Don,

Does the heatsink have a fan? If so, is it running and running at what
appears to be full speed? If so, then perhaps the heatsink/fan combo just
isn't big enough for the CPU, and should be substituted for a new, higher
capacity one. Even under full load, the heatsink/fan must be able to keep
the CPU within acceptable ranges.

It is possible the the fan is turning, but the bearings have worn so that it
is not running at full speed, and providing inadequate air flow.

Russ Poffenberger
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Don Penlington
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 2:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] CPU overheating at idle


Russ wrote:
>when you said you touched the CPU and it
>was very hot, did you touch the actual CPU or the heatsink?>>

Thanks for those helpful comments Russ.

The top of the heatsink is hot. Where the fan attaches. It's just a basic 
finned heatsink.

I've refined the problem a bit--looks like something's going into an 
infinite loop, and this is throwing extra load on the CPU.

Without any hardware attached (other than mouse and keyboard) it seems OK, 
so now it's a process of trial and error.
  There's only a printer/scanner and a wireless ADSL modem.

I now suspect the modem, but will make further tests. Could this create 
difficulties, even though it seems to connect to the internet OK?  The 
owner tells me that the troubles seemed to start following a power outage. 
I'm wondering if the modem might have got partly zapped.

I know very little about wireless modems, and don't really want to know!

Don Penlington

              The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech
                     support at our newest website:
                          http://freepctech.com

               The NOSPIN Group Promotions is now offering
                 our special coffee mugs and mouse pads
              with the PCBUILD logo...  at a great price!!!
             http://freepctech.com/goodies/promotions.shtml