CPU overheating?

[Karnevil9]

My computer which is runnig an AthlonXP 2500+ barton core on a Soltek Motherbaord with ABS II to prevent AMD overheating, recently starting shutting itself off. My son said it started this week. I thought the CPU might be overheating and I beleive I am correct, since I can see the temps slowly rise until it shuts down. From there it will cycle on and off. The CPU is running a stock HSF and fan whcih I will replace with a more vigorous one. My question is, this computer has been running fine for about a year without any problems. Is it normal that it would just start doing this for no reason? All Fans are running at the same speeds as when it was first built to my knowledge, and I cleaned out all dust and dust filters. Is there another problem I should be looking at that may have caused this to happen? If the CPU got fried when it was recycling, is there any way to tell before I put a new HSF in and start it. I don't think the CPU is gone since the computer will run fine until it gets up to it's heat range and shuts down.

[Byte 2.0]

That is odd. I recently just changed 2 of my Heatsinks, I HIGHLY recommend pure copper heat sinks like the following. I have both these.

Thermaltake A1671 VOLCANO 10+ for AMD Athlon XP up to 3400+ on my Duron 1.2ghz
http://thermaltake.com/coolers/volcano/si/a1671.htm
I got this one last week at www.2coolshopping.com

Then on my XP1700+ I have from Newegg.com I have a Dynatron Copper CPU Cooler for Socket A, Model "BH-610" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...114-011&depa=1

What temp does your CPU get to when it shutdown?

It could be voltage causing some problems as well perhaps. It might be going outside of the set norms and doing a shutdown.

Couple weeks I had a slight problem changing a CPU fan, when I put a 80mm on my heatsink to do until I got a replacement. I didn't have a connector to connect to the MB and I would hit power and it would come on and go off with in 5 seconds. Because I had it set to turn off if CPU fan failed.

[morriswindgate]

Not only are the ThermalTake Volcanos very loud, they are expensive. For a XP2500 you don't need anything more expensive than the Speeze Falcon Rock, which is about 13 bucks + shipping on Newegg. I have used these on several XP2500 builds and they maintain the correct temp range easily and are really quiet.
The retail Coolers that comes with the XP is a cheapie Coolermaster (IMHO The worst manufacture of these things out there) and the fans are undersized and tend to vary in speed as they get older.
Also since it has been running a year, you also need to clean the dust bunnies out of the fins on the cooler.

[Karnevil9]

Ha. ha. Great minds must think alike

Based on reviews I just purchased the Speeze Falcon Rock from newegg, to save some money. I had the thought in mind that if it doesn't work I'll go with the more exspensive Volcano 10. Again based on it's reviews.

The ABS II was set to shut off at 85C. That is about where it would get to when it did.

I was thinking about voltage, but I watched the temps rise and then it would shut down. It would keep rebooting itself and shutting down again right away, but when I tunred the system off and let it cool awhile, it would stay on until the temp got back up there again. Took about 15 to 20 mins.

[glc]

The only way it's gonna get to 85 is if something is definitely wrong with your HSF or its installation.

[Karnevil9]

I hope so, that way I can hope that the new heatsink and fan will solve the problem. I just couldn't figure out why it would run for almost a year at 42C, and now it is at 85C plus. It shuts down at 85C but it would go hjigher if it wasn't for the ABS. Maybe dust bunnies in the fins as Morris suggested.

[Karnevil9]

In regards to installing heatsink and fans, anyone have a tried and true method of applying artic silver when doing these builds. It seems you get different versions from things like computer mags or websites, from none to just over the diode etc.

[glc]

I polish a thin haze into the heatsink and spread a thin film on the CPU core. I use a plastic bag wrapped around my finger to do both. This is with AS2 and AS3 - I havent played with the new stuff yet.