During a technical visit, you power on a desktop that randomly shuts down after a few minutes of high CPU usage. The system shows normal voltages, no POST errors, but the UEFI hardware monitor reports the CPU temperature spiking past 100 °C within seconds of boot. Which action should you perform first to resolve the issue?
Update the motherboard firmware to the latest version.
Remove and reinstall the CPU heatsink, applying fresh thermal compound.
A CPU that overheats almost immediately after power-on usually indicates poor contact between the processor and its cooling solution. Removing the heatsink, cleaning both surfaces, and applying a fresh, even layer of thermal compound restores proper heat transfer and typically lowers temperatures enough to stop the thermal-protection shutdowns.
Simply adding a case fan may improve overall airflow but will not correct a badly seated cooler that causes an instant temperature spike.
Updating firmware will not fix a physical heat-transfer problem.
Replacing the power supply addresses voltage or wattage issues, not excessive CPU temperatures.
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