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RAM, PSU, or GPU? Help me find the problem

F

Fayt19

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
161
I didnt know really where to put this so I hope this is the right place.

Heres the Specs:

Windows XP
E6600
2GB of DDR2
250GB 7200RPM HDD
7950GT
550W Enermax PSU

The computer runs fine but the computer is on the high side of overheating. GPU runs at 75c give or take and the CPU runs at 75c give or take. This is all pretty much Idle. If I turn the computer off...its a pain in the butt to get it back on. I press the power button, the CPU fan comes on, Case fans come on, the HDD sounds like its spinning up, GPU fan comes on, no beeps.

From using google because I hate to waste peoples time, everyone says its a Videocard or Monitor problem, maybe even a RAM problem. The weird thing is...after a restarting my computer a random amount of times...it will just magically boot up...I dont get it...if I dont turn it off it will stay running forever...Only when I turn it off will I have problems getting it back on.

RAM Issue?
PSU Issue?
GPU Issue?

What I cant comprehend is that when it does boot up, it stays running...Turn it off and once again I have to turn the computer on and off till it finally decides to work.
 
Something to get you started on since you didn't mention it... but when is the last time you cleaned out the case, etc.. ???

Also, besides the general sluggishness is it giving you any errors or is it just a power issue?
 
its a cpu over heating issue. That temp is above the max recommended temp. My guess is the thermal paste has hardened and no longer cooling worth a hoot. Ii would suggest that you clean the cpu and cooler and re-apply some new thermal paste. Also make sure the cpu fan is spinning.

RobustDude's idea of cleaning the case is valid as well. Heat kills electronics.
 
Are all the fans working properly in the case?
Have you moved the box someplace where the air flow is restricted?

Clean it out and check your fan spinups visually, either outside the case
or with a door off the side.
 
thanks for all the replys. I get no errors, I only have problems with the computer when I try to restart it. like i said after a random amount of times it will magically start working then the computer is fine. I have cleaned out the case recently. The CPU fan does come on when I turn the computer on. I currently dont have any thermal paste to replace the current paste on the CPU. Ill have to ask around and maybe someone has some.

So you guys think its the CPU overheating? I thought if it was the CPU overheating then when I hit the power button it would turn on then shut back off or while the computer was on it would freeze and randomly shutdown?
 
Fayt19 said:
thanks for all the replys. I get no errors, I only have problems with the computer when I try to restart it. like i said after a random amount of times it will magically start working then the computer is fine. I have cleaned out the case recently. The CPU fan does come on when I turn the computer on. I currently dont have any thermal paste to replace the current paste on the CPU. Ill have to ask around and maybe someone has some.

So you guys think its the CPU overheating? I thought if it was the CPU overheating then when I hit the power button it would turn on then shut back off or while the computer was on it would freeze and randomly shutdown?
Click to expand...

Now that it is morning and I have properly digested your first post, I would agree with hossdaddy. 75C at idle....
 
Ok so I got some thermal paste finally and ripped everything out of the case and cleaned it inside and out. I took off the heatsink on the videocard and cleaned up the fan on it and cleaned off the old thermal paste and applied new paste which I'm 99% sure I did it right as i watched many videos on it :). I then cleaned all the dust that was caked on the CPU heatsink and reapplied Thermal paste after cleaning the old paste off, again doing it correctly. I hooked everything back up and tested it. I still dont have any case fans so the computer is still subject to the side off. I found out the case takes 80mm not 120mm...that's how old and crappy this case is...

Anyways I hit the power button and...BAM it worked first time...idk if it was a fluke or what. I went into bios and then the wife needed assistance with the kids. I came back 5 mins later and immediately smelt like something was burning...the screen was flickering and I quickly turned off the computer. I was 100% sure it was the PSU...I started grabbing and smelling around the case...I went to the PSU and nothing...hmm...checked the CPU and...nothing...got to the Videocard and HOLY GOOD GOD the thing burnt my hand...

The fan on the videocard like I said before, never worked...so why now after I've cleaned it up is it starting to burn up? Am I not suppose to apply Thermal paste to the GPU? I took off the heatsink on the GPU and the thermal paste seemed as if it was working correctly...it was spread out what looked like an even surface. In the process I broke the GPU fan completely...wires pulled out of it...I don't want to try and run it again with out the fan...even though it never worked before...

What to do? I bought the thermal paste from radio shack...it was a step down from arctic silver 5 but was still made from the same company. I don't have a DVI to VGA adapter to run the computer from on-board video...and staples wanted to charge me $20 for the adapter...

Should I reinstall the heatsink minus fan and see if my card is burnt out? Should i try to order a new GPU fan for it? Should I just buy a new GPU? Could the GPU been the problem all along? Why is it just now overheating when I put new thermal paste on it and unclog it from the caked on dust?

Please help me out
 
I don't have the DVI to VGA adapter to run the computer on the onboard. I ran around to local stores and they all want $18-$20 for it...which seems very overpriced.
 
azeem40 said:
The TIM is to be applied only to the CPU.
Click to expand...

