CPU temperature

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 4:55 am

Just a question, at what temperature are everyone's processors running at?

I've been a little concerned about my system temp lately. I have an Athlon 1200 running at around 51 deg C and mobo temp at 24. I've seen a lot of info floating around various tech forums about people who've gotten their CPU's down to near the 25 mark.

What are your experiences, and what are you doing to combat the heat problems of a modern processor?

josh · Post by **josh** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 7:22 am

Mine also runs at about the same temperature.
Does this damage the CPU in any way? I have two fans but I think only one is running.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 7:47 am

Check with your CPU's manufacturer or with the documentation that came with your computer and it should tell you what the acceptable temperature ranges are for your processor. 51° C is about normal for most CPUs, so I don't think you're doing any sort of damage by running at that temp. If you're not overclocking, then having a heat sink and fan on the processor and a single case fan is often more than adequate for most CPUs.

If you have a computer made by a manufacturer, presumably they have devoted some time and effort into making sure that your case has an optimal air flow pattern to make cooling inside the case as efficient as possible.

I have a buddy who is into overclocking (just for the geek points) so he had a liquid cooling sytem installed in his machine that ran 20°F below the ambient room temperature inside the case and he claimed at room temperature on the processor.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 11:32 am

Flibster,

those temps are normal for an athlon 1200. mine runs at about 56 degrees C with only one room door open and about 48 degrees C, if I open the second door (which remains closed due to two 8 month old kittens who simply find the computer den far too entertaining.

51 degrees though is fine. I've noticed once an athlon starts running in the 60's, it will crash frequently but you're obviously a long way away from that. If you're really worried install a third fan (guessing you must have two fans already in there or one powerful one hovering above the cpu). Also, keep the case on the machine. It is a common fallacy in thinking the machine will run cooler if the case covers are removed.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 11:33 am

How do I check?

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 11:40 am

Originally posted by Yshania
How do I check?

The easiest way to to go into your BIOS and see if there is a place to check your PC or CPU's health. It should show you the temperature inside the case, inside the core of the CPU and the various case fans attached to your motherboard (if any). I think there are some utilities you can download that run in Windows and will show your PCs current temperature. On most motherboards, if you don't hear a siren-like sound coming from the case speaker, you're in good shape as far as cooling goes.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 11:41 am

Ysh,

Hi! Your system board may have come with some diagnostics software which was installed at the time of your sys board drivers. You should be able to find those programs, if installed, by doing the old start>programs>XXXX

Some of these diag programs are set up to start in the system tray while windows is booting up.

There are probably some free diag tools available online as well

And....

You can probably get a CPU temp and chassis temp by going into your BIOS during the POST.

Considering the typical length of the Highlord's post, it's an embarrasment to be beat to the chase.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 12:35 pm

@HLD and Ned - thank you!

In BIOS it says I have a CPU temp of 61 degrees, and a system temp of 41 degrees. Is this good? 61 sounds high. I have an Athlon Thunderbird 1 gig...

And, erm, what does it mean by 'system' temp if this is not the CPU?

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 1:16 pm

The temperature of the air inside your case. The CPU temperature is the temperature in the core of the CPU.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 1:38 pm

Originally posted by HighLordDave

The temperature of the air inside your case. The CPU temperature is the temperature in the core of the CPU.

Ok - thank you

So my CPU runs at a higher temp to Mr Flibbles. My question would be the same as his then, if he is worried (and he is clever

) mine is hotter

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 1:48 pm

According to AMD, the maximum operating temperature of Athlon and Duron processors are 90°C for CPUs slower than 1 GHz and 95°C for CPUs faster than 1 GHz. Check your documentation or go to AMD's webpage and click on their tech support page to get the specifics for your processor.

The actual operating temperature is likely to be much lower based on the amount of work your're requiring out of your CPU, the ambient room temperature, airflow in your case and the number of other heat-generating components in your case.

