, better 400 watt. bf2 is very hardware sensitive, so if the power lines are not stable, this could also cause bf2 to crash.

by **=ender=** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:55 am

I suspect with a 3700+ that your BIOS and mobo are new enough to allow temperature and fanspeed reporting to software. So, definitely get some way of measuring the temperatures of your CPU and video card/s. Also, if you have a method of viewing your fan speeds, that's also good. I'm not familiar with the link that nameless sent, but it can't hurt to try. And as cartboy has mentioned, contrary to popular belief, if you are having overheating issues, it's worse to leave your case open (sides off, etc). You need a closed system in order for the fans to have any effect (they need to blow onto and around components... with the case open, the air blows anywhere it wants without direction).

Get a can of pressurized air and dust out the inside of the machine paying close attention to not blow dust INto components. Without the ability to measure your various component temperatures, it's tough to say if it's an overheating issue. Also, if it's set in your BIOS, your system may warn you of overheating before it crashes by sounding an alarm (usually just a beep tone) -- but not always.

Those are the cheapest methods I can think of. Good luck and let us know what happens.

by **Major SONAR** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:37 am

Thanks for everyone's quick response.

The motherboard is new and so is the powersupply. The case is old and I had heat problems with the previous CPU in that case. With the previous CPU, I placed a small 6" - 8" personal fan blowing directly into the case to keep the heat down. The side was off the case and the fan was blowing driectly on the components.

I bought the PS at Compuse. It was a generic 500 - 550 watt model. I would think a new PS in that power range would be sufficent. I am running 3 hard drives with a case fan blowing driectly on them. The HD's are located at the top of the case and seem to be cool compared to the rest of the case.

The case is an old tower case. Starting from the bottom of the case and working up, I have a firewire card, a Hercules sound card the ATI video card then the CPU. Both the video card and the CPU generate significant amounts of heat.

Last night I put my hand down by the GPU/CPU and the heat was amazing! Under normal operating conditions the heat doesn't seem too bad, but last night...wow! Very hot!

I have not checked the Event Log. I will do that next and see if I can find anything. I will also try to find a temerature sensor or something in the BIOS that shows the temperature. I don't recall seeing anything that posts the temperatures while I was installing the MB drivers.

Do you think a new case with several large (120 mm) fans would be better than running the system without the side of the case on, or does it sound like the PS is the problem?

by **Mugzy** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:51 am

Make sure the heat sinks on the CPU are not full of dust. Mine was getting hotter then normal a few weeks ago and after blowing out the dust it dropped like 9 degrees.

by **Major SONAR** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:15 am

Dust could be a problem. For some reason my house is very dusty. Perhaps it's dusty because I live in the woods. I don't really know.

I've checked the temperatures at normal operating conditions. CPU = 45 C, MB = 39C. Fan Speed at 3700 RPM. Not sure how to check GPU temp. I'll poke around and see what I can find.

by **Buliwyf** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:51 am

sounds like a heat issue. if it continues to be a pattern, try taking the case side off, blowing a fan on it and see if it continues. That should rule it out.

by **Major SONAR** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:04 am

I'm fairly sure heat is the problem. What is the best solution if heat is the problem? Buy a better HS/Fan? (doubtful- but possibly the answer) Put the side of the case back on? (I would think it would be cooler off, but maybe...) Buy a new case? Perhaps a combination of the above?

by **BladeRunner** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:13 am

Originally posted by Major SONAR

Do you think a new case with several large (120 mm) fans would be better than running the system without the side of the case on, or does it sound like the PS is the problem?

imo, you need a new case with those large (120 mm) fans.
I think by your own temperature testing (your hand) you
have proved its heat related. Old boxes were not built to
handle the amount heat new systems can generate.

You may have to get a brick for the new box

with those
fans that baby might be floating off the floor about foot
without a brick to hold it down.

by **jfmaday** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:17 am

Also my 2 cents would be to never use the stock thermal paste that come on the components you buy. Alsways clean it and apply some premium stuff, i.e. arctic silver or equivalent. Yes, fans would do wonders, but make sure the intake on your comp isn't blocked by carpet, cuz on some cases the intake for cold air is at the bottom of the front panel, but some newer cases have a mesh-like front that allows air through the front panel. If all else fails then water cooling is the next step, but also try turning down some of your graphic settings.

by **Jim0322** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:23 am

Originally posted by Major SONAR
I've checked the temperatures at normal operating conditions. CPU = 45 C, MB = 39C. Fan Speed at 3700 RPM. Not sure how to check GPU temp. I'll poke around and see what I can find.

That is a perfectly normal CPU temp. How hot is the room your PC is in? The MB temp of 39C makes me think it is a hot room. Is the room 90+ F?

Do check for dust on the heatsink on your video card. Dust can collect between the fins and can also collect on top of the heatsink between it and the fan.

You said the heat is immense. Where is it coming from? You might touch the heat sink on the graphics card to feel how hot it is. I don't know ATI cards but it seems like there should be a way to find the GPU temp.
Jim

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