A user reports that their tower PC abruptly powered off twice this morning while running a spreadsheet. After restarting, a technician enters the UEFI hardware monitor and sees the CPU temperature climb from 60 °C to over 95 °C within one minute, even though the CPU fan is spinning and the case is clear of dust or obstructions. What should the technician do NEXT to correct the problem?
Remove the heat sink, apply new thermal compound, and reinstall it on the CPU
Install an additional intake fan in the front of the chassis
Download and install the latest graphics driver for the system
Replace the power supply with a higher-wattage model
A rapid temperature rise despite an operating fan and clear airflow indicates poor heat transfer between the CPU and its heat sink. Over time, thermal compound can dry out or become uneven, creating air gaps that prevent efficient dissipation of heat, leading to thermal shutdowns. Reseating the heat sink with fresh thermal paste restores proper contact and is the appropriate next step. Adding a case fan may improve overall airflow but will not fix a faulty CPU-to-heat-sink interface. Updating a video driver is unrelated, and replacing the power supply will not address the thermal spike shown in the UEFI monitor.
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Why is thermal compound important for CPU cooling?
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