Is my PC frying alive?

[Nextg_Rival]

Hey guys,

Some quick context. A few days ago my side fan died. I also have two other fans - a front and a back fan. Front one is still working I think, back fan is definitely working and roaring like a hellhound. Back at around the time I noticed my fan had died, my PC suddenly became really slow and laggy. Initially I subscribed it to some software issue, but I'm growing increasingly sure that the real cause is overheating. Sadly, I had never measured the temperatures of my PC before the side fan died, so I have no figures to compare the current ones to.

An imgur album with Hardware Monitor and DXDiag: http://imgur.com/a/NcsXs

From what I gathered, the CPU may be overheating (apparently the max temperature for the FX 6300 is 65 degrees Celsius). I'm not sure about the motherboard, but comparing it to some random internet figures I found, it also isn't looking very good. Is anything wrong here? Are my components, or at least the CPU, really overheating? If so, what do I do to fix this? Do I have to buy a replacement fan? As a relevant note, money is somewhat of an issue and I can't afford anything too expensive.

Thank you for your time!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The best fans on the market can be had for $10 when ya catch them on special at the right time.

Phanteks 120mm PH-F120SP / PH-F140SP
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709032
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709023

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1345-page7.html

 

[azaran]

Before letting yourself worry too much about your temps, make sure you're reading them right. AMD CPUs go off of thermal margin, and the tools you're using are (I believe) meant for Intel builds. Read up and then test to find out your thermal margins and see if you're actually over heating or not.
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2122665/understanding-temperature-amd-cpus-apus.html

And like Jack said, good fans can be had for cheap. And if you're rear fan is making a bunch of noise, and assuming it's not just a badly designed fan, then that could be a precursor to it failing. Either way, a replacement may not be a bad idea.

 

[smorizio]

also if your rig needs air take the side window off for now.

 

[Nextg_Rival]

Just added the AMD Overdrive test results to the imgur album. I'm assuming the results mean it's overheating, in which case I probably need at least a new side fan, worst case scenario perhaps even a CPU fan. My PC is a cheap pre-built, so generally it'd be possible for the fans to simply be poorly designed, but it looks like it really is overheating in this case.

If that's indeed the case, a couple of questions about fans:

1) Does the size of the fan matter that much? I found some 140mm ones on the market as well as the 120mm. Size doesn't affect compatibility, only performance, right?

2) Do I need anti-static gloves or anything like that before I change my fans? Also, is replacing them a simple process?

3) Any specifics recommendations? Preferably from Amazon UK. I found some of the Phanteks and I'll definitely keep them in mind.

 

[azaran]

Yep looks like you have a heating issue. Airflow in the case is important but so is your cooler. Try pulling off your case side like Smorizio suggested and see if you're getting better numbers. If you suddenly dip down low enough that you're not over heating, then really just worry about replacing the case fans. If even with the side off you're still over heating, then it's time for a better CPU cooler. I'd also still replace the case fans at that point as it sounds like they aren't of the highest quality.

1. Fan size is dependent on what your case is designed to handle. If it's set for 120mm, then use 120mm or else you're going to have to get creative with a dremel. If it can handle multiple sizes, then go with which one fits your budget and requirements (speed, noise, air flow). Also you'll want to make sure you pick the right connector type. If existing setup uses a molex power connector, then make sure the new fan does the same. If it uses a 3/4 pin connector that plugs in to the motherboard, get the corresponding model.

2. Eh it's not a bad idea but don't freak out over it. You always wanna keep static measures in mind, so if you're not sure if you're grounded, don't touch anything with a circuit in it. That being said, don't ever think it. The fan is going to be attached to the case, so there's no danger there. Pulling the cable is the only time you'll likely have to even think about static, just make sure you ground yourself before pulling the cable off the motherboard. Read up on how to ground yourself (there are tons of articles on a google search.)

