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Solved High CPU usage and temperature after cleaning

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WigsXL

PCHF Member
Jun 23, 2017
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#1
My CPU usage is unusually high since I cleared all the dust out from my case (there was a lot). Just opening any web page consistently shoots it up to between 25-45% and while this happens the fan gets much louder, louder than it used to go even when running intensive games. Also the fan becomes extremely loud when booting up. I've also noticed heavy screen tearing when scrolling, but not all the time.

The problem started immediately after the clean out so it seems something went wrong there, the only thing I can think of is that I tightened one of four big screw type things (sorry I'm not very knowledgeable about this) that were underneath the CPU because it was looser than the other three but I don't see how that could have caused any problems.

HWMonitor says my CPU fan is jumping all around between 1300 and 1340 rpm at idle and then jumping up to anywhere between 1600 and 2100 rpm when opening a web page and then quickly returning to idle levels. MSI Afterburner is showing the temperature shooting up from around 44C at idle to 55-65C while a web page is opening and then dropping right back down to idle levels like the rpm. It seems like doing absolutely anything on my pc causes the CPU temp and fan to spike.

My CPU is an i5 2500k and I'm on Windows 10, thanks in advance and let me know if there is any more useful information I can give.
 
#3
How did you clean the system?

To add to what Vger has stated you may want to loosen the screws and also check to see if something make have cracked on the CPU or Mother Board.

Here are some guide lines that I follow when cleaning my desktops from information I have found in various places on the net.

Do not use a vacuum to clear the dust they can cause a static discharge and end up toasting the system or a components. There are also jumper on the boards that could be sucked off and then the system would be bricked.

Get a few cans of compressed air and blow the dust out. Try not to allow the fans to spin could cause a electrical spike and they are only made to spinning at a certain speed. To fast will make them off kilter and useless.

Do this in a well ventilated area so you are not inhaling the dust and not just spreading it around the room.
 
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#4
Thanks for the responses, I didn't do anything to the heat sink while I was cleaning honestly I wouldn't even be sure how to access it. I cleaned using a vacuum and cotton ear buds to get heavy dust off the fans, which I now see might not have been a good idea. Is it possible the cleaning damaged the heat sink?

I will check the cpu and motherboard for cracks when I get a chance and also loosen the screws a little, thanks again for the help.
 
#5
WigsXL said:
Is it possible the cleaning damaged the heat sink?
Click to expand...
In my experence no.
WigsXL said:
I will check the cpu and motherboard for cracks when I get a chance and also loosen the screws a little, thanks again for the help.
Click to expand...
If you just tightened it slightly you should be ale to just loosen the screw a bit. If you made it as tight as you could then may be some damage. The other thing is by tightening that one screw down may have off set the CPU. Some of the newer CPU's no longer have pin on them they are on the motherboard. So if they are not making a proper connection then you could have system issues.

WigsXL said:
The problem started immediately after the clean out so it seems something went wrong there, the only thing I can think of is that I tightened one of four big screw type things (sorry I'm not very knowledgeable about this) that were underneath the CPU because it was looser than the other three but I don't see how that could have caused any problems.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about the screws that hold the motherboard to the case (per say) and you did remember to use the spacers so the bottom of the motherboard so not touching the metal of the case which in turn can cause the motherboard to short out.
 
#6
Rustys said:
Are you talking about the screws that hold the motherboard to the case (per say) and you did remember to use the spacers so the bottom of the motherboard so not touching the metal of the case which in turn can cause the motherboard to short out.
Click to expand...
The screws I'm talking about are about as thick as my finger but half as long and they're in between the CPU and the motherboard. I only tightened them by hand and I didn't have to fiddle with anything else to reach them.
 
#8
If I may just ask a question :)

WigsXL

Is the HS and cooling fan the stock one that shipped with the cooler or a third party cooler, if the latter, let us know the brand and model name please.

The reason why I ask is because the stock coolers did not screw into the MB they pushed in and to remove the cooler you turned the retaining pin in the direction of the arrow on the fastening pin, see attachment below, the idea of the spring loaded pins is to ensure an equal pressure is applied atop of the CPU to prevent instability, uneven pressure being applied can as explained cause all sorts of bad behaviour.
 

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#9
I had a look at the motherboard to make sure there weren't any cracks, reseated the RAM, made sure all the connectors weren't loose and took some not great pictures of the CPU cooler. I don't know the model but the brand is Xigmatek. I'm now thinking that the solution is probably replacing the thermal paste since it's quite old.
 

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