My computer is overheating. I have it out on a desk, nothing near it and the side cover off. I've even put a fan on the outside blowing in to try to cool it. I built this computer about 5 years ago and want to use it as a backup computer, just for me and the wife, not the kids. No gaming, no spreadsheet, just surfing the web and email. I changed the motherboard out about a year ago and upgraded the processor. did not put any heating tape on the processer at that time. Could that be the problem. What can I do?

You claim it's overheating but don't supply any temp readings?

I got this yahoo widget that reads the temp of the CPU. It goes all the way over under load, up to 170 C and the steam rolls out of the device on the computer.

I don't know what a "yahoo widget" is but no CPU can tolerate 170C (338F). Intel CPU's have built-in thermal protection & would completely shutdown the system long before getting anywhere near that hot. I'd say your widget is garbage. Check your temp readings in the BIOS.

And what device is does the "steam" roll out of? You're saying this thing worked fine for a year, then started giving problems? None of this makes any sense. Skip

I checked the bios, it reads, CPU Temp 160.5 Degrees F. MB Temp reads 93 degrees F. I havea an INTEL PENT 4 CPU 3.40GHz Speed 3400MHz System Mem Availalbe 1024 MB AMI BIOS VER 0306. I have two internal fans, one CPU fan, the side cover is off and I have a house fan blowing on it and it still reads those same temps. The YAHOO Wideget (Steam Guage) seems to be accurate. Thanks

OK, so the steam comes out of the widget...not any part of your machine. Jeez, why mess with stuff like this? Your temps translate to 71°C for the cpu and 34°C for the MB. CPU temp is high and MB temp is fine. "did not put any heating tape on the processer at that time" You need to do so now. Need instructions? Skip