3. Phanteks are good, I also like Noctua but they can get pricey. Here's a link for the UK partpicker, you can refine the search for your specs.
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/case-fan/
When you're picking out a fan, you're trying to find a balance of airflow to noise to price. The larger the fan, the less it has to spin to create the same airflow of smaller fan. This is good for wear and tear and also for noise as slow (usually) equates out to less noisy. If you don't care about noise, then get the highest CFM (air flow) that you can for your size and price range. If you do care, then start looking at noise levels and see where you want to be.

 

[synphul]

What cpu cooler are you currently using? Is the fan spinning? Have you dusted it out with compressed air? I'd try those things first, then if it doesn't help consider a replacement cpu cooler. Amd overdrive is indicating you're overheating which is why it's showing negative numbers. It tells you how many degrees until you thermal throttle, once into negative numbers you're beyond having any thermal margin headroom left and it's throttling back your cpu to try and keep temps down.

 

[Nextg_Rival]

UPDATE:

It wasn't just one of my case fans that died, all three of them kicked the bucket at the same time. I have no idea why or how, nor do I know how to fix it as there doesn't really seem to be a real reason for them to break down all at once. Nonetheless, my PC runs stable with the side panel popped off and I can use it for general purposes (though I am yet to try out gaming with it). I'd be happy to discuss this further if anyone of you guys would like to, but for now the problem seems to be resolved (gaming test sometime soonTM, hopefully it all works well). Thank you for all the effort and help.

 

[synphul]

Were all the case fans plugged directly into the motherboard fan headers? Were they plugged into the same header via a splitter cable? Try to get ahold of a pcie or molex to fan conversion cable and plug each one of your fans in directly powered by the power supply (skip the mobo for powering them) and test them one at a time, see if they work. If so then likely your motherboard fan headers died.

 

[Nextg_Rival]

From what I can see, they're plugged into the motherboard, but use different headers. I could be wrong since I couldn't really examine it in detail, but that seems most likely. I don't have any conversion cables, so I can't test this out. I'm guessing that it's a reasonable assumption to say it's the mobo that's failed here.

 

[synphul]

Try running a different monitoring utility like hwinfo64. I know you used hwmonitor, I'd be curious to have you double check your voltages. If hwmonitor is correct your 12v power seems really weak. Your info according to the pic you linked on imgur shows -

3.3v - 3.312v actual
5v - 4.89v to 4.98v actual
12v - 9.79v to 9.9v actual

Compared to mine (using hwinfo64). Notice my 12v is right at 12v, not below 10v.

What psu are you using and how old is it? I was looking at your core temps and speeds and missed the low 12v reading when I looked at your screenshot before. Fans run on 12v power, if there's an issue with your psu or an issue with 12v power regulation on your motherboard that could be part of the issue with your fans.

 

[Nextg_Rival]

Here are the hwinfo64 values: http://imgur.com/a/imIPg

They look more normal, though the 5V rail is not listed at all for some reason.

The PC is a pre-built and I can't find any information on the power supply, not on the actual PSU, not in the Amazon description of the PC nor even through Google. All I could find was that it's a 500W power supply. I've had it for about two or three years. If it's any help, the PC I bought was branded OCHW Defender GTX 750 Ti, FX 6300. I'm afraid that's not much use, though.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

From what I can see, they're plugged into the motherboard, but use different headers. I could be wrong since I couldn't really examine it in detail, but that seems most likely. I don't have any conversion cables, so I can't test this out. I'm guessing that it's a reasonable assumption to say it's the mobo that's failed here.

With all failing at the same time, that is extremely suspicious.... if you're handy, would suggest taking out the fan and "jumping" it to a 12v power source, Have you tried ....

Giving the fan a bit of a push w/ your finger ?
Checking your BIOS to make sure that fan control is still on ?

Giga has a utility to control this stuff but I doubt it comes ona store bought PC

http://www.gigabyte.us/FileUpload/US/Microsite/369/images/system-tweaking.html