Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

PC overheating while gaming

Mar 8, 2018 2:00PM PST

Hi there!

Since a few weeks ago, my PC started rebooting every time I play a game like Kings Quest (2015) and FF XV. Sometimes it's right when I start playing, other times it takes some time. If I then wait some time, I can play again for a little longer. When it reboots, I hear the "overheat beeping" and I get the "CPU was shutdown due to thermal event (overheating)" message.

Here you can check my PC's specs and temperatures while idle: https://i.imgur.com/JzPkiTC.jpg

Interestingly, when monitoring temperatures while gaming, my CPU max temp was around 50ºC (GPU was around 82ºC) when I experienced the shutdown. Even so, I reapplied thermal paste on the CPU, to no avail: problem persists. The CPU's heatsink is a cooler master with one fan. My PC is very clean, too.

I performed stress tests with FurMark, both for CPU and GPU and had no issue.

Is the CPU really overheathing? Both CPU and mobo are quite old. Is it time for replacement?

I have a cheap PSU. Could it be the cause of this problem? I've been thinking about buying an EVGA 600w 80+B. I know it's not great but it's what I can afford.

Thank you for your time.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
That's a tough one since the message is clear.
Mar 8, 2018 2:18PM PST

Do you know about the PSU? We want to see a beefy single rail PSU.

Also, leave the case cover off for the next test run. Max air exchange may help.

Yes, it's dated but let's hear the exact make and model of the mainboard since a few allowed us to push up the shutdown temp.

- Collapse -
Thanks for replying!
Mar 9, 2018 9:02AM PST

I think I solved it. I took the PSU off, cleaned it (it was already clean, actually) and reconnected all of its cables. Now the problem seems to be gone. What does that mean? Is my PSU failing? If so, which one should I get?

Before taking the PSU off, I did what you said: I took all covers off (side, front and top) and the problem happened instantly.

To answer your questions, my PSU is a Dr. Hank PH-700B and the mobo is an Intel DP55WB.

- Collapse -
The PSU is a split rail.
Mar 9, 2018 9:24AM PST
https://http2.mlstatic.com/fonte-700w-real-dr-hank-ph-700b-usada-D_NQ_NP_706334-MLB26444245106_112017-F.jpg was the only good picture I could find so while I don't like split rails this should be OK until we start talking about the GPU model (can't find it, can you point it out again?)

https://www.google.com/search?q=intel+dp55wb+change+shutdown+temperature+site:communities.intel.com&client=firefox-b-1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjze-54N_ZAhXCz1QKHbjmD20QrQIINCgEMAA&biw=1920&bih=943 kicks that board around and no mention of changing the shutdown temp up a notch.

But they do call out for current BIOS and proper heatsink installation.
- Collapse -
Yes, that's my PSU,
Mar 9, 2018 9:33AM PST

As for the GPU, it's a Nvidia GeForce GT 760.

- Collapse -
OK, that GPU
Mar 9, 2018 9:40AM PST

From https://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/1857/geforce-gtx-760 I get 170 Watts TDP.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-760-review-gk104,3542-22.html agrees with a measured 160 Watts.

Now the other factor is PSUs are often overrated so to see if it's a factor we take a single rail, halve it and see if the TDP Watts exceeds the PSU's derated value.

That gives me 12.5 times 12 for 150 Watts. The TDP and real measure is 170 and 160 Watts.

Too bad it wasn't a single rail. But beyond that it is working hard.

Advice: Read the intel forum comments and be sure the BIOS is current. In the machine be sure it's fans are spinning like new and the heatsinks and vents are clean and clear.

Test without the case cover on. This will max out the cooling and may let you game on.

- Collapse -
Thank you!
Mar 9, 2018 9:53AM PST

If I were to get a new PSU, which one would you suggest?

- Collapse -
Why do that?
Mar 9, 2018 11:12AM PST

I gave some things to do and try before we pop in a new PSU.

https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=100-B1-0600-KR shows a nice single rail so that will help remove that as a possible issue. But there are old PCs that need more such as all the cheap work I noted and then, if they don't work right you look at motherboards etc.

Do the cheap work first.

Also if it's working after what you wrote below, STOP. Use it till it has issues again.

- Collapse -
Isn't the PSU the problem?
Mar 9, 2018 12:32PM PST

The problem stopped when I unplugged then replugged the PSU, doesn't that mean the problem lies in the PSU itself?

Following what you said, I updated the BIOS. As for the fans, all are working as should and I keep they clean.

- Collapse -
I'd stop repair and replacing for now.
Mar 9, 2018 12:58PM PST

Connections can corrode and it's a good tech trick to just unplug and plug it back together. BUT once it starts working, you stop repairing, button it up and carry on.

My advice is to stop repair and enjoy the PC.

- Collapse -
Thank you!
Mar 9, 2018 1:00PM PST

That's what I'll do. If I experience this same exact problem again, would you recommend replacing something?

- Collapse -
How long did it work till this problem?
Mar 9, 2018 2:07PM PST

The usual guess is you get about half the time till the next problem. But each time you reassess what the problem is.

- Collapse -
This machine is 6 years old.
Mar 9, 2018 8:21PM PST

Same mobo, same processor, same PSU. I did replace the CPU's heatsink, because, with the factory one, it would constantly reach temps around 70ºC. I also upgraded the GPU.

The problem happened again. Now I'm able to play for hours, but I experienced it once again. I monitored the CPU's temp and it didn't go over 52ºC and I played for about an hour without any issue. It must be the PSU.

- Collapse -
Answer
Overheat
Mar 8, 2018 2:33PM PST

Apply new paste to any other heatsinks on the mobo.

Get a can of compressed air and give the psu a few shots of air from both directions.

Test with the side panel off.

- Collapse -
Thanks for replying!
Mar 9, 2018 9:04AM PST

I think I solved it. I took the PSU off, cleaned it (it was already clean, actually) and reconnected all of its cables. Now the problem seems to be gone. What does that mean? Is my PSU failing? If so, which one should I get?

Before taking the PSU off, I did what you said: I took all panels off (side, front and top) and the problem happened instantly. Before that, when I thought the CPU was the problem, I reapplied thermal paste to its heatsink, the only one on the mobo, but the issue kept occurring.

- Collapse -
Don't do anything
Mar 9, 2018 7:41PM PST

Run the machine and see if the problem comes back.

- Collapse -
Actually..
Mar 9, 2018 8:17PM PST

The problem happened again. Now I'm able to play for hours, but I experienced it once again. I monitored the CPU's temp and it didn't go over 52ºC and I played for about an hour without any issue. It must be the PSU.

Post was last edited on March 9, 2018 8:25 PM PST

- Collapse -
Tell
Mar 9, 2018 8:55PM PST

What cpu and gpu you have.
The number of hdd's and disc units.
This is needed to spec out a psu of the proper size.

Also tell your budget for a new psu.

- Collapse -
Here: https://i.imgur.com/JzPkiTC.jpg
Mar 10, 2018 7:12AM PST

Here's my specs: https://i.imgur.com/JzPkiTC.jpg
CPU: Core i3 540
GPU: Geforce GTX 760
2 HDDs
1 disc unit

About PSU budget, I'm not sure. One that seemed good and not too pricy and I was thinking about buying is the EVGA 600B.

- Collapse -
Psu
Mar 10, 2018 8:34AM PST

The psu you picked should be fine.