Heat Issue: Harddrive or CPU?

**XxAndyxX** · 06-14-2006, 10:42 PM

Everyday now, during the hottest times, my computer will not boot. It will POST but will freeze after recognizing the HDD or will restart. Once my car cools down, it works fine.

So I'm wondering if its my HDD or CPU that's causing this problem? During post, my CPU temps are around 66C (151F), and when I touch my hard drive, it's extremely hot (almost too hott to even hold).

**Puffanug** · 06-15-2006, 12:41 AM

I would assume it is the CPU. Hard drives do not have thermal shutdowns like a CPU might, so it is doubtful it is causing the system to shut off. It is also probably not the HD since it works again when it is cool. If the hard drive was too hot, it would fail, not shut down and work when cool.

What kind of CPU is it and how is it cooled? When it does work, what does the CPU temp read? Hard drives get hot during use anyways, sometimes too hot to hold almost, but they still function.

My money is on CPU being too hot...

**XxAndyxX** · 06-15-2006, 01:02 AM

I have a Athlon Mobile 2600+ running at like 1.7ghz. I'm using an artic cooling CPU fan, looks this same as this one: http://www.frozencpu.com/cpu-arc-15.html but it's the older version (I believe it has the same specs). Maybe I should invest in a better fan, or down clock my CPU a little bit...

**Puffanug** · 06-15-2006, 01:06 AM

Maybe I should invest in a better fan, or down clock my CPU a little bit...

It's overclocked? Yeah, set it normal levels for troubleshooting purposes at least. Is your CPU fan spinning normally? What about the temps of the CPU when it does work vs. when it does not?

**DarquePervert** · 06-15-2006, 07:10 AM

I have a Mobile AthlonXP 2400+ running at stock speed and overvolted slightly (since I can't get the voltage any lower). It's crammed into a cut down Shuttle case and it overheats if it's running on a 90+ day with no A/C going in the truck.
Everyone at the Austin meet a couple weeks ago saw MBM reporting CPU temps between 140-150. When it approached 150, I started seeing performance issues, but it never shut down.

**hunterius** · 06-15-2006, 07:28 AM

There is many parts that can be overheated with heat produced by CPU - e.g. MB chipset or RAM , even if CPU will stand this heat ....and causes PC not to boot ( or freeze). First thing have to be vent PC case and allow fresh air run through it . After it if it wont help check CPU fan ... anyway : check thermal paste under CPU cooler.

**ascendotuum** · 06-15-2006, 08:02 AM

Yea I think 150F is a bit hot for an AMD, and if it was an intel it would probably be dead by now. If you have a better fan than the OEM one then its probably just a ventilation issue. If it's crammed up in a small case that gets no airflow, the fan isn't going to help any but blow the hot air all around. Maybe you need to mount a case fan in the case nearest the CPU

**damarble** · 06-15-2006, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by ascendotuum

Yea I think 150F is a bit hot for an AMD, and if it was an intel it would probably be dead by now.

I think you have that turned around. Intel's can stand much higher heat than AMD's, because they run hotter to begin with, and have thermal throttling.

But yeah 66c is too hot for that AMD. You really want to keep it under 55c. That HSF isnt too bad, you just need more airflow through the case.

**ascendotuum** · 06-15-2006, 08:54 AM

It was my personal experience working with the Athlon XP's and Pentium 4's that although Intel's run cooler from the factory than most AMD's, the AMD's were able to withstand longer running at temperatures above about 130F. But this was with the technology from a couple of years ago, things might be different now.

**DarquePervert** · 06-15-2006, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by ascendotuum

Yea I think 150F is a bit hot for an AMD, and if it was an intel it would probably be dead by now. If you have a better fan than the OEM one then its probably just a ventilation issue. If it's crammed up in a small case that gets no airflow, the fan isn't going to help any but blow the hot air all around. Maybe you need to mount a case fan in the case nearest the CPU

You haven't looked at my worklog, obviously.

Not stock cooling, but a low-profile cooler. The CPU is a mobile version, so it has a more flexible temperature range.
150f is still too hot, admittedly. I'm working on improving the airflow in my tiny case.

The problem was solved at the Austin meet by starting the truck, turning on the A/C and closing the doors.