nonsense overheating issue please help

[tuix]

Hello people . I have a weird problem here.
First of all, my rig has been running just fine for the past 3-4 years. It was created from the best available parts of its time. So no problems for 3 years. Then it needed an upgrade and some maintenance (considering i didn't clean it even once), and roughly a year ago or so, i did that (changed some parts and proper clean up). Since then, it has also been running just fine. Running some serious games at maxed out properties.
BUT, for some reason I cannot think of, it started bluescreening a few days ago. It freezes almost as soon as it starts up. Sometimes it won't even startup, like getting frozen somewhere along the loading operating system way. If it manages to load up the desktop: if I did nothing except staring at the desktop, 5 minutes tops then bluescreen. If I try to run a game, 30 seconds and then bluescreen.
Anyway, so I thought it might be an overheating issue and opened up the thing. Yes there was some dust on my video card but that part doesn't overheat apparently. So after cleaning that, still the same bull. So I downloaded CPUID Hardware Monitor (which is great by the way) to watch the tempratures and get an idea about what's going on. And it blew my mind.

Here's the problem: If the computer is at absolute idle, my processor cores start overheating up to 98 degrees celsius. If i am doing anything else and I mean ANYTHING not being idle (like writing this post, or moving the mouse, or playing diablo 3 or batman arkham city) the cores will not pass over 60 degrees. What the heck is this? Just before writing this post i have played battlefield 3 for an hour and the tempratures were like 65-70 degrees. But I go to the kitchen to get my breakfast for 30 SECONDS and when I come back it's 97 degrees!

It's like the computer doesn't want to be alone, if it is, it overheats like a crazy person. If I am using the computer by any means, it will not overheat. So my main mistake was try to cool it down by doing nothing. Because that's the occasion raising the tempratures. Instead when I do stuff, it seems cool and cold.

So question is: If it is an idle overheating issue, what on earth can cause this? And how can I fix it?

Sorry for the long post and my weird english

[hardwarecop]

Hi,

an undersized cooler (possibly without thermal compound) can cause it! Depending on what kind of Hardware is running in your system (socket), you'd better replace it with a more powerful cooler. There should be a good airflow in your system as well. Make sure that a logical airflow is installed on your case - it means that there must be a fan that blows fresh air into the computer case, and a fan that blows the hot air out. Also, it is recommended to have a case that cools the power supply independently.

The room temperature may also cause higher temperature. Especially on warm summer days

So, things you should possibly buy:

Thermal compound
Better cooler for the CPU and/or GPU
A case with good airflow

There's not much detail that you provided about your system...

But anyways, hope I could help you. If you have further questions, let me know!

BTW: And also sorry for my bad English

[tuix]

thanks for the quick reply. you are right about summer days because this kind of thing usually happens each summer. and now that the summer started it's extremely hot here in italy. but the thing is, it is usually hot each summer and this kind of bluescreen shut down started for the first time.
yeah sorry i forgot to write my specs:
-cpu: intel i5 750 @ 2.67ghz
-video card: nvidia geforce gtx285
-motherboard: gigabyte p55a-ud3
-ram: kingston 4gb x 2 ddr3
-operating system: windows 7 professional 64bit

i have been looking at all of the cpu forums and a lot people encounter overheating issues but it's usually something wrong with the heatsink or a broken fan. my fans are just fine i can see their rpms. i don't know about the heat sink, perhaps i should call the computer guy and check it. still it doesn't explain why the computer runs fine while running crazy software but overheats like a crazy person when its IDLE.

thank you for your answer amico

[kosmokrator]

well italy have very warm klima like here In Greece.
Your poblem is 100%unsuficiet cooling on cpu
(also your Gpu asi remember my 2x 285 ..its a furnance-Oven itself
So try to use stronger cooling on cpu AND inside case...
Make sure 100% the Coler is ok Mounted on board
can u tell us what cooling u use? Standard Intel Cooler or other?

[hardwarecop]

Yeah, the GTX 285 is hotter than Chrissy Costanza lol

Like mentioned before, reduce your temperature by replacing the old cooler, putting on (new) thermal compound and ensuring a good airflow. It's not recommended to use the stock/boxed Intel cooler. Especially on hot running CPUs like the older Nehalem/Westmere CPUs.

Oh yeah, tomorrow I'm flying to Italy

[tuix]

yes the problem seems to have resolved itself, for now that is. apparently it was a cooling issue indeed but why does it happen when being idle and not when i'm playing stuff and actually using the cpu?

and what cooler would you advise for this setup?

so how did you find italy? business or pleasure?