How to Troubleshoot Excessive Heat on an Overclocked CPU

An overclocked central processing unit (CPU) can be a likely culprit for almost anything that goes wrong with a computer. Here are some common symptoms and how to treat them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer CPU Refrigeration Units
• Computer Fans
• Computer Heat Alarms
• Heat-sink Compound

1. Attempt to return to your previous motherboard configuration if your computer fails to boot.
2. Set your processor to a lower overclocked speed and reinstall Windows if you experience random system or application crashes or other freezes, corrupted Windows registry files, memory errors, random reboots or resource conflicts.
3. Improve your cooling system if you experience any problems whatsoever.
4. Buy a specialty fan and a separate ball-bearing fan with a heat sink, if you haven't already installed them.
5. Install the fan/heat-sink unit on the CPU. Apply heat sink compound between the CPU and the heat sink.
6. Install an alarm that beeps when it reaches a certain temperature.
7. If fans can't keep the CPU and internal components cool enough, buy a specialized refrigeration unit.

Tips & Warnings

• Given that your motherboard supports a faster CPU (or you couldn't overclock), compare the cost of a new processor with that of the extra hardware necessary for successful overclocking. Make sure a new processor will fit the socket on your motherboard.

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