Question Can't figure out why my CPU is overheating

[HGhost]

A few weeks ago my PC started turning itself off after about 2 minutes of running.
After a while I found that the temperature for the CPU was going up to about 100° before it shut off.
I cleaned it, I replaced the thermal paste, the cooler, and even the CPU itself, but it's still happening.
I'm not sure what else could be causing the problem.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600x
Cooler: NZXT Kraken 120
Motherboard: ASRock b550 Phantom Gaming 4/ac

I don't know what other information might be helpful.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[lvt]

What thermal paste do you use?

Do you have another thermal paste around?

 

[HGhost]

What thermal paste do you use?

Do you have another thermal paste around?

NT-H1 is what the box says.
I don't have anything else around but if you have a recommendation I am willing to try just about anything.

 

[hm1342]

A few weeks ago my PC started turning itself off after about 2 minutes of running.
After a while I found that the temperature for the CPU was going up to about 100° before it shut off.
I cleaned it, I replaced the thermal paste, the cooler, and even the CPU itself, but it's still happening.
I'm not sure what else could be causing the problem.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600x
Cooler: NZXT Kraken 120
Motherboard: ASRock b550 Phantom Gaming 4/ac

I don't know what other information might be helpful.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

Have you entered into the BIOS and reset everything back to stock settings?

 

[HGhost]

Have you entered into the BIOS and reset everything back to stock settings?

I haven't changed any settings in the BIOS but I will try anyway

 

[hm1342]

I haven't changed any settings in the BIOS but I will try anyway

Once you're in BIOS you might be able to look at voltages. I'm definitely not the expert here but maybe your motherboard's supplying too much voltage to the CPU causing the overheating/shutdown.

 

[geofelt]

How old is your aio?
They do not last forever.
In time, the mechanical pump fails or gets clogged with debris.
Or, air intrudes and the bubbles keep the coolant from circulating.
You could try placing the pc on it's side and see if anything changes.

 

[HGhost]

Once you're in BIOS you might be able to look at voltages. I'm definitely not the expert here but maybe your motherboard's supplying too much voltage to the CPU causing the overheating/shutdown.

Changing the voltage didn't seem to help any

 

[HGhost]

How old is your aio?
They do not last forever.
In time, the mechanical pump fails or gets clogged with debris.
Or, air intrudes and the bubbles keep the coolant from circulating.
You could try placing the pc on it's side and see if anything changes.

I replaced it about a week ago since I figured it could be the problem. No luck there.

 

[hm1342]

Changing the voltage didn't seem to help any

Thanks for checking. I realize you're time-limited every time you start your computer. I was just curious if the default settings in your BIOS might help with voltages. Off the top of my head I don't recall what the stock voltages are for the 5600X. I'm assuming you've used the stock AMD cooler as an alternative to the AIO if you built this rig yourself. Based on your OP you've replaced everything except the motherboard and the power supply. Other than replacing them one at a time for troubleshooting purposes I am at a loss as to what else to suggest.

 

[HGhost]

Thanks for checking. I realize you're time-limited every time you start your computer. I was just curious if the default settings in your BIOS might help with voltages. Off the top of my head I don't recall what the stock voltages are for the 5600X. I'm assuming you've used the stock AMD cooler as an alternative to the AIO if you built this rig yourself. Based on your OP you've replaced everything except the motherboard and the power supply. Other than replacing them one at a time for troubleshooting purposes I am at a loss as to what else to suggest.

I actually forgot to mention that I already replaced the power supply as well.
Do you think replacing the motherboard could fix it?

 

[hm1342]

Thanks for the reply. The motherboard is always a possibility. In my very limited experience, an overheating CPU will be caused by improper mounting of the cooler or overvoltage to the extent that the cooler can't compensate. You have a nominal 65W processor that will get to maybe 90 watts if overclocked. Ordinarily a fully functional 120MM AIO is more than adequate to handle that level of heat produced.

You said you've "replaced the thermal paste, the cooler, and even the CPU itself" along with the PSU. You haven't said if you've ever used an air cooler for the CPU during your troubleshooting process. It's entirely possible that the AIO you used was already faulty. If you have the stock Wraith Stealth cooler and haven't used it or another air cooler it's worth a shot.

That only leaves the motherboard as the only component (other than RAM) that you haven't replaced. If you have another AM4 board (with the proper BIOS update) you might want to swap just to eliminate it as the culprit.

 

[hm1342]

Thanks for the reply. The motherboard is always a possibility. In my very limited experience, an overheating CPU will be caused by improper mounting of the cooler or overvoltage to the extent that the cooler can't compensate. You have a nominal 65W processor that will get to maybe 90 watts if overclocked. Ordinarily a fully functional 120MM AIO is more than adequate to handle that level of heat produced.

You said you've "replaced the thermal paste, the cooler, and even the CPU itself" along with the PSU. You haven't said if you've ever used an air cooler for the CPU during your troubleshooting process. It's entirely possible that the AIO you used was already faulty. If you have the stock Wraith Stealth cooler and haven't used it or another air cooler it's worth a shot.

That only leaves the motherboard as the only component (other than RAM) that you haven't replaced. If you have another AM4 board (with the proper BIOS update) you might want to swap just to eliminate it as the culprit.

As I think about your AIO and the motherboard another possibility occurs to me. I'm not sure how your particular AIO connects for power, but typically there's one 3-or-4-pin connector from the pump to the motherboard, or power is supplied via a SATA connector. I have had both. If powered by the motherboard, the motherboard connector itself or the wire connected to the pump might be defective. Same goes for any SATA cable - it, too, might be defective. Have you placed a finger on the pump to feel if it was operational on startup? If not, then maybe changing to another connection might work.

 

[geofelt]

Dumb question...
Did you remove the protective mylar film from the pump?

 

[HGhost]

Dumb question...
Did you remove the protective mylar film from the pump?

If you mean where the thermal paste is, yes. If there's some other film then I haven't noticed it.

 

[HGhost]

As I think about your AIO and the motherboard another possibility occurs to me. I'm not sure how your particular AIO connects for power, but typically there's one 3-or-4-pin connector from the pump to the motherboard, or power is supplied via a SATA connector. I have had both. If powered by the motherboard, the motherboard connector itself or the wire connected to the pump might be defective. Same goes for any SATA cable - it, too, might be defective. Have you placed a finger on the pump to feel if it was operational on startup? If not, then maybe changing to another connection might work.

I will check that next. Thanks for the idea.

 

[geofelt]

Dumb question...
Did you remove the protective mylar film from the pump?

Yes, not so uncommon of an error.
Before buying a new motherboard, buy a simple air cooler.
Noctua has a list of suitable coolers for a 5600x:

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | CPU Compatibility | Noctua Compatibility Centre

Series: Vermeer, Socket: AM4

ncc.noctua.at

 

[TerryLaze]

Go into bios and choose a lower TDP setting (eco mode) so you get at least more time in windows to run diagnostic stuff.
If the bios settings are set to use too much TDP then the cooler might just be overburdened.
In windows you can use hwinfo or ryzen master to see how much power the CPU draws.