Really? So how can I fix this? Obviously wipe off the old paste but it had paste of some sort before hand. Is there a special kind I need or is it on to run it without paste?
 
So I googled applying Thermal paste to the GPU and from what I read, everyone said it was ok and actually recommended it because the stock TIM is pretty worthless.
 
Fayt19 said:
I don't have the DVI to VGA adapter to run the computer on the onboard. I ran around to local stores and they all want $18-$20 for it...which seems very overpriced.
Click to expand...

Oops missed where you wrote that in your original post.

You can apply TIM to GPUs no problem.

It sounds like the GPU, especially with the screen flickering, the heat, and the fact that it's been running without a working fan all this time. The most diagnostic thing you can do is try another GPU or the integrated, or test your GPU on another machine. As for the DVI/VGA adapter, one comes with almost every modern graphics card (and nobody has a use for it) so if you post on the FS forums, you'll find a nice soul (or someone who needs heatware eval) to send you one for the cost of shipping. If you do get it to boot, check the new CPU temps at idle.. they really should be under 60 max.

Edit: read your post again and saw that you were running a 7950GT with no working GPU OR case fans.. that is just nuts! :)
 
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yeah but the weird thing is...that its been running that way since i got the computer...its like the fan had gunk adn it would try to spin but couldnt. There was too much friction. when I would try to spin the fan it barely moved. The fan is 100% broke for it now...so..now i may be screwed
 
azeem40 said:
The TIM is to be applied only to the CPU.
Click to expand...

No, just no. TIM is applied to nearly anything with a heatsink CPU/GPU, north and/or southbridge, etc. Lower temp components like RAM and VRMs may use thermal pads instead.


Fayt19 said:
yeah but the weird thing is...that its been running that way since i got the computer...its like the fan had gunk adn it would try to spin but couldnt. There was too much friction. when I would try to spin the fan it barely moved. The fan is 100% broke for it now...so..now i may be screwed
Click to expand...

So, you're wondering why it burnt up when the fan has never worked properly? Why would you not get that fixed? It has a fan for a reason! Thats like saying "Oh, my car overheats all the time because it has no coolant, but its fine because its always been like that". My brain hurts just thinking about it.

Its most likely completely dead now, time to find a replacement. Live and learn I guess.
 
No my question is why is it overheating now when the fan never worked before. It stayed around 70c which is probably still high but never overheated...and as soon as I replaced the thermal paste it starts magically overheating.

I only paid $50 for the whole computer and it's a 7950gt...I figured well it works now so it will be good till I get a replacement. No point wasting money on a new heatsink for a crazy old GPU
 
For $50 I would have cleaned that thing up and got a new fan for $10 on ebay, you could sell that machine for probably $100 or so. Most likely the card was throttling itself and the addition of the new TIM allowed it to cool just enough that it may have tried to use normal clocks and pushed it over the edge. Thats my best guess.
 
Ok its a new morning and reinstalled the GPU and started the computer. It booted up on the first try again. I installed the heatsink minus the fan and when I got into windows I opened up a couple of temp programs. The CPU is much better, sittin at 43-47c from 77-80c.

My GPU isn't burnt out but it got to a high of 91c before I blew on it and dropped it to 80c and repeated the process till I turned the computer off.

In the end I think I solved the problem of the computer, I just need a way to cool the GPU now >.<
 
Fayt19 said:
Ok its a new morning and reinstalled the GPU and started the computer. It booted up on the first try again. I installed the heatsink minus the fan and when I got into windows I opened up a couple of temp programs. The CPU is much better, sittin at 43-47c from 77-80c.

My GPU isn't burnt out but it got to a high of 91c before I blew on it and dropped it to 80c and repeated the process till I turned the computer off.

In the end I think I solved the problem of the computer, I just need a way to cool the GPU now >.<
Click to expand...

IS it like this? You can get a whole HSF setup for under $10, might be a good investment if you want it to last a little. Or you can figure out a way to strap a 120mm fan to it or any other fan you might have handy? Get creative!
 
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That ones for a 7900GT mines a 7950GT idk if it would work. I did try to place one of my 80mm fans I have for my case on it but ones broke and the other barely spins because it's seized up with dust or something.

The friend that sold me this computer for $50 had a old 7800GTX laying around and gave me it. I don't know how much worse the 7800GTX is to the 7950GT so maybe it's worth buying a replacement fan?

I hooked up the "new" GPU and the computer turned right on first try again. I checked the temps and CPU idles at about 42c and gets up to 50c playing games. The GPU temp is around 41-45c. Haven't tried LoL but minecraft runs flawlessly.

Problem solved.

Should I try to find a HSF replacement for the 7950GT or is the performance difference from the 7950GT and the 7800GTX not a big difference?
 
The 7950 is somewhat faster than the 512MB 7800GTX, and much faster than a 256MB 7800GTX. I don't think it will make much difference though.
 
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