My computer's overheating but I don't know why, for sure.?

Question

A yesterday I added. 1 GB of RAM and a new nVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS to my Intel Pentium 4 Computer. I also added a Power Supply that was 500 W from one of the computers in my attic.

I added the computer's Power Supply because my old one couldn't support the graphics card I was adding.

After that was all done I started up my computer and installed the drivers for the graphics card. Then I went into the nVidia Control Panel and set the resolution at the recommended one.

Then my computer shut down about ten seconds after I opened the nVidia screen where it was using the card to ask what settings I would like to put it on based on Performance or Quality. So I started it up and the computer's screen said "Shut down due to thermal event". I tried to start up the computer again but then it shut down, with the same error message while it was still loading. I waited a while then started it up again and it ran until I tried to open up a program that wanted to use the video card. Then it shut down saying there was a thermal event again.

I removed the graphics card, and after that the computer worked fine.

I'm guessing the video card is heating up, but I don't know how to fix that. I have air conditioning, so my room shouldn't be too hot for the computer and the video card to handle.

So if somebody knew what was going on, and/or they knew what to do. Please tell me.

Thanks,

Marc

Answer 1

Try to remove the card use an other one start computer then un install the driver turn off the computer install the card again let windows install new driver for it. clean the fan or replace it.

Answer 2

Add a Blower to it. Staples has them for 14.99. It is a powerful little sucker that can move more air then a fan. But instead of blowing air on the computer parts to cool them. it sucks air out of the case and blows the hot air outside away from the computer....  

Answer 3

It could be the setting in the BIOS. Enter the Bios setting and look for something like "Hardware Monitor" where you can set the max or min temperature setting. I cannot exactly give you the procedure because I don't know the model of your motherboard.

Check first if all fan is running at full speed.

Answer 4

Make sure you are plugging in your 6 pin connector into the card so it has enough power.. Do you have a fan blowing in your case & 1 blowing out the hot hair? nVidia cards typically run hot & it shouldn't be overheating just by you turning on the computer. The card might be defective in that case, i'd get it looked at... or buy a new fan for it.. check to see if the fan on the car is functioning properly or the chip might be overheating due to poor cooling.

Answer 5

Hi,

My son had a similar problem once, and it was because he needed a new fan in his computer; apparently some of the components you can add increases the need for internal cooling.

Your room air conditioning would help, but the internal parts probably would need more direct cooling. Have you checked to see if your computer fan is working? If so, maybe you need to upgrade it?

It's also possible that your new graphic card is defective, maybe. If your fan seems okay, I would try returning the graphics card for exchange, to see if that helped.

Good Luck :)

Answer 6

the fan may be broken or blocked. it may not be correctly inserted, the fan needs to be touching the cpu, if there is a gap... even the slightest it can overheat, it is not just the fan that counts but the aluminum heat sink it has atatched.  

Answer 7

probably not cold enough you might want to look into getting more fans inside of your tower or possibly get a radiator and have it be a liquid cooled tower. good luck hope this helps

Answer 8

Check to make sure that the fan on the video card is operating properly. If it isn't the video card is defective.

Also check to make sure that the fan on the power supply is operating.