Intel core i-7 5960X extreme edition processor is heating up

Intel core i-7 5960X extreme edition processor is heating up

It is normal for processors to heat up and it happens very rapidly. That’s why to counteract this heat generated by the processor, a heat sink is used on top of it and then to lower down further the temperature, a cooling fan is installed above the heat sink that blows cool air above the installation.

The heat sink is a passive heat exchanger that cools the processor by dispersing the heat into the surrounding medium. So, technically, when a heat sink is placed over the processor, the heat sink absorbs all the heat but even if this is the case, this is not enough. Without a cooling fan on top, your processor will still overheat and it increases the risk of damaging the processor.

So, if your processor always overheats and your system shuts down, check if the cooling fan on top is still working properly. In case the fan spins slower than usual, you should replace it. There is also something you need to do before installing the heat sink on top of your processor.

Before placing a heat sink above the processor, thermal paste or thermal grease is applied on the surface of the processor. A small dot is applied to the middle of the processor. When the heat sink is placed, the force of the heat sink will spread the thermal paste over the surface of the processor. See image.