I don't know much about PC hardware, so I'm trying to figure out what to check next. An IT-savvy friend has been helping me troubleshoot my computer. We reapplied the CPU thermal paste, which seemed to help temporarily, but the PC later shut itself off again. The overheating warning disappeared for a while, so we suspected another problem. A GPU warning light then appeared, so I replaced the power supply with a 1000W unit, but the computer still shuts down when I try to launch a game and now reports that the CPU is overheating again. HWMonitor showed the CPU reaching about 90°C while the computer was mostly idle. I believe the system uses an AIO cooler, although I'm not completely certain. What should I check before replacing the CPU or other major components?
3 Answers
The new power supply probably won’t fix a CPU temperature warning. Thermal paste alone usually isn’t the main cause unless it was applied incorrectly, is extremely old, or the cooler isn’t making proper contact. Since both the CPU and GPU seem to be getting hot, inspect the overall airflow and make sure the radiator, heatsink, and case vents aren’t clogged.
If this is an AIO liquid cooler, the pump may have failed or may not be receiving power. Check the pump’s power and motherboard connections, confirm that the pump is detected or running in the BIOS, and feel the tubes after startup for a temperature difference. If the pump has failed, replacing the cooler is more likely to help than replacing the CPU.
A CPU sitting around 90°C while barely doing anything points strongly to a cooling problem. Check that the cooler is mounted firmly, the thermal paste is fresh, and any protective film was removed from the cooler base. Also clean dust from the case and make sure all fans are spinning.
I’m not completely sure whether it’s an AIO, so I’ll verify the cooler model and check the pump and connections before buying anything else.