Computer problem, please help.

[Levitas1234]

Hello escapists, my computer has been overheating after only using it for about 20 minutes.
I have checked task manager and stopped running all unneccisary proccesses and my computer will still shut off just from having firefox open.

Does anybody know why my computer could be overheating so quikly, or if there could be another cause, and a solution?

thanks for your time.

 

[Marter]

Maybe the fan is broken.

Is it overclocked?

 

[Sevre]

We'll need specs and tell us what you use the computer to run too!

 

[Levitas1234]

Please give your computer's specs, and tell us what it sounds like, and what happens when it overheats. Also, are you on a laptop or a desktop?

It's an accer desktop

4650 Hd radeon graphics card
450watt power supply
AMD Phenom X4 9600 Quad Core Processor

also i only have 2 fans and my case doesn't have anywhere to mount another one.

When it overheats it just shuts off

My computer is generally alright but i think it's my shitty case and lack of fans. But it just seems f'ed that lack of 1 fan would cause it to overheat from firefox (computer was working fine until warmer weather)

 

[Levitas1234]

bump?

 

[flaming_squirrel]

First off, download realtemp, then post how hot it's getting at idle and under load.

Second check all of the fans are actually spinning up.

Third, reseat cpu heatsink, it could be the block has come loose or the paste has gone bad.


Edit: http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/

 

[Cody211282]

Do I what I did, pop the side open and put an actual fan to blow air into it, it's cheep and easy to do.

 

[jasoncyrus]

Do I what I did, pop the side open and put an actual fan to blow air into it, it's cheep and easy to do.

Agreed. I did this in summer with my old computer, a 12-18" fan will work wonders...just be prepared for dust.

A more efficient method is to simply invest in an antec 900 or 1200 gaming case with it's epic fans. 900 has 2 120s on the front, 120 on the back, space for a 120 on the side and a *200* on top.

The 1200 has 3 120s on the front 2 120s on the back space for 120s on the side and a 200 on top.

 

[Worgen]

you could replace the cpu fan, are you using the one that came with it?

 

[Loop Stricken]

In fact, have you cleaned the fans or are they encrusted with solid dust?

 

[Skorpyo]

Alright, then.

First, clean it ALL. Get all of the heat-sinks that are safe to remove off of their components, and clean the dust off of them.

Then, remove your fans and clean them as well. Remove the stickers on the back sides of them, and put a drop of light oil on the bearing in the center. Clean the Excess. (This is just an advisable thing to do at this point)

After all this has been done, use some light solvent (naptha lighter fluid or Firearm cleaning solvent) and get all of the thermal contact material off of the mounting side of the heat-sinks. If possible, carefully do the same to the contact patch of the component. Apply a thin smear of new Thermal Paste and re-mount the sink.

With all of these out, clean the fan mounting areas on the case, since they collect tons of dust, too.

I hope this helps out, even though it sounds as if you may need a better case or cooling system.