Troubleshooting The CPU Chip
The CPU or Central Processing Unit is indeed the brains behind any computer system. Without the cpu chip, the computer simply can't do anything at all. In our last newsletter we discussed how to find out the type of CPU that is mounted in your computer, what options you have concerning which CPU upgrades and how to go about installing your new CPU Chip.
To refresh our memories, let's briefly mention how we can determine the type of CPU we have in our system unit.
As the Computer boot up, some provide a display of system information.
Use Diagnostic Utilities such as MSD.EXE to determine your CPU.
Remove the System Unit Cover, and visually check the CPU
Study the PC Manual to determine your CPU type.
Take the time to determine the type of central processing unit in your PC and check to see if it is a Proprietary CPU. If so you may have to upgrade the motherboard or contact the manufacturer.
Problems caused By The CPU
As with all electronic components, the central processing unit will generate heat, especially with the newer and much faster chips being made. The heat the chip generates depends on the amount of current passing through it.
It it therefore essential to heat or the component will fail. Because of this the cpu chip is covered with a Heat Sink and nearly all recently built computers will have a Cooling Fan mounted on top of the heat sink. Here are some problems that can be caused by the central processing unit and how to correct each.
As the CPU Chip operates, it generates heat which in turn,attracts dirt and dust on the Heat Sink. Remove all dirt and dust by using compressed air and other means
After the Heat Sink was installed on the CPU Chip, this device was added to further aid the Heat Sink in removing heat from the Central Processing Unit.
The Computer will not boot-up or may not run the Operating System such as Windows 98. Use software utilities to check the central processing unit.
The Computer crashes during normal operation for no reason.
Error messages appearing on the Monitor screen. If the chip has been damaged in any way, the system will not boot up.
The central processing unit overheating is the leading cause of cpu failure. This failure is noticed by the computer failing to boot up or re-booting itself. If the chip becomes hot while running for very long periods, the PC may simply hang-up. Remember that you may receive a bad cpu when buying a computer. This chip must be replaced once it has defects.