Cool the processor Hal "I cant do that dave"

Its exactly a year since i built my current computer.
The processor is a AMD Athlon XP 3000+
The stock heatsink is fixed to it using the thermal pad that came ready attached.
Ive heard a lot about stock heatsinks often not really being up to the job but this one seemed to do great reaching 53 C at full load.
Since then the processor has been gaining an extra degree a month and last month by 3 degrees. I now get up to 66 - 69 degrees at full load and the comp is begining to get unstable.
Does anyone know why this would happen.
I have completely cleaned the pc.
None of the fans have lost speed.
Computer is in the same place as its always beens.
No modifications or hardware upgrades have been made.

Ta

 

it might be the thermal paste if you are using any, or the parts dying off, though computer parts should have a significant lifespan

 

Its not thermal paste its an amd thermal pad.

 

Try easing off the oc a bit and make sure your PSu is good/not dying.

 

Cpu is not over clocked and is only a year old. Performs perfect untill the temp rises.

 

is there any bulid up of dust on the Heatsink/fan, that can mean that heat isnt escaping from the heatsink. If there is use compressed air to blow it away and suck it up with a vacuum cleaner. Also are your cables neatly tidied...i have just sorted mine out after people on here telling me to sort them out so temperatures would drop, it works, temps gone down even more now

 

check if the fan is operating at full efficiency, and also like Matt555 said, check if theres any dust in there

 

Fans are fine. No dust in the heatsink. Cables are very tidy and not in the way of airflow. No change has been made to the comp since before the problem came about. This is an odd one i agree. My hardware states that ive overclocked to the equivalent of a 3200. This was done a long time ago and was clocked back down a few days later (just hav'nt updated my specs).