Tag Archive for: cpu

Is your CPU running hot?

Your server, just like your home furnace, is a critical piece of infrastructure. It should work for many years without any issues. However, over time they will start struggling. This may be a slight rattling, or they might just not be working as they used to. Your server might limp along for a bit, but eventually there will be the day when you are faced with that black screen and you’ll know it’s too late.

However, if you look out for some red flags that show your server is struggling, it’s likely you’ll be able to get your server repaired before it’s too late. By spotting a red flag, like temperature troubles and your CPU running hot, you can reduce the risk of needing a new service. Instead your old server can be fixed, if the fault is spotted soon enough.

Just like when you have a fever or temperature, you’re not well. It’s the same for your server. Research shows that every increase of 3º Celsius above 20º , reduces the reliability of your server by around 50%.

However, we all know that the high temperature when we have a fever ourselves, often isn’t the real problem. Instead, there are often underlying symptoms of what is actually wrong. It’s the same for your server. For servers the high temperature could result in issues with power supply or memory for example. If your server is struggling with power supply or memory, we would recommend that you check your CPU, chipset, and HDD temperatures. It’s also a good idea to check for whether the fans in your server are working correctly too.

You need to keep looking for the cause of extra heat, even if you can’t determine the cause immediately. Check that your front intake isn’t blocked. You may have a blockage in your exhaust or airflow too which can also cause extra heat. Have you recently repositioned your machine, as this could be the cause of the higher temperatures? You could also have a dirty heat sink.

If you are unsure if your server is running too hot or at normal temperature, check the details of your model. Many servers will come with an acceptable temperature operation specification. By checking the heat, you can check if your CPU is running hot or not.