CPU or heatsink problem?

[Computer_Commando]

1.  ...must have degraded over the years.
2.  Temps still peaking in the 90's when gaming but drops back into the 70's when not under load, is that a concern?

These 2 statements indicate you are not applying the thermal paste in the proper manner.
1.  You said the machine is 2 years old.  Applied paste would not degrade in 2 years.  Maybe you meant the paste in the tube is old, but you should be able to tell that when you apply it.  It's either dried up & hard or it's still spreadable.
2.  Get new paste & try again.

[tixsao]

I actually got a new heatsink instead and used that.   Is the problem then the CPU itself as it seems two different heatsinks have not solved it, although with the new one the temps are much lower

[Computer_Commando]

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth/int/vl/intel_app_method_vertical_line_v1.1.pdf

[tixsao]

That was very useful thanks.

I removed the old heatsink, cleaned the remaining thermal paste off the CPU in the way described.  I then put the new heatsink - which came with compound on it - on the cpu.  Not entirely sure what i could have done.

I did buy some thermal pads so could remove new heatsink and remove the stuff it came with put on a pad and try again....

[Salmon Trout]

I then put the new heatsink - which came with compound on it - on the cpu.

Sometimes the compound has peel-off plastic protection which you need to remove before installing. I have seen this left on.


 

[tixsao]

It was a pretty big plastic cover so its not that.  Is it possible the problem is the CPU?  Just seems odd that two different heatsinks have not fixed it, and the problem started before i had removed one of them

[Salmon Trout]

Is it possible the problem is the CPU?

It is possible. Electronic components can become defective and overheat. However it would be expensive if you bought a new CPU to check by substitution and the new CPU overheated as well. Overvolting will heat up a CPU. You could check the vCore in the BIOS against specs or possibly a voltage regulator on the motherboard has failed or degraded, feeding excess voltage to the CPU (I see it's a Foxconn) or maybe the PSU is faulty. Or maybe the heatsink is not installed properly or the compound not applied properly.

You are not overclocking, are you?

[tixsao]

Whats the vcore?

On the program i am using to monitor the temp its showing the power package as 95.00 W, is that the same thing?

[patio]

Thats a wattage rating # being reported...not a Temp...

[tixsao]

I thought that might be the vcore mentioned above

I am not overclocking.  I think i will try using the old heatsink with a new thermal pad and see what that does.

[Salmon Trout]

Whats the vcore?

On the program i am using to monitor the temp its showing the power package as 95.00 W, is that the same thing?

Let me Google that for you

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_core_voltage

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/255958-11-core-stock-vcore-voltage

etc etc

You check and possibly set it in the BIOS. You can Google how to do that as well.

[Computer_Commando]

You can monitor temps & voltages with www.hwinfo.com.  Choose 32-bit or 64-bit depending on your OS.

[tixsao]

I think its finally solved now!!  Removed heatsink, cleaned all compound off, reapplied it and now temps are not getting above 50 degrees even when gaming and playing a video and opening random documents all at the same time

Its still a mystery as to why it occured in the first place, i had done nothing to the computer, hadnt opened it up or moved it when the CPU originally started overheating.  At least it is solved now though.  Thanks again