I'm running an old emachines box- Every time I try to do a batch update using Yellow Dog (yum) my power supply gets too hot and the computer turns off. Not sure if the PSU is, in turn, overheating the CPU or what. After a while, I can turn it back on, but it won't come on until everything cools down. The only out of the ordinary things are an aftermarket NIC (nothing spectacular), extra HD, and more RAM. Any tips for keeping it cool? The PSU has a pretty huge cooling fan on it, but it seems to not be helping much.

How do you know the powersupply is overheating? Does it have a temperature sensor? Never seen one that does but maybe yours does. What rating is the powersupply? What CPU temperatures are reported? Overheating CPU is more likely and can be because of inadequate cooling or built-up dust and crud in the heatsink/fan. Does your case have any extra fans to improve airflow? Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and his wife will never forgive you.

If it really is the power supply overheating, check to see that there is airflow out. The input grill might be clogged up with dust bunnies.

I go with checking the airflow, and cleaning if clogged. Some Pentium 4 processors will shut down before thermal damage is total,perhaps this processor is doing the same. My guess is that the CPU is overheating,not the power supply,but if there isn't good airflow and dirt is jacketing the mainboard,vents and components, both could be overheating. Easiest maintenence is to keep a clean box.

The guys are right in the grills may be clogged up. In some of the older machines the only cooling fan was the one in the power supply. If this is the case you may have to go as far as removing the PSU and opening it up. If you do watch were you put you paws. The filter caps can toss your happy buns accross a room in a New York min. Been there. Blow things out real good and reassimble and put it back in. Make sure you blow out every thing else in the case. HTH... I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid...

i have this problem too my spec: Intel Pentium4 3Ghz 1024mb dual channel ddr400 Sapphire Radeon 9800pro NorthQ cpu cooler NorthQ PSU when i play games the cpu temp would rise to around 70° which is below what it usualy gets with the in a box cooler i used before (90°) The wierdest thing is that this here only happens to me when i play World of Warcraft.. the PSU gets so hot that i can burn my fingers on it :o i already have 4 dead psu's from playing WoW.. the coolers are all fine and they arent clogged.. could appreciate some help :/

I have a similar problem...If i ever leave my computer on for a long time or play a memory intensive game like half-life 2 the psu will over heat and the whole computer will shut off on me...I put a sensor in the psu and the last time it overheated it was around 110*F, i don't think it's the CPU that's overheating, i usually run it at around 80*F...but i could be wrong...my PSU is 500watt, but it is not a well known name brand...should i get a new one? or should i try doing something with this one...oh and on a side note, i don't know why it would over heat because i have a total of 8 fans (not including the 2 fans in the PSU)