Random Shut Downs... Why!?!?

Is it the stock cooler or an after market one? Maybe look at getting a new cooler as there might be something wrong with the coolers mounting system not supplying enough pressure.

I usually clean my cpus and heatsinks with nail varnish remover. Use tissue or cotton pad to clear excess TIM then a cotton bud with nvr to get it "so fresh and so clean".

I don't know what type they put in when I got the machine built... that must be at least 3.5-4 years ago now.

I don't usually mess about in the guts of this machine, or any machine for that matter, not knowing what I was looking at or touching would always mean I was likely to break something! Learning a bit more now though

When I took the heat sink off there was just a few patches of what I'd describe as a brittle powdery substance, mostly around the side of the CPU where there is a little recessed edge, other than that it was a direct contact between the CPU and the cooler.

Ordered up the necessary equipment now though so I'll get on it soon as it arrives and see fi that helps resolve the issue!!

For my info, how often do you recommend cleaning & reapplying the thermal paste?

Rubbing alcohol (highest % you can find) and a paper or cotton microfiber cloth. Make sure you do the CPU and the base of the heatsink

Originally Posted by Xisco

Ordered up the necessary equipment now though so I'll get on it soon as it arrives and see fi that helps resolve the issue!!

For my info, how often do you recommend cleaning & reapplying the thermal paste?

what you ordered? and how often do you redo TIM (thermal interface material)? well depends on what type of TIM it is and how well it has been applied. i've got some arctic silver 5 that is going strong a good 5 years at least on one item but i only change TIM when im disturbing it by either changing a CPU or upgrading the cooler.

Is it the stock cooler or an after market one? Maybe look at getting a new cooler as there might be something wrong with the coolers mounting system not supplying enough pressure.

It's not a stock cooler, I upgraded to the Silent Knight II on build, it's good enough as far as I can tell

what you ordered?

Yup I did a lil research and bought myself some Arctic Silver 5

Thanks again for all the advice/opinions, good to have a sounding board of those more experienced than me!

when you put the cooler back on make sure its secure and tight. and less is more with TIM, i normally put a rice size amount on both surfaces and smooth it over with some cling film on my finger so i end up with a film of TIM as opposed to a layer.