Is it time for new cpu thermal paste? And More RAM?

[logo897]

Hello all,

About a year or two ago, I have replaced the CPU thermal paste on my grandmas computer. Her computer is a 7 year old dell inspiron 580. Came with windows 7 home premium back in 2011. I have replaced her hard drive once and it now has an SSD I've installed for her.

Her temps as I sit here and type this range from 45 to mid 50's being idle. Under load with google chrome open, It says it goes to 62 degrees Celsius according to speccy. I ran a stress test using CPU-z and it almost hits 70 degrees Celsius for the 1-2 minutes I ran the test.

The temps when I first replaced her thermal paste were 30-40's when idle, and never got to 60 degrees Celsius with google chrome. Is it now time to redo the paste?

I will say, however, looking back on how it did it before, that I indeed didn't apply it properly; I should have applied the pea dot method, but instead I rather wiped it all on the surface of the cpu back then... maybe this is why it's not working even though it's only been a year or two? It should've lasted longer than this...

Her cpu is a core i3 550 3.20 GHz and I still have windows 7 on her ssd. any more info i will share.

ALSO:

I notice her ram usage is close to max with a few google chrome windows open.. she has 4 gigs ddr3. I figured upgrading won't matter due to windows 7, but chrome is now making me think otherwise... what should i do?

Thank you!

She and I really want to keep this computer as long as possible!

 

[logo897]

Now I closed google chrome and with 10% cpu usage I see high 30s to mid 40s in celsius temps

 

[mrjimphelps]

Putting thermal paste all over the surface of the heat sink and CPU will not hurt a thing; in my opinion, you are ensuring complete coverage when you do that. If any spills over the edge, you can remove it with a q-tip.

If you put a decent grade of thermal paste, there is no need to replace it a year or two later. If it is bad quality, then maybe so.

Try running Speedfan, and see what the individual temperatures are. Perhaps you can pinpoint the problem that way. My guess is that your GPU is bad, but I wouldn't know for sure till the temps are checked.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Logo,

High RAM usage with only a couple of tabs open - is rather unusuall.
(ive just run an AV scan with 2 browser and 4 tabs 1.60 ram outa 4 on my 2009 rig)
I suspect something else is going on
please run the following
ESET on line
(dissable any other AV currently running during the scan)
Online Malware Detection ESET
Jnkware Removal tool
Junkware Removal Tool Download
Adware cleaner
AdwCleaner Download

REMOVE everything they find.

REBOOT

can you also run Farbar, (FRST) and post both logs
Farbar Recovery Scan Tool Download

Roy

 

[logo897]

Putting thermal paste all over the surface of the heat sink and CPU will not hurt a thing; in my opinion, you are ensuring complete coverage when you do that. If any spills over the edge, you can remove it with a q-tip.

If you put a decent grade of thermal paste, there is no need to replace it a year or two later. If it is bad quality, then maybe so.

Try running Speedfan, and see what the individual temperatures are. Perhaps you can pinpoint the problem that way. My guess is that your GPU is bad, but I wouldn't know for sure till the temps are checked.

I run on integrated graphics

 

[logo897]

Hi Logo,

High RAM usage with only a couple of tabs open - is rather unusuall.
(ive just run an AV scan with 2 browser and 4 tabs 1.60 ram outa 4 on my 2009 rig)
I suspect something else is going on
please run the following
ESET on line
(dissable any other AV currently running during the scan)
Online Malware Detection ESET
Jnkware Removal tool
Junkware Removal Tool Download
Adware cleaner
AdwCleaner Download

REMOVE everything they find.

REBOOT

can you also run Farbar, (FRST) and post both logs
Farbar Recovery Scan Tool Download

Roy

Hi,

Thank you but it does not have any viruses. I have already looked into this.

 

[matfx]

I would suggest to re-apply a new thermal paste, and also check the fan it is clean or clog with dust.

Adding more ram will be good since nowadays web browser getting more heavier.

 

[RoasterMen]

Just apply a new thermal paste and clean the hsf. 8GB can make her computer last even more.

 

[Bat 1]

OP might also want to consider upgrading the CPU cooler. With the small case, something along the line of Cooler Master GeminII M4 - CPU Cooler with 4 Direct Contact Heatpipes - Newegg.com would be the best option.

 

[strollin]

One tip regarding thermal paste, more is not better! You want to use a very thin coat of paste between the cpu and heatsink for maximum heat transfer.

It shouldn't be necessary to re-apply paste periodically. Personally, I've had systems I used for 10+ years without ever re-applying thermal paste.

As far as upgrading the RAM, is the computer 64-bit capable and is it running a 64-bit version of Win 7? If no to either of these questions then it is pointless to upgrade the RAM beyond 4GB.

 

[logo897]

Thank you all!

I will get back to you hopefully later next week. I have to talk to her about it first.

@ bat1 - Yes that looks pretty good for her case! I rather apply the paste first and see how it goes, and if it still heats up a lot, i'll change the fan. Thanks, i'll save the link!

@roaster - would you recommend I buy her ram from dell or ram from crucial? If from crucial, I might have to buy all new sticks, because her current ram came with this computer.

@strollin - Thank you! I'll do that. And her OS is 64-bit.