Overheating CPU

DumbGuy82

I removed my CPU heatsink the other day to clean it as it was coated with all sorts of dust and ciggy smoke.

I didnt have any thermal spare that I could use to put back on the cpu so I just very carefully tried to place the sink in its original position.

Turned computer on, went to get a coffee, came back to see the computer had shut down due to the cpu overheating.. Apparantly it was hitting around 100 degrees celcius..

So I let it cool, repositioned the sink even more carefully and booted up again.. I had to get some files for uni, from that short expedition I noticed that its hovering at about 50c but spikes to 70c under even a small load.

I've ordered some new thermal paste, arctic silver 5.. and decided to get an aftermarket heatsink too.. Both will hopefully arrive in a day or two.. No I'm not going to touch the PC till then.

Anyway.. I'm wondering potentially if the CPU could be screwed or possibly even the mobo? My concern is based on the temp it did hit and I noticed when getting my files that device manager has apparantly 'found' a new Audio device (one that doesnt exist) .. could this be a sign that something is very wrong with the cpu? due to hitting 100c and staying there for?? im not even sure how long.

Thanks

sychial

That's pretty hot, but I highly doubt it did any damage to the CPU. Most BIOS have overheating protection which shut down the machine before it does actual damage to the CPU. Most CPU's can get pretty darn hot before burning out, around 200c or so, but they usually don't get that far due to the protection. If your machine still powered up afterward then there shouldn't be a problem. Hope this eases your mind some...