E8400 suddenly underperforming

[idata]

Hello!

I've had my processor for about a year and until very recently I was very satisfied with it's performance. Last week, I ran a game with which I usually have no trouble at all (constant 40fps), and I found myself lagging horidly (10 fps). I tried other games and I have the same problem with each one! My CPU's score went down from 6.5 (on 10) to 4.8. I also noticed that my CPU's temperature varies from 85°C to 92°C.

In an attempt to fix this, I updated my bios and formatted my computer.

Thanks in advance!

[Adolfo_S_Intel2]

Please make sure that the Enhance Intel SpeedStep(R) Technology is disabled in the BIOS of the motherboard, since having this feature enabled will force the processor to lower the perfornace in order to save power consumption.

[idata]

Hey there.

What Adolfo told is correct, do that.

Also, if your processor is not able to generate the clock of max frequency that is allowed, it will run slow, without giving any errors

To test your processor, use the below tool. Its Intel processor diagnostic tool

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19182&lang=eng http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19182&lang=eng

Post results if possible

Cheers

Intelstar

[idata]

Thank you for answering!

I had already turned off Speedstep.

The "Intel processor diagnostic tool" doesn't run on a 64 bit system, which I have. Is there a compatible version?

[idata]

This tool is newly launched.. There is no 64bit version as of yet..

Try installing an xp or somethin on extra disk if you have !

[idata]

Do you know of a program that would let me run the tool? Something that creates an XP environment?

[idata]

Try installing it. I dont know aboyt xp 64bits but Vista 64bit has this emulator called WOW32, which creates a 32bit environment for s/w, while the OS is 64bit..

[idata]

Yes, I installed it. I get a "This can't run on a 64-bit OS" when I try running it.

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3747/captureocd.png

I wasn't doing anything at the moment, and CPU usage was pretty high. Core0 temp was bouncing between -26° and 100°.

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7522/50259912.png

...

[idata]

Woha.. seems like you can bake a bread inside your cpu !! Its not funny.. Am sorry. Ok, quick question though. Your CPU (E8400) has maximum operating temperature of 95 celcuis. Once you hit this temperature, the system should shut down automatically (http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-030615.htm http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-030615.htm See Table 2.)

Now this indicates that the reported temperature is either incorrect (Thermal sensors have gone bad or the software is malfunctioning)

However, there is less possiblitly of thermal sensors to have gone bad, since the sensors which fetch data to this tool, are the same sensors whose teprerature data triggers system shut down.

So lets consider the overheating as a bigger issue that underperformance, since, inorder to pervent your CPU from going into fumes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgOmMAasqto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgOmMAasqto), Intel technology is such that, the cup will start underperforming at high temperatures rather than melting a processor and having peak performance till it dies.

The basic check lists of overheating is as under

-Check if the heat sink is installed properly

-Check the TIM material., if you've got one, apply it over the CPU

-Check nothing is obstructing the airflow in and out of cabinet.

-After doing all these, still if it overheats, assemble the system ouside the cabinet on a plain flat non-electrostatic surface (Newspaper, Wood etc) and check the temperatures..

Crosscheck temperature values in BIOS and another application (CPUZ is what I use http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html)

Cheers

Intelstar

[idata]

Wait a minute! The system shuts down you say??? I've been having regular BSODs for about 6-8 months know, usually when I game intensly, I've tried fixing them but we eventually gave up on them and let them be.

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9471/10349319.png

This is what they look like, and I thought my RAM modules were to blame!

[idata]

Is it safe to try another identical CPU on my mobo?

[idata]

Hey, sorry for the long long delay. Was caught up with something else.!

It is definately safe to try different processor on your board, but but but, be careful that you are using a compatiblle processor for the board.For that, check the support site of the board, usually they have list of processors that are compatible with it. In your case, most of the LGA775 processors should work/BSoD are majorly due to the hardware malfunction or incompatiblity. Say if one hardware is faulty, its malfunctioned behaviour could ruin another hardware which is perfectly all right. And, when I first came to know about it, to my surprise, BSoDs could also be due to improper voltage (that are beyond the onboard voltage regulator to handle) also.

So give all the devices a check one by one, starting with another processor for test, if you have

Cheers

intelstar

[idata]

It is safe to try another cpu, however, the problem seems to be that your cpu is overheating. Get some thermal paster and clean and reinstall it's heatsink.