that's your CPU's STOCK heatsink topped with an older-style downpush-config fan. It looks like it's come loose! That's bad. Worse you cant simply push it back in because you'll get airbubbles trapped in the exposed grease. You must remove it, clean it, re-grease it, and re-seat it.

Don't be mislead by cool CPU temp readings, that DOES NOT mean your CPU isn't part of the problem. It could very well mean your CPU heatsink is doing an excellent job of removing the hot air... and dumping it carelessly on the RAM and Graphics Card!!!

serious builders swear by push-pull config as it moves the hot air directly where you want to move it: The main exhaust fan or blowhole fan.

http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/coo...finity_005.jpg

Sure, the graphics card will naturally run hotter than the CPU, but when building or trouble-shooting any computer, you ALWAYS start with the CPU. It's the heart and soul of the rig. I would never suggest you *only* buy a new Graphics Card cooler.

Get both.

It'll be like a brand new computer! You'll most likely be able to turn UP your graphics settings as it was established a long time ago (Doom 3) that overheating VGA ram can effect FPS!

geez, that's a mean looking piece of hardware :o ... didn't Mad Max have one of those mounted on the hood of his "interceptor"? :lol:

I'll follow your advice and go shopping tomorrow, as the over heating persist even after cleaning out all the fans... even leaving the computer's case open doesn't do much good.

Anyway, thanks for all the answers from everyone :up:

we don't need another hero... thunderdome

you wont regret it. and if you're serious about protecting your investment, it'll be the best $70 you've ever spent. the best part is you can take them off, clean them up, and put them in your next computer (if you wish). just remember to never rush the install, nice and easy. if something goes wrong, go make a frosty beverage, take a breather, and come back to it later.

here's another good look at push-pull on the CPU:
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8075/p1010656ud9.jpg

another online community I'm apart of... this is the AIR COOLED GALLERY:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ad.php?t=36988

I swear my PC runs on a 2-stroke lawnmower engine :hmm:

An update on my situation.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2327/...7b8771de_b.jpg
The microprocessor fan has been replaced but I still kept getting some slowdowns. Now I have come to discover that the fan for the nVidia video card isn't running... as a matter of fact, it's missing a couple of blades. I don't know if the techs that installed the microprocessor fan broke it or if it was like that before (which I doubt).

I've given up for the meantime and just bought a regular small fan, that I put allongside the computer's case and it seems to keep everything nice an cool... allthough it looks somewhat low tech.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/...5713d77a_b.jpg

As to the video card's fan.... I don't know where I can buy it separately, and I certainly wont buy a new video card just because of that (the computer runs great with my low tech fan, so why bother). Still, we'll se what comes up latter down the line.

I don't know if they ship to Mexico, but here is a link to all kinds of VGA fans, if this company doesn't, I'm sure you can find one that does.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...me=VGA-Cooling

If you are not sure which one you need you can contact the manufacturer of the video card.

Peabody

Arrrrggg!!!! when it isn't one thing it's another...

My videocard has died... so I guess the issue is solved, a new card it is.

I think I may have broken the card a few days ago when I used a can of compressed air to clean out my computer after it had been running hot (won't be doing that again :-? ). I hope I haven't broken anything else.

Good news is that the computer still runs with the onboard video card (nVidia 6xxx something). Bad news is no more SHIV, since it runs like at about 2 frames per second :down:

I figure that 300 dollars or less (prefering less) is a fair amount to spend on a new video card... I like nVidia, any suggestions? There seems to be a lot of options out there with some of the 9xxx cards being cheaper than some of the 8xxx ones, which somewhat confuses me.

What would you guys buy?

The second digit of the Nvidia cards is the one that points to the performance. The first digit is the series number of the GPU. For example, an 8800 card should outperform a 9600 card. It's confusing to me, too, LOL. Then you have to factor in the GS, GT, GTS or GTX.

Fill my sub with dud torpedoes!!! Is that how it works?!?!?! :dead:

Thanks for the tip, now I can understand the reasoning behind the prices :huh:

I just read it today myself.:yep: Had always been wondering, but it "sorta makes sense". Best thing to do is to look very carefully at the specs. Even if you don't buy there, using the compare feature at Newegg helps loads comparing products.