My CPU is overheating!

[Snail489]

Hey guys. I'm at a loss as to what could be causing my CPU to overheat - feel like I've tried everything already and it just gets worse and worse.

To start - here are the relevant specs (only the CPU is overheating):
CPU - Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3
Motherboard - ASRock B85M-PRO4
CPU Cooler - Deepcool Gammaxx 400 (just bought this)

Here's a recap of what I've done:

Initially I had been using the stock Intel cooler for 2.5 years, no problems, temps were always pretty standard. Lately I noticed it was idling around 70C and rapidly hitting 99-100C with a game open (~15-20% CPU usage). I opened up the computer, got rid of the dust, etc., temps are still bad.

Now I bought an aftermarket CPU cooler (the Deepcool one) and thermal paste. I removed the old paste, applied the new one (pea sized dot in the middle and then put the heatsink on it like I see in most videos). I did have some trouble fitting the heatsink in so it (might???) be possible some of the paste rubbed off/doesn't contact properly, idk.
But anyway, after changing the paste and cooler the temps are worse. Now at idle, it starts at 75C and rapidly rises to 96-99C on low CPU usage (no programs, maybe 2-3% usage).

Any idea what could be causing this? I'm thinking the heatsink might not properly contact the CPU if the temps are rising that quickly, but is it possible the CPU is just dead?

edit: also, not overclocking because the voltages are locked I think.

 

[sarwar_r87]

Since you had dust accumulated, have you cleaned the vents and fan?

Do you have a graphics card, what are the temps in that.

Go to bios to confirm the CPU temp there and make your your CPU voltages are at their default values.

 

[Snail489]

Yeah vents and fan all cleaned of dust. GPU temps are about 35C (radeon r9 290), pretty typical temps I think. I checked the temp in the BIOS, same thing happens (rapidly rises to 95C or so). Voltages look like they're pretty average values, I havent changed them ever so I think they're defaults.

 

[CompuTronix]

Snail489,

Just as with Intel's stock cooler, your new Deepcool Gammaxx 400 unfortunately uses the same push-pins.

It's very likely that at least one of them isn't properly seated and securely latched completely through the motherboard, which is a very common problem. This causes poor contact pressure between the cooler and the CPU, resulting in high temperatures in BIOS, as well as in Windows at idle, and especially at 100% workload.

You can troubleshoot this problem by pushing firmly on each corner of the cooler for about 30 seconds while watching your load temperatures. When you see a significant drop, you've found the loose push-pin.

The push-pins can be deceivingly tricky to get them fully inserted through the motherboard and properly latched.

(1) To re-seat a single loose push-pin, release the latch mechanism to the retracted clockwise position, then reset it to the counterclockwise position, but do NOT push on it yet.

(2) To get the pin fully inserted through the motherboard, push only on the leg, NOT on the top of the latch.

(3) While holding the leg firmly against the motherboard with one hand, you can now push on the top of the latch with your other hand until the latch clicks.

(4) If you're re-seating the entire cooler, then be sure to latch the pins across from one another, rather than next to one another. Use an "X" pattern, so as to apply even pressure during installation.

If your case allows you to see the back side of your motherboard and CPU socket, you can use a strong light to carefully inspect each push-pin to confirm that they're all properly seated and latched.

That should do it.

CT

 

[Snail489]

Thanks man! I noticed one pin at the back wasn't pushed in, so when I popped it in and tested it I get ~30C at idle and ~60C when running a stress test.