CPU Temperature issues Dual G5

[Oswaldo]

I have a Mac Dual G5 computer which is installed with Mac OS X Snow leopard. The system just works fine, but while listening to music and playing games the CPU temperature rises to about 87F to 140F and the system prompts to shut down. It is not normal behavior of the Mac system as far as I know. I cant figure out how to solve this issue and hence need your help to solve it. If anybody is facing CPU temperature issue with Mac Dual G5 then please share some information. Can this be because of the hardware or software?

[Hardwareman]

Playing music and games put some extra effort on the CPU. While playing Music or games the CPU has to process hell lot of things in order to produce the proper effect while listening to music or while playing games. Both gaming and playing music load the CPU and hence the temperature of the CPU increases beyond the limit. To keep the CPU temperature under moderate range, either play the music application or the gaming application at a time. Do not run both the application together as it puts lot of load on the CPU. I am sure that when only music application or Gaming application is executed, the CPU temperature will not exceed beyond the range.

[Fabian]

The temperatures which you have mentioned are way beyond the normal limit of the CPU temperature. Normally the CPU temperature is around 40F while some processes are running. The thermal paste on the CPU must have gone dry due to which it is not able to conduct the heat away from the CPU. Take your computer to the nearest service center and get the Thermal paste of the CPU changed. Once the Thermal paste is changed you will not face such a problem with the CPU temperature. Till then avoid to run many applications together as it loads the CPU and causes the temperature to rise which could damage the CPU permanently.

[RoninBlade]

The CPU temperature also depends on the application which you run. If the application requires lot of processing then it heats up the CPU a lot. Any music application requires lot of processing which heats up the CPU but the temperature which you have mentioned are way above the limit. Open the activity monitor and see which of the processes is taking up the processing power. If the Music application itself is taking all the processing power then you will have to uninstall the application as it may be corrupt and is causing problems. Try to reinstall the application and see if the Problem continues.

[Rawko]

Dual G5 consist of two processors hence when application is started both the processors start processing the application simultaneously. As both the processors start processing the same application simultaneously it takes up processing power. As both the processors process the same application at same rate, it dissipates more heat. Hence the temperature of the CPU increases beyond limit. The best way to avoid this is to stop one processor for processing the application when the other processor is running the application. There are certain application which help in disabling one processor while running gaming applications and music application. Download and install the application for the Mac system and you will not face the problem again.

[T.J.]

I think the computer is not ventilated properly due to which CPU temperature is rising beyond the limit. First check if the CPU fan of the Dual G5 is running properly or not. If you can open the Dual G5 then open it and then start the computer. See if the CPU fan is working properly or not. If the CPU fan is covered with lot of dust then clean the CPU fan and then check if the CPU temperature rises beyond the limit or not. If required add an extra cooling fan in the cabinet if the PSU allows the extra fan to be added. If you are not able to add any extra cooling fan then keep the computer in some place where the airflow is good.