Question CPU temp peaks while idle and crashs

[Theunnamedguy95]

My CPU seems to idle at 45c but after a while it shoots up to 90 and hard crashes. I figured I needed to clean the heat sink and I was right there was butt load of dust stuck there, So I cleaned it. But the issue is still persisting. I cleaned the heat sink attached to the motherboard since I don't have extra thermal paste
Is it that the paste needs to be changed or something other than that.
PS: my CPU is 4 years old should I change/upgrade to a better one

 

[COLGeek]

What are the complete specs for this system (make/model of all installed components)?

 

[Bob O' Goobo]

It sounds like your thermal paste was dried out when you pulled the heatsink. That would cause issues. Am I understanding correctly that you just put the heatsink back down with the old paste? If so I would say that is a huge part of your issues. Try new paste and see what happens

 

[Theunnamedguy95]

What are the complete specs for this system (make/model of all installed components)?

CPU Intel i5 8400
GPU Nvidia GTX 1060 6gb
RAM 16 GB
Motherboard Asus PRIME H310M-E

 

[Theunnamedguy95]

It sounds like your thermal paste was dried out when you pulled the heatsink. That would cause issues. Am I understanding correctly that you just put the heatsink back down with the old paste? If so I would say that is a huge part of your issues. Try new paste and see what happens

NO I didn't remove the heat sink from the mother board as I could remove the dust clog with a balloon blower

 

[COLGeek]

Are you using the original Intel OEM heatsink with your CPU?

 

[Theunnamedguy95]

Are you using the original Intel OEM heatsink with your CPU?

YES

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

YES

Wait a sec. So you took the cooler off to clean? RIght? But didn't have any paste to replace with? Is that right. So, you put the cooler on back on without new paste?

Oh, sorry, I think you cleaned the cooler but didn't remove it?

Yes, it's very possible your thermal paste needs tp be replaced. You cna get something like Noctua NT-H2 which is very good.

 

[COLGeek]

YES

The others are making a good suggestion. Replace your thermal compound and see if that makes a difference.

I would also suggest that you would get better cooling performance from an aftermarket cooler. Is this a possibility for you?