Overheating P4 3.4E Prescott on Intel D875PBZ MOB

[Viperino]

Sorry if this is a little long but...

System:
MOB: Intel D875PBZ MOB
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 Processor 3.40E with 1-MB L2 Cache (Prescott?)
HSF: standard Intel boxed (will be trying a Zalman 9500)
GPU: ATI 9800XT (just added an Antec VCool PCI slot fresh air intake fan below it)
POS: 450 WATT with small fan
CAS: Aluminum Z-Alien from Cyberpowerinc (not TAC)
FAN: 80mm in front, 120mm in back

History:
A few months ago, Battlefield 2 started to reboot the system almost everytime upon beginning to start an online game. (I did not have any temperature monitoring in place until last week.)
I have continuously updated all hardware drivers, including GPU and system BIOS to the latest versions.

Last week I installed Intel Active Monitor and Intel Desktop Control Center, which includes StressTest 1.0 to perform various tests. Using these, I realized my CPU was overheating. I first checked all my fans, which seemed to be working properly. (They are not connected to the mother board, so I can not verify speed, but they are all turning) So, I called Intel and to my surprise, they sent me a new CPU and HSF. While I was waiting I cleaned my case and blew out all my other fans, including the GPU (9800XT).

The new HSF came with the thermal pad, so I installed it that way. BUMMER, same thing still. I purchased some Silver thermal compound (Fanner 700) from a local computer store and tried that. Same results...

Couple of side notes:
1. Running BF2 triggers CPU temp warning (set at 75C) in about 30 secs.
2. My system has rebooted from BF2, probably 40-50 times in last few months.
3. I have not pushed the system to reboot stage since knowing about the overheating, but believe this is same problem that started months ago.
4. I noticed my GPU fan seems slow and makes a lot of noise. So I also used ATI Catalyst utility to monitor GPU temp. (I have a ticket with ATI to verify safe temps for GPU, but have not heard back from them yet.
5. I have never OC'd.

I ordered a Zalman CNPS9500-cu, some Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound the 2 cleaning compounds. I hope to have them by Weds (12/7/2005).
I decided to do some better testing and record the results with a few comments/concerns...

Test date: 12/3/05 - before Antec VCool slot fan
IDLE: (Ambient 23C)
CPU: 52-54C (53) - slightly high but not out of order?
Zone 1: 33-35C (34) - case temps look ok?
Zone 2: 30-32C (31) - case temps look ok?
GPU: 67-68C (67) - seems high but waiting on ATI?

50% (GPU and CPU) load for 5 min:
CPU: 67C (+14) - not really good
Zone 1: 39C (+5) - case temps still ok?
Zone 2: 35C (+4) - case temps still ok?
GPU: 68C (+1) - not bad?

100% (GPU and CPU) load for 5 min:
CPU: 84C (+21) - VERY BAD - about to reboot?
Zone 1: 45C (+11) - case temps still ok?
Zone 2: 40C (+9) - case temps still ok?
GPU: 72C (+5) - not bad, not that much increase?

Since the above tests I have:
1. Added the Antec VCool slot fan.
2. Removed and verified contact of HSF. Looked like good contact, but not great. If anything I might have had too much compound on it?
3. So, I touched it up a little and reseated the HSF.
4. Ran a few more tests recording the temps every 10 secs for the first 2 mins.
5. Installed a program called throttlewatch to see if/when my CPU throttles.

Test date: 12/6/05 - after Antec VCool slot fan
All IDLE temps are lower than 12/3 tests.
Not sure what made biggest change? (ambient, reseat of HSF, or VCool)
IDLE: (Ambient 22C)
CPU: 49C (-4 from 12/3)
Zone 1: 29C (-5 from 12/3)
Zone 2: 26C (-5 from 12/3)
GPU: 61C (-6 from 12/3)

100% (GPU and CPU) load at 30 sec:
CPU: 59C (+10)
Zone 1: 30C (+1)
Zone 2: 26C (0)
GPU: 62C (+1)

100% (GPU and CPU) load at 60 sec:
CPU: 66C (+10)
Zone 1: 31C (+2)
Zone 2: 28C (+2)
GPU: 62C (+1)

100% (GPU and CPU) load at 2 min:
CPU: 73C (+21) - kicks off Intel Active monitor alert (which is reccomended for the 3.4E Prescott)
Zone 1: 35C (+6)
Zone 2: 31C (+5)
GPU: 63C (+2)

100% (GPU and CPU) load at 4 min:
CPU: 79C (+30) - throttlewatch begins to show throttling (STOPPED test - I just don't like going any higher anymore)
Zone 1: 39C (+10)
Zone 2: 35C (+9)
GPU: 63C (+2)

System has been IDLE for about 10 hours and current temps are:
CPU: 50C
Zone 1: 35C
Zone 2: 32C
GPU: 63C

This is were I sit right now.
I am hoping that the CPU/HSF/contact is the only thing that is out of order and the Zalman 9500 will fix it but...
I am not real confident that it will.
Here are a few of my comments/questions:
1. Does anyone know where exactly the Zone 1 and Zone 2 readings from Active MOnitor are located on the D875PBZ MOB?
2. Do Zone 1 and Zone 2 look to be ok? They do to me.
3. Due to the rate of increase of the CPU, I want to believe the Zalman9500/AS5 will help/fix.
4. Is there anything else besides the CPU/HSF/contact that could cause this?

If anyone has any other suggestions or comments please post.

Thanks...

[Cricket]

Check to see if the black plastic cradle around the CPU socket is either cracked or if it's working loose from the motherboard. I've heard of some people having overheating problems and when they looked into it they found the cradle was loose (usually one of the pins is pulling out from the motherboard).

Cricket

[Viperino]

"Due to the rate of increase of the CPU, I want to believe the Zalman9500/AS5 will help/fix."

Let me rephrase that...

Due to the fact that the CPU looks to be the only area out of order, the Zalman9500 might fix it. But due to the fact that the IDLE CPU isn't out of order and the rate of increase bothers me, makes me doubt if it will.

Thanks for the idea Cricket, I'll double check that next time I shut down....

[blue60007]

Also check for dust build up. That can cause temps to spike.

[jayb1234]

It looks to me like that case doesn't have very good airflow and no good spot to add any fans to cool the cpu. One thing that might help is swapping any ribbon cables for round ones and/or tidying up the cables as much as possible to allow better air movement.

[Viperino]

I have re-checked the mounting bracket and it is tight.
I have blown out the whole machine and it is pretty clean.
The wires are wrapped pretty good and should not inhibit air flow.
I realize my case is not TAC designed, but I believe the air flow is fairly good.

Do you guys think that the Zone 1 and 2 numbers are too high too?
I kind of thought they were in the OK range. (26-29C IDLE, 35-39C LOADED)
Again, does anybody know exactly were these locations are on my board (Intel D875PBZ)?

[Viperino]

IT WORKED! IT WORKED!
WOW, am I ever happy.
I installed the Zalman 9500 using the Artic Silver 5 and...

IDLE:
CPU = 39-41C
Z1 = 28C
Z2 = 26C

100% loading for 15 min:
CPU = 49-50C (stabalized)
Z1 = 32-33C
Z2 = 30-31C

And, as soon as the load was removed it dropped back to IDLE temps in seconds. (It used to take several mins)

I don't know what made the biggest differance, the AS5, how I applied it, the Zalman or the Zalman configuration. But, I don't care and it was probably a combination of all.

It even looks COOLER!

[Cricket]

Cool...glad you got things sorted out.

Cricket