Racing fan(s)

I removed the old thermal paste--it was dry and a bit caked on both the CPU and the heat sink. I cleaned both, and reapplied heat sink compound. So I think I'm back to where I started before I opened the box and dusted and cleaned. The problem is that the fan(s) races unexpectedly. My CPU starts at about 68 C, and often rises from there to wholly unacceptable levels when the fan races again. Before anything else happens, I shut down. I've posted my recent startup temps. They seem high to me.

Since I replaced the heat sink compound and restarted, I've gotten two blue screen messages. The first was a bad pooler caller message, and the second was an IRQL not less or equal message. Both of these occured after a few minutes of seemingly normal operation. The fan speed started to increase, the messages appeared, and the fan started really racing. Then I shut everything down.

I ran CCleaner's registry cleaner AND Glary Utilities registry cleaner. Both found a few things, which I purged. I checked Windows Update--all is up to date, including MSE and Malwarebytes Anti-malware. An MSE quick scan showed everything OK. I also downloaded and ran Kaspersky's TDSSKiller.exe. All was OK there, too.

I just tried to run a full MSE scan, but after a minute or so, Speccy reported the temperature rising into the upper 80s C, the fan started racing, and I shut down. I seem to get a few minutes of seemingly normal operation before the temp rises fast and fan starts racing.

So something still is amiss. Any ideas? Thanks.

First off did you clean and install your thermo compound as per the instruction link I posted before? It's very important that it is done correctly and the cup cooler is installed correctly. If you do it wrong you could be making a toaster out of your cpu and motherboard. Next I noticed your cpu and video card temps are high at the same time. This can be caused by poor circulation of cool air through the tower (case). Remove the side panel of the case and point a window fan or the like blowing inside your case when in use and see if the temps go down and by how much.

Thanks, Layback Bear.

Everything seems to be working OK except the temps seem a bit warm. I removed the case side panel and within 15 seconds, the CPU temp settled about 5 degrees lower--to around 66-67 C or so. The graphics card is still at about 71 C. I haven't tried a fan yet, but I might.

I haven't gotten any more blue screen messages.

I ran the Dell diagnostics, and all seems to be OK except I'm getting MPcache "auxiliary processor has failed" reports, including failing Dirty Cache Reads Test, Alternating CPU Write Test, Random Access Thrash test, and APIC MP Test. Apparently these are all L1, L2, and L3 multiprocessor failures. Error codes include 5800:301C and 5800:021C.

What do you think these results mean?

I also ran the complete RAM test, and it was OK.

Thanks.

Finale with Garritan Concert & Marching Band 2 sounds and Garritan Personal Orchestra 4 sounds.

So far it indicated poor air flow through the case. Find a fan and use it. Get back with results.

On subject. Did you use the external fan or not? If you did what was the effect on cooling?

No fan, so far. I left the case open and it's been running a bit cooler. Started this morning in the upper 50s C. I did some pretty intensive work. It slowly went up to about 81-82 C, but when I finished, it went back to the upper 60s C. I had the computer on for several hours.

This afternoon, I did the same, but when I went back to the computer just now (I shouldn't have left it alone!), the fan was going pretty strong again and a blue screen reported that something went wrong and the computer shut down to protect itself. Very unpredictable behavior.

Do you think the CPU is failing? I can't understand why it seemed OK for a while, and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, the fan races and, I guess, something overheats. When I shut it down, I accidentally restarted it, and the fan was back down to normal--seemed like a normal startup was taking place, but I didn't let it reboot--I unplugged it for now.