CPU overheating rapidly

[Luds]

Windows XP Pro SP2 x32
AMD Athlon 64, 2200 MHz
Asus A8N-E SKT939
4x 512MB PC3200 DDR400 CL2.5 RAM Corsair
ATI Radeon x550 PCI-E

My CPU in windows according to EVEREST idles at 38-42'c. When I play Risk 2, a game that seems demanding as minesweeper, my CPU temperature rises rapidly to 70'c+ and overheats causing my computer to reboot.

What the heck is going on? I've cleaned out my fans and heatsink with compressed air, inspected everything and it looks fine; I don't understand why my CPU overheats from such an application.

 

[i_am_a_newbie]

Those idling temps are normal I think, but your load temps are definitely too high.

What PSU do you have?

Also, have you tried reapplying the thermal grease between the heatsink and the CPU heat spreader?

 

[Rick]

It might sound rediculous, but do you have the heatsink on backwards?

The photo below shows a heatsink being put on backwards. The arrows indicate the correct way to place it. The cut-away area of the heatsink needs to be fit over top appropriate side of the socket.

 

[Luds]

My power supply is NSpire 450W-24 PIN DUal-BBFan ATX.

As for my CPU and heatsink placement, my whole system was put together by the business I bought it from as a total package and has a 2 year warranty; so I'm unaware as of how they placed it and the quality of pastes they applied. Another thing I noticed is that the fan is blowing onto the heatsink and not away; I did read that some heatsink is designed for that purpose so I'm not too considered about that but did observe.

When I call them, they never ask to bring it in they just tell me to clean out the fans and tell me that it's definately the dust inside; yawn.. I'm very depressed about purchasing this computer as the support they offer doesn't make me feel like a satisfied customer.