i7 2600k running at 95 degrees C

[tricky]

We have a few machines that we use for rendering which are based upon an i7 sandybridge 2600k with no overclocking. One of these machines (identical to another 2) seems to be running its CPU very hot indeed. With Prime95 x64 running its torture test, the temps are between 94 and 98 degrees! This seems way too hot to me. An identical machine runs at closer to 70 degrees.

I have removed, cleaned, and re attached the 3rd party cooler (one of those Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 jobs) and applied new thermal paste, but it has made no difference. Even running idle, the CPU is around 50 degrees. The motherboard is using the latest bios.

Any suggestion why this might be happening? Its a good quality case, and the ambient room temp is 20-23 degrees. Apart from switching the CPU into one of the identical machines, I have run out of ideas.

[deflix]

I vacuum my heat-sinks every now and again. makes a big difference. just be careful not to suck up any jumpers from the mobo. lol

[Dariusz Makowski (Dadal)]

96C ? Im surprised ur PC is still alive.

Are you sure your temp sensor is correcT?

[Morne]

I still have my old P4 lying around and that use to go to 96C as well

[tricky]

I vacuum my heat-sinks every now and again. makes a big difference. just be careful not to suck up any jumpers from the mobo. lol

Heatsinks are clean. Barely any dust at all. Puzzling...

[tricky]

96C ? Im surprised ur PC is still alive.

Are you sure your temp sensor is correcT?

Not even sure how to check. I am using CPUID Hardware Monitor and the core temps #0, #1, #2 and #4 all read in the high 90s when running the Prime95 torture test. On an identical machine, they run around 20 degrees cooler.

[tricky]

Screengrab of the readout

[Dariusz Makowski (Dadal)]

Damn and they are stock non overclocked?

[tricky]

Damn and they are stock non overclocked?

Yes - no overclocking.

[Dariusz Makowski (Dadal)]

Send them back to RMA. They could be faulty then...

They dont work as per specification from Intel - reason I think you could give.

[Morbid Angel]

one thing you should do is check the bios to see if there is high voltage running in the cpu. usually will be marked in red, just reset your bios and see if it helps.

[flino2004]

Check if the fans are blowing to the right direction( CPU and case fans)

[tricky]

Check if the fans are blowing to the right direction( CPU and case fans)

CPU fan is definitely the right way as there is only one way it will fit to the heatsink. Case fans are fine too. It is so rapid to get up from idle (50 degrees!) to maxed out at 95 degrees, I just can't see it being a fan/heatsink issue. The temperature jump is almost immediate.

[flino2004]

when you connect the cables you could invert the polarity and they blow air the wrong way....I did it once

[alexyork]

- check temps in BIOS (most reliable)
- check HS fans are actually running at full speed and in the correct direction(s)
- try a brand new, different thermal paste
- load optimized defaults in BIOS (be sure to check HDD priority etc. to make sure it boots ok)

It's most likely either

- dodgy temp readings
- over-voltage/dodgy BIOS settings
- dodgy heatsink

Could also be a duff processor but highly unlikely.