CPU overheats even when not in use

[Varsity]

I've just built a new system and the CPU is massively overheating, even when I am in the BIOS setup and it isn't in use! The heatsink is fine, it's conducintg heat away very well, but the processor just won't stop warming up. How can I stop it?

 

[-=jt=-]

tried underclocking?

 

[Maxi]

Sounds like the heatsink isn't on properly, or the heatsink is incapable of getting enough heat away from the cpu. Or it could be that you are overclocking it immensly.

 

[Varsity]

That's what I'm asking about.

 

[Varsity]

Sounds like the heatsink isn't on properly, or the heatsink is incapable of getting enough heat away from the cpu. Or it could be that you are overclocking it immensly.

As I said the heatsink is fine. There is full contact and it's very very hot. I'm not doing any overclocking at all, these are all the default values.

 

[Maxi]

Well you put the heatsink on correctly, you buy a new heatsink, or you check what the fsb/multplier should be for your cpu and check what they are in the bios.

 

[Varsity]

I've got a P4 2.50GHz Northwood CPU with the heatsink that came with it, and in my mobo manual FSB is listed as 800/533/400 MHz. My CPU runs at 400MHz - so I guess I have to set the FSB speed to 400 and I'll be OK?

 

[Maxi]

NO! p4's uses some kind of a multiplier for their fsb, so iirc if your using a 400mhz multiplier you should set it at 200mhz, but im not sure about that, ask someone who deffinately knows.

 

[Varsity]

OK, thanks. I've got something to go on now.

 

[Varsity]

Actually it wasn't the FSB: when I dug up the setting it was fine. My old Dell rig had a green cowling that made the case fan act like a CPU fan, but I don't have that any mroe. My problem is not having a fan.

 

[bosox188]

Oh yeah, my Dell has that same way of cooling. Doesn't look like a good way to cool, and you'd think it would be cheaper to just put the normal fan over the heatsink, but oh well. So yeah, not having a fan would do it.

 

[Varsity]

Looking at your sig: what mobo did you buy?

And out of interest, I'm going for this cooler.

 

[bosox188]

Looking at your sig: what mobo did you buy?

And out of interest, I'm going for this cooler.

Well I had to get a Micro ATX one because of my Dell case, I ended up getting an Intel D865GLC. It's a nice board, has SATA, 4 DIMM slots, supports dual channel memory and ddr400, and hyper threading support. But it's just not booting up.

 

[Varsity]

What happens, or doesn't happen?

 

[bosox188]

Well, I hit the power button to turn on the computer, the lights on the motherboard turn on, everything turns on, and then nothing happens. Nothing comes up, it doesn't even get to BIOS, I don't think the hard drive boots up either.

 

[SidewinderX]

did you put the standoffs between the mobo and the tray?