SK0-004 · Question #869
A server technician installs a new CPU and heat sink in a server and reconnects all of the cables. After powering on the server, the technician discovers the server is now overheating. The…
The correct answer is A. The server is missing a fan shroud. After a CPU and heat sink replacement, a missing fan shroud is the most likely cause of overheating because the shroud channels airflow directly across the heat sink; without it, air bypasses the CPU cooling area.
Question
A server technician installs a new CPU and heat sink in a server and reconnects all of the cables. After powering on the server, the technician discovers the server is now overheating. The technician ensures the fans in the server are all operating properly. Which of the following power and cooling components is the next MOST likely cause of the temperature issues?
Options
- AThe server is missing a fan shroud.
- BThe power supply voltage is incorrect.
- CThe thermal dissipation of the heat sink is insufficient.
- DThe power consumption of the CPU is too high.
How the community answered
(38 responses)- A79% (30)
- B5% (2)
- C13% (5)
- D3% (1)
Why each option
After a CPU and heat sink replacement, a missing fan shroud is the most likely cause of overheating because the shroud channels airflow directly across the heat sink; without it, air bypasses the CPU cooling area.
A fan shroud is a plastic or metal duct that seals the airflow path so that all air moved by the chassis fans is forced through the CPU heat sink fins. When the shroud is absent or left out after reassembly, hot air recirculates and cold intake air bypasses the heat sink entirely, causing rapid CPU temperature rise even though the fans themselves are spinning correctly.
Incorrect power supply voltage would cause instability, unexpected shutdowns, or component damage, but it does not directly cause thermal runaway in the CPU cooling path.
While a heat sink with insufficient thermal dissipation could cause overheating, a new heat sink of matching specification was just installed, making inadequate thermal design an unlikely immediate cause.
CPU power consumption is a fixed characteristic of the processor model and does not change after a physical reinstall; it would not suddenly become too high for the existing cooling infrastructure.
Concept tested: Server airflow management and fan shroud function
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/component-guidelines/thermal-design
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