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Computer Temperature

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 5:07 pm
by Zorth
Hey all,

Does Windows XP have some sort of program that will tell you what the computer's current temperature is? If so, what is it? If not, are there any programs out there that can be used to check it?

Thanks.

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 6:06 pm
by John Cartwright
You are able to check the censor readings through your BIOS, this is generally accessed when your computer is booting, you will see a message like "press 12 to access BIOS", and just fiddle around, it's not hard to find

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 6:36 pm
by hawleyjr
Check out Everest Home Edition. Its pretty cool

http://www.lavalys.com/products/downloa ... =1&lang=en

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:21 pm
by Zorth
I knew about the BIOS, I basically was looking for a way to monitor it while on XP. Thanks.

Ok, here's my problem, though. My computer is frying up big time. I've had it for about two years now, and I just bought the parts and put it together. I remember about 6 months ago the processor, or something inside, began making really wierd noises, like it was choking or something. I figured it'd fix itself. Every once and a while it'd make wierd noises, but it NEVER caused any problems.

The first I noticed a problem was Friday, my computer actually WOKE me up. The processor(I ASSUME this is what it was), was repeatedly making this strange noise... If anyone's ever played Scorch, and oldschool Dos game, it was the sound that those big nukes made while it was still growing in size. Like *Lowww Pitch-High pitch*, sorry, hard to explain that :P.

Well, the computer was basically shutdown altogether, and the only way to stop this horid noise was to unplug the computer altogether. It took it about 5 seconds before the noise died, and it sounded like the processor had a heart attack and just shut off. I thought it was really wierd, and the next day I had no idea whether I dreamt it or not. So it happened to me AGAIN, today, and I thought I'd log on and see what the heck was up. The computer kept acting like it was detecting "new hardware", which it had ALREADY known was there. It reset my Window's XP visual settings, such as window sizes and such. It even said it had to get backup settings when it booted up. A few minutes after booting up, it told me something about "Power Supply Frequency", and that it was shutting down.

Well, I had NO idea what the heck was going on ;). Fortunately, my computer shows me the temperature of the system when it boots up, and it was at ~~168~~ degrees F. So I immedietly shut it off. The first thing that came to mind was the Processor Fan croaked, and the Processor itself was on its deathbed.

So now I have no idea what to do. Replace the processor itself, buy a new fan, or what... I don't want to buy a whole new processor when I just need a fan, or waste time on a fan when the processor itself is completely screwed. I'm pretty clueless.

Any ideas as to what I should do? And sorry for the long post, heh.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 3:28 am
by McGruff
I think it's the fan.

I always liked the look of water cooling (no noisy fans) but that's expensive and not so easy to set up.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 9:13 am
by John Cartwright
If anyone's ever played Scorch, and oldschool Dos game, it was the sound that those big nukes made while it was still growing in size. Like *Lowww Pitch-High pitch*, sorry, hard to explain that .
Are you sure that you just didnt leave the game running? :P

But seriously make sure your case is dust free, dust causes from really serious problems. But do not touch anythingn on your comp unless you are static free. My guess if that a wire or dust has clogged the fan.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 9:49 am
by Zorth
Hah, yeah, I don't even HAVE Scorch installed ;), but I could remember every sound effect from that game from when I was a kid.

As for dust... I've cleaned this computer out several times. I just did so TWICE this week, and then the problem occured... How expensive/hard to set up would replacing the processor's fan be? Should I try to dust it out again? Possibly my attempt somehow made it worse...

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 1:07 pm
by Zorth
The fan runs, but it looks rather slow.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 2:23 pm
by Weirdan
Yeah, seems like the grease of processor's fan got dirty.

It appears you aren't familiar with hardware... perhaps the best you can do is to find someone to do it for you (and buy him bear afterwards :) )

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 6:23 pm
by Zorth
Well, I'll admit I don't know everything, but I can easily identify pieces of hardware, and I'm certain that the problem is with the processor's fan. Why? Because of where the sound is coming from, and the fact that it vibrates my computer's case. No ther fan would do that. Also, the CPU is overheating, and the CPU is part of the processor.

Now, I told a friend of mine the problem. He told me I should replace the power supply. But does a new power supply come with a fan? If not, that wouldn't really help. If it does, what would you guys suggest?

If I'm being annoying, let me know. :P

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 7:09 pm
by Bill H
It's quite easy to damage the fan when cleaning the case. If you blow air on it and allow it to spin freely in the process in the cleaning process the damage can be severe. Hold the fan with your finger when blowing so that it does not turn. If your fan is turning slowly it kind of sounds like that may be what happened.

The cpu fan can be replaced rather easily and is not part of the processer. It usually costs $30 to $40 at a computer parts house. But it sounds like your processor got pretty hot and it may have been damaged by the heat.

A power supply does come with a fan, but that fan cools only the power supplu and has nothing to do with the cpu fan.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:18 pm
by Zorth
It not only sounds like but FEELS like the power supply. It is going crazy and vibrating the entire case. :P