Weird overheat problem.

[Kravok]

This all started a year ago, i was on my stock intel cooler and pc case closed and no extra fans.
My pc started overheating and restarting , so i bought a new heat sink a giant zalman copper one , a couple of 120mm fans.
It was fine for a while then suddenly the heat problem comes back , so i open up the case, the pc doesnt restart only with case open.
The heat sink is clean and the thermal paste is fresh.
Then after another couple of months the same problem comes back , the fan is clean the paste is fresh and i had to keep fan speed at 100% when gaming.
Now my pc is at critical temperatures even on the desktop while doing nothing everything is clean , case is open and fan speed is high.
Bios shows that the cpu is 29 c , while other programs say its 60c on desktop. Oh and its random , some weeks its 40c on desktop and other weeks its 60c on desktop while idle. Nobody i ask can explain how this is even possible.

CPU - Intel q8200
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-G41MT-D3V

[ocis]

What are the individual cores in windows saying? (using a program like cpu temp or core temp)

[Asphyxiate9]

Do you have motherboard temps available?

[Angella]

Yeah watch individual cores. Might be worth underclocking them as a safeguard in the meantime.

If you really do have push/pull fans and a non-stock correctly installed on the CPU you should be fine. My initial guess though given the randomness is a semi-faulty CPU fan install.

[Cyrops]

Download a program that gives you more info, like HWMonitor.

[Deleted]

When was the last time you fresh installed Windows?

Sounds like a cross between a poorly installed cooler and some crapware on the pc thrashing the cpu when at desktop.

Is the cooler screwed on really tight?

You also have the cooler blowing towards back of case and then the back fan bowing out back of case with a front or side fan blowing in?

[Kravok]

What are the individual cores in windows saying? (using a program like cpu temp or core temp)

Core 0 53c
Core 1 48c
Core 2 55c
Core 3 53c

This is on pc idle , sometimes its 40c and sometimes its 60c on idle.

- - - Updated - - -

When was the last time you fresh installed Windows?

Sounds like a cross between a poorly installed cooler and some crapware on the pc thrashing the cpu when at desktop.

Is the cooler screwed on really tight?

You also have the cooler blowing towards back of case and then the back fan bowing out back of case with a front or side fan blowing in?

The windows has been re installed 4 times since the problem started, currently im on a fresh install no crapware , steam , browser and skype. The cpu usage is around 6% on the desktop , and while gaming the cpu goes over the critical temperature and restarts.

The cooler has been sited a few times and there have been 2 different coolers on there with the same result.

[Deleted]

Core 0 53c
Core 1 48c
Core 2 55c
Core 3 53c

This is on pc idle , sometimes its 40c and sometimes its 60c on idle.

Woah, what? My computer is at 27-30c idle. Gets to about 40-50c when playing WoW. You've got some cooling problems.

[Kravok]

Yes but the weird thing is , it has a giant cooler and the temperatures are random , sometimes 40 sometimes 60, before i could use a intel stock cooler and have lower temps than this with case closed and no extra fans.

[Deleted]

Is it seated properly and is the thermal paste applied properly? I had some problems with getting the right amount when I changed mine, too little and it won't help and too much and it'll isolate and cause heat as well.

[Cyrops]

Yes but the weird thing is , it has a giant cooler and the temperatures are random , sometimes 40 sometimes 60, before i could use a intel stock cooler and have lower temps than this with case closed and no extra fans.

Yea by the looks of tems you seated the cooler badly, or applied thermal paste wrongly.
Can you give me the name of your cooler?

[Kravok]

Yea by the looks of tems you seated the cooler badly, or applied thermal paste wrongly.
Can you give me the name of your cooler?

I just re seated the cooler , put on new paste still same results.
Zalman CNPS-7700-Cu

[Deleted]

Wtf is a fan speed controller in the box for?

Are you using it and set it too low? I dont think you would even need it.

[Lucetia]

I just re seated the cooler , put on new paste still same results.
Zalman CNPS-7700-Cu

If you could you might want to take pics of how the paste looks on the cpu after putting it on and how the cooler is. Chances are what you think might be right amount of paste could be too less or too much, but hard without actually seeing it. Secondly are you sure the heatsink is properly seated on the CPU? Just because cooler is attached correctly it won't help if the heatsink isn't.

[ocis]

If you could you might want to take pics of how the paste looks on the cpu after putting it on and how the cooler is. Chances are what you think might be right amount of paste could be too less or too much, but hard without actually seeing it. Secondly are you sure the heatsink is properly seated on the CPU? Just because cooler is attached correctly it won't help if the heatsink isn't.

If you do this make sure you clean off the cpu and heatsink and redo the entire application process. The last thing you want to do is to lift your heatsink off the cpu and then just plop it back on again. Here's a really good article on how to properly apply thermal paste. Only other thing to add to what everyone else has mentioned is to make sure that all the screws have been tightened evenly across the heatsink. Your heatsink might be tightly mounted but if it's still leaning significantly to one side because of the difference in tightness between the screws you will still get a gap in contact with the cpu.

[Cyrops]

I had that cooler on my 12y old PC Oo
Anyway, like others said, we need pictures of how you apply the paste, if you want real help:
Take off heatsink from CPU, clean all the paste from CPU and cooler, apply new, take a picture and show it to us.

[Kravok]

I dont think its the paste or the cooler , i have tried different paste amounts and different coolers with the same results.

[Deleted]

Are you using the speed controller that came in the heatsink box?

Also is the cpu holder sitting slightly above the edge of the cpu, that little metal tab thing? Its sitting slightly to the side too tho idk if it make much difference. Might have left a score on the bottom of heatsink.

[Kravok]

Are you using the speed controller that came in the heatsink box?

Also is the cpu holder sitting slightly above the edge of the cpu, that little metal tab thing? Its sitting slightly to the side too tho idk if it make much difference. Might have left a score on the bottom of heatsink.

The motherboard died today , so i guess case closed , a trip to the store is what is needed now.