Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R Overheating

[Mainstay]

Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R w/ latest bios running an i7 920 CPU and a fresh application of arctic silver boots with temperatures at 90°C. It backs off on idle to 60°C but the second any sort of application is executed (anything, really), the temperature jumps to ~100°C and the overheat alarm sounds.

Applying pressure to the heat sink (Zalman CNPS10X) does not make a difference.

The contact of the Zalman heat sink and the CPU appears good and fans are operating cleanly with good air flow. Ambient temperature is 20°C +-.

The Zalman does NOT feel warm, let alone hot. The motherboard surrounding the CPU feels warm, but not unduly so.

No overclocking is in effect. All BIOS settings have been loaded to "fail safe".

Power supply on the original unit was faulting on the 3.3 rail, and a replacement unit was installed (Integra R2 650W Fractal Design).

If I run Prime95, the system will alarm instantly. When I stop Prime95 temperatures "return" to 60°C in about 3 seconds.

Faulty sensors? All of them? Crappy MB at 4 years old? What would be your next course of action?

It is a reasonably good system at only 4 years of age.

Any thoughts or diagnostic advice would be most appreciated.

Thank you all for reading,

--M

 

[gikstar]

What would be your next course of action?

Upgrade his system... these 1366 motherboards for this processor are overpriced and they don't seem to hold up over time. I have an i7-920 and an Xeon X5550 (both 1366) sitting around collecting dust as it doesn't pay to setup another system with them... too many others processors running cooler and faster.

 

[HFultzjr]

"The contact of the Zalman heat sink and the CPU appears good and fans are operating cleanly with good air flow. Ambient temperature is 20°C+-. The Zalman does NOT feel warm, let alone hot. The motherboard surrounding the CPU feels warm, but not unduly so."

2 things come to mind.

Either the Zalman is not transferring the heat, or incorrect temps being read. At 100 degrees, things should feel HOT.

 

[Mainstay]

Either the Zalman is not transferring the heat, or incorrect temps being read. At 100 degrees, things should feel HOT.

Right... which then leads to a long chase of getting a replacement heat sink "just in case" that is the culprit. I don't think I have an appropriately large spare heatsink in the bone yard (will check)... but if it doesn't work, then I am out more time and the cost of a heatsink that I can never sell down the line (this just doesn't come up often enough in my area).

So then I am moving in this direction, which seems a shame:

Upgrade his system... these 1366 motherboards for this processor are overpriced and they don't seem to hold up over time.

 

[HFultzjr]

Right... which then leads to a long chase of getting a replacement heat sink "just in case" that is the culprit. I don't think I have an appropriately large spare heatsink in the bone yard (will check)... but if it doesn't work, then I am out more time and the cost of a heatsink that I can never sell down the line (this just doesn't come up often enough in my area).

So then I am moving in this direction, which seems a shame:

That's probably the best solution in the long run.

 

[Mainstay]

That's probably the best solution in the long run.

Yup, I just finished putting back in a known bad PS and a known bad HD into the case. (funny aside, whoever built this put in 6 GB of RAM w/ a 32-bit W7 Home Premium).

He will be picking it up tomorrow and I am out a bit of labor and some arctic silver.

I think he is pursuing a replacement.