Why is my i7-2600k overheating?

[idata]

I built my desktop last year at Christmas and it was running beautifully and normally most of the time. But recently I've bought a graphics card: gtx 260 and after I installed it, my cpu often overheats quite quickly and easily, when I'm writing this, my cpu's temp is around high 70s and low 80s. It is quite impossible to play any type of games since it just downgrades itself as it tries not to overheat. A few of my friends say that it is the heatsink's problem but I'm not sure if it is so I'm asking you guys. Thanks!

[idata]

First thing you may want to do is make sure your system has enough wattage for the entire system configuration due to the fact that this is being presented after adding extra devices, specifically the graphics card.

Please check the following recommendations to avoid overheating issues:

*Update the BIOS to the latest version in order to have the proper microcode of your processor, which will help on the proper recognition.

*Check the processor and system fan(s) to see if any have been disconnected or are blocked by a foreign object.

*Make sure that there is proper airflow in and around your system. Make sure your system is not located near walls or in corners. If vents in the system become blocked, airflow to the fans may be restricted.

*Your system should be kept in a room that has adequate cooling; the room's ambient temperature should be below 90 °F (32 °C).

*Check that the processor's heat sink has been installed properly. Inadequate thermal grease on the heat sink can cause unusually high processor temperatures.

*Make sure your system's I/O (disk, floppy, CD-ROM, etc.) cables aren't restricting airflow in the system.

*Please ensure that both the power supply and chassis comply with the ATX 2.03 standard (also called "ATX12V"). It is advised that the output be at least 450-Watts with 1 Ampere in the +5 Volt Standby channel.

*It is also recommended you try with a Thermally Advantaged Chassis. Please check the following website to identify a thermally advantaged chassis:

http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentium4/sb/CS-008537.htm http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentium4/sb/CS-008537.htm

We recommend running the Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility to properly identify your processor. This utility enables consumers the ability to identify and, in some circumstances, determine if the processor is operating at the correct speed.

You can download this utility at: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/ http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/

You can also run the Intel® Processor Diagnostic Tool to verify your processor's functionality: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-031726.htm http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-031726.htm

If this does not address your issue, feel free contacting the technical department: http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contactsupport http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contactsupport

[idata]

Thank you for your help, it was doing fine after you helped me, and now it has some more problems such my core number 5's usage is always around 50% (according to the intel cpu usage from the desktop widget) also the core temperature is at a steady high 50s, low 60s, sometimes even the 70s. Is there something I can do to see what I have done the past month, or something that could fix the over-achieving of the core 5. I also ran the Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility and I got 4.42GHz for reported cpu speed while expected should be 3.40GHz.