Cooling problems - probably?

Winterseele · June 3, 2013

Hi everyone,

My Rig:

Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-MA 790XT-UD4P

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 (Deleb) - boxed (yes, I didn't change the cooler since I didn't have a clue years ago and I didn't care to much about the noise. Plus, honestly, at that time I wasn't confident enough to change it myself.)

Graphics: ASUS GTX 560 ti

Boot-Drive: SSD

Sorage: HDD

Sound: ASUS Xonar DX

Memory: 4 gig Kingston

The Story:

for years I've been stuck with my good old "AMD Phenom II X4 955 (Deleb)"-processor and it has always done its work. I changed my graphics-card to meet the requirements for modern games.

For several months now I've got random blue screens, freezes and bluescreen-freezes (ye, the funny thing when it's trying to dump the error-stuff it gathered to disc before reboots - but freezes while doing that) under load - wasn't to thrilled about that. So I started testing.

SSD: Check.

Harddrive: Check.

Several Graphics-Benchmarks: Check

Memory: Errors.

That's where I thought having found the problem, but changing the DDR3-Ram just lowered the blue-screen and freezes frequency. Next I was testing my graphics card, since the problems occured mainly under load, but couldn't get a gist of the problem.

Finally, some days ago, I got myself Speedfan installed - and was confronted with heavy core-temperatures, while my 560-TI was running cool and sound.

Idle: 42°

Prime95 running: more or less permanently 81°

Fun fact: Prime95 didn't trigger blue screens/freezes, while any game (Witcher II, LoL, Starcraft II) did trigger bluescreens.

I don't know what to think anymore. Does Prime stop stressing (or at least try to settle down), if 80° are reached?

Besides that, I got lags in games, that shouldn't be there - like micro-stuttering - after some time. Not very noticeable, but it's there - before the crashes occur.

While prime was testing, CPUZ showed the Core-Speed jumping between 800 MHz and 3200 MHz (it's jumping on the multiplier between 4times and 16times). Is it trying not to overheat at that point? And... do games not accuratly know, how to handle that? Why are problems like this occuring now, while my system was running all fine for... well, years?

Since I don't have any better idea I am beginning to think, i should think about a better cooling solution, but after running prime95... I'm still not confident, that that's realy the problem.

I would be very thankful for any input, even more for any help suggestions!

Thanks for reading!

BroKenFingers · June 3, 2013

It sounds like the CPU is thermal throttling...(Prime95 hits the CPU) and it can have an effect on what you are doing at the time. It may be time for a new cooler..but there may also be other issues to address as well..better to start with the easy things first. No cooling solution last forever..dust, dirt, air restrictions, thermal transfer, etc..all degrade a coolers effectiveness. Swap in a new one..cheap easy fix..When you research a new cooler don't forget to get a GOOD thermal compound..it does play an important role in transferring the heat. When you tax the GPU (games) the troubles/errors get allot more complex.Try this program to gather info on your bluescreens :

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

Sweep your drives for any old traces of GPU drivers..old outdated software..etc Check for BIOS updates. After all that is done test your system with your games. Good luck with the hunt..Let us know what you find.

fataldog187 · June 3, 2013

Depending on your budget, I would attempt cleaning and replacing the thermal compound first. The stock cooler should work well enough if you aren't overclocking and your case has adequate airflow, also you can always replace it with an aftermarket cooler if this is not successful.

If your memory was defective, and you applied OS updates, installed drivers/programs while using the defective memory then the files passed through said memory may have become corrupted on their way to being written to disk. In short, your old memory may still be causing some of your BSOD issues, the memory may have been removed but its effects may still be lingering.

Winterseele · June 4, 2013

Thanks for your replies!

I'll start by installing a new cooler. That's a first for me - but with any luck I'll do just fine with following the given instructions.

At first I was intreaged by the compound-replacement-idea, but after giving my case a short checkup, I decided against it. Unfortunatly it doesn't have the (nowadays usually-to-be-found) cutout for behind the mainboard, which makes everything much more complicated then it should be. In short: I take this as a chance to get myself some silence and replace it with a "BeQuiet"-cooler (already ordered).

If replacing the cooler doesn't proof to be sufficient cure for the errors, I'll have to completely setup windows 7 again to make sure no leftovers of the old memory linger around, i guess... >.<. Thanks for the hint.

I've tryed out the bluescreen-viewer, but for some reason it didn't find the dump-files. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but with any luck I won't need it anyways. 2-3 days from now I'll have the new cooler. Wish me luck and steady hands.

BroKenFingers · June 4, 2013

Good Luck and enjoy !!..let us know how it works out..!!

fataldog187 · June 4, 2013

At first I was intreaged by the compound-replacement-idea, but after giving my case a short checkup, I decided against it. Unfortunatly it doesn't have the (nowadays usually-to-be-found) cutout for behind the mainboard, which makes everything much more complicated then it should be. In short: I take this as a chance to get myself some silence and replace it with a "BeQuiet"-cooler (already ordered).

Removing and replacing a stock cooler on that socket shouldn't require any work behind the motherboard, it just has an arm that clips onto the socket sides and tightens with a flip of the plastic thingy (I don't know the technical name of it). But good luck with the new cooler, it should come with some new thermal compound so you'll be killing two birds with one stone.

Winterseele · June 5, 2013

Prime is running. Idle was about 36°, load 50°.

It's quiet. I feel like... dreaming. Why didn't I change this part before? O_O

Now the loudest part of my rig is the HD while working.

It seems like I didn't mess up to bad with the thermal compound (was scared of that part).

No thermal throttling anymore. I guess, I can already say... that problem is absolutely solfed. If still bluescreens occur (not sure yet), it gotta be leftovers of the failed memory. Anyway: THANKS for your tips!