Why is my CPU so hot?

[teekay]

I have an Athlon XP1900 that I just cannot keep cool. It is over 2 years old.

This CPU was originally in a Biostar M/B and had a very noisy CPU fan which I swapped out for a CoolerMaster Heat Pipe (HHC-L61) cooler and all was well (and quiet).

Then one day the M/B died, so I replaced it with an Abit KV7.

Ever since, I have just haven't been able to keep the CPU cool. When the CPU is loaded for any length of time it gets so hot that it locks up. This is even with the case open. Ambient is probably around 22deg.C. The CPU is in roughly the same postition on this M/B as on the Biostar so air flow should be similar.

I use Motherboard Monitor and when it locks up the CPU is about 55 deg.C and the 'case' temperature is over 70 deg.C. I guess 'case' is a thermistor on the M/B close to the CPU.

I use Coolermaster's thermal grease and have re-seated the heatsink a few times but it made no difference.

I reduced the core voltage from 1.75 to 1.7v. Below this it crashes so that suggests that it is running at the right core voltage.

I reverted to the noisy fan and that keeps it cool enough, though still hot, provided the case is open. The CPU runs at around 49deg.C and the 'case' at around 58deg.C

So my question is can anyone think of why the CPU gets so hot with this motherboard?

Could it be a faulty M/B or could the CPU have suffered when my old M/B died?

Tim

 

[Cybercraig]

Time for a new rig. When the "Cattlecar" MB died it tried to take your CPU with it. Re-install H/S fan with AS-5, it may work, but a new XP CPU will be the cure.


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[jammydodger]

Sounds to me like your temperature sensors are fcuked, I think it is against the laws of physics for the case temp to be hotter than the CPU. If the air in the case is hotter than the heatsink then whats cooling it?

Does the heatsink feel hot when you touch it?

 

[skinnyjoint]

yea either your temps are screwed or 70c for your case holy crap you would have to look into that but i doubt its that hot
what kinda heatsink and fan do you have?

 

[teekay]

So I just swapped back to my quiet Coolermaster HHC-L61 'heat pipe', put the lid on and the 'case' temperature is upto 63C and the CPU is 50C. This is measured with Motheboard monitor. I get exactly the same readings with Abit's EQ program though EQ dispalys case as 'PWM'. Unfortunately I don't know what PWM stands for.

I also have the latest bios.

I agree the 'case' temperature is far too high. But is this a bad measurement or a fault with something.

Tim

 

[endyen]

PWM is the voltage regulators. If they are getting up to 70c, they are the problem. Contact Abit for an rma.