Essentially, if your case speaker isn't making any funny noises, your computer is operating at a comfortable temperature. Like Flanders says, if you think that your computer is running a little hot, then install an extra fan or two in the case or lower the temperature of the room where your computer resides.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 1:53 pm

by Ysh
mine is hotter

Well now, I don't think anyone around here will deny that.

61 degrees isn't that bad. If you're really worried about the temperature buy an Intel or Celeron processor. Sacrifice speed and performance for a better night's sleep.

You can check to see how many fans are running inside your case. Diagnostic software can possibly tell you the recommended and actual RPM's of your fans inside the chassis.

Also, give the PC plenty of breathing room. You might not think a computer is alive, but they are. Make sure there is ample space on all sides of the computer. If the PC is blowing off steam and it has nowhere to go, it is going to run hot. Good ventilation in the computer room in another contributing factor. My den is a perfect example. The room has two doors. If they are both closed, the machine runs way too hot, will crash, and everything in the room will melt. With one door open, the PC runs a CPU temp in the high 50's and the room stays real warm. With both doors open, things run optimally and the CPU temp can get up to ten degrees centigrade lower.

So, 61 degrees isn't that bad. Running a temp that high on a consistent basis might shorten the lifetime of the CPU but hey, they're already outdated the minute you get them installed. A month after you install your new CPU, you're already drooling over AMD's newest creation.

Damn, I've already said too much and I still can't rival the length of an HLD post.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 2:00 pm

Originally posted by Ned Flanders
Damn, I've already said too much and I still can't rival the length of an HLD post.

Heh, heh, heh. Keep trying, Flanders. Remember: If you don't take 10 words to say what you could otherwise say with one word, you're not trying hard enough.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 2:01 pm

Thanks guys!

I guess it is better you don't know sometimes

My pc is not complaining..

@Ned LMAO!

and I don't do Intel, especially Celeron

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 2:02 pm

Originally posted by HighLordDave

Heh, heh, heh. Keep trying, Flanders. Remember: If you don't take 10 words to say what you could otherwise say with one word, you're not trying hard enough.

LMAO!

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 2:19 pm

Thanks for the answers.

I have made some modifications to my system to allow for airflow (extra fans, rounded cables etc) as it was running at 70 for a while.

I find it interesting that AMD processors run so much hotter than Intel. I know Intel are using a smaller die that AMD, but they are also runing quite a bit faster. Most Intel systems my company sells run at around 35.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 26, 2002 5:08 am

Mine is currently running at 60ish most of the time, crashes every once in a while, i need some extra cooling myself. Apparently the indication given by the average mobo isn't very accurate anyway.

Do the rounded cables actually help?

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Fri Jul 26, 2002 7:11 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
Do the rounded cables actually help?

The system temp dropped by a good 3 degrees after I installed them. Not sure if it was worth $77, but it all helps.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Fri Jul 26, 2002 8:35 am

I have a Soyo SY-7VCA2 motherboard and a Pentium III 866 MHz processor that idles at around 31°C. After an hour of playing NWN, the core temperature goes up to about 45°C with the system temperature being about 38°C.

My computer resides in one of the cooler rooms in the house; it's on the ground level and the way the house is angled and covered by trees in the yard, almost no sunlight comes into this room. I've also got two case fans (one on the front and one on the back) and an expansion slot fan in my machine in addition to the CPU heat sink and fan. Like Flanders says, a lot of people forget to think about airflow around their computer and how that affects cooling, so my computer sits on a riser so it's off the floor and there's lots of room to the back and on each side of the machine so the heat can dissipate.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 26, 2002 9:04 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
I've also got two case fans (one on the front and one on the back) and an expansion slot fan in my machine in addition to the CPU heat sink and fan.

I recall reading, (could find the article if you want) that too many cooling fans can actually stifle the movement of air through ones machine, it is better to have one more powerful cooler than two. I don't have one at the mo, so this is just second hand knowledge.