When your CPU overheats the clock multiplier decreases and the voltage drops. This makes your CPU temporarily slower, but it still has the same amount of work to do. This would make all of the processes spike, but instead of them doing more, they are doing the same ammount on a temorarily slower CPU. The spikes in this case should appear to oscillate as the CPU will cool below the throttling threshold, return to full speed, heat back up, then compensate by dropping down again. The fan may not even be dead. It's entirely possible that a quick snort from a can of air could fix your problem. Hope this helps

I don't have a degree and I have a great job in IT. It's at a university actually. :-) I also know many professionals in IT, including current and former coworkers, without degrees. My former manager went from being a housewife, to a librarian's assistant, to a Technician, to Manager in less than 10 years without any formal training.

My coworkers with degrees are great at what they do, and I highly value having a degree of some sort, but I don't think the degree gave them what they needed to do the job. Some of the coworkers with degrees have completely unrelated degrees like history, or English.

All of that aside, if you can get a degree, DO. You will most likely be paid more, be more respected by your peers, and make lifelong friends with people who can recommend you when you apply at the company they work for.

Best of luck to you adh0c

Borphos