CPU temps

[ober]

So I know the P4s run pretty hot, but I'm wondering how hot is too hot? I downloaded Intel's Desktop utility last nite to check up on the temps and stuff while my system is up and running. According to that, I'm up in the 170F range when doing nothing but running Outlook and FAH.

Unloaded, it runs in the 135F range... but I'm just wondering if that is cool enough. I haven't had any problems with overheating or anything, but I'm wondering if I should be looking into extra cooling? I already have an awesome CPU heatsink/fan, and I have 120mm fans in the front and back of my case.

Is there anything easy I can do?

[major_small]

I try to keep it below 41°C... I think I found that somewhere... I'll try to find it...

edit: I meant the case temp, and here's where I found it: http://www.intel.com/support/process.../CS-007999.htm

[ober]

Well, my case temps are fine... usually around 35-38C. It's the processor temps that worry me. And I couldn't even find much on my processor on there (3.4GHz LG775).

[adrianxw]

My case temperature reads as 47C and CPU as 61C. 3.2GHz Prescott cored HT P-IV fitted with the Intel heatsink that came with the chip, (thermal pad removed and Arctic Silver used though). I run BOINC so my CPU is pretty much 100% busy number crunching the whole time.

Case has 2 fans on it, one through the double fanned Antec PSU, the other, which was not there originally, I fitted to the case itself. The air venting from the case is barely warm.

[ober]

Hmm... that's still quite a bit cooler than what I'm running. With FAH running, I regularly hit 172-174F.

[adrianxw]

>>> I regularly hit 172-174F.

That would be something like 78C for readers in the rest of the world

Seems a tad warm. With an "awesome" heatsink and 2 big fans, I'd of expected your's to run cooler then mine. Perhaps your heatsink is not as awesome as you think, or is defective somehow?

[ILoveVectors]

my case temp stays around 32C and my processor runs
around 44C under full load. (copper on the cpu and copper
on the chipset)

(Processor 3800+ Athlon64 Venice Core)

[ober]

>>> I regularly hit 172-174F.

That would be something like 78C for readers in the rest of the world

Seems a tad warm. With an "awesome" heatsink and 2 big fans, I'd of expected your's to run cooler then mine. Perhaps your heatsink is not as awesome as you think, or is defective somehow?

I was going to convert to C, but I'm lazy :P

The heatsink is a Zalman copper/aluminum with 120mm fan. I'm starting to wonder if I applied enough Arctic Silver 5. I don't think I did anything different than normal.

[mrafcho001]

my P4 3.4Ghz ~ 3.5Ghz prescott runs at 44C - 48C when nothing is running and when gaming never goes above 74C. and when working normaly with PS, 3Ds Max, FF, and other small programs usualy around 50C - 53C.
My case is usualy 27C - 32C.

I got a Zalman CNPS7700-CU with 120mm fan.

I got a 1 80mm fan on the back, 1 80mm fan on the side, and 1 80mm on the front of the case.
front and side blow inward, back outward.

[ILoveVectors]

70C is way to high, my board will shut my system down if my
processor get that hot. After 70C most processor maker
warn that your cpu could be damnaged.

55C and below is good. Some of you might think about
getting new cooling or turning the voltage down a bit.

[mrafcho001]

no, im pretty sure 70C is safe, 78C + is hot, or at least for my processor, i mean i got the best air cooling i could find. Next step is water cooling. and my CPU voltage is at the default level, which is the lowest.

[ober]

Well, the manual for the heatsink/fan said to adjust the fan for my processor until the Tc_Max was less than 72.7C, and they describe the Tc_Max as the CPU case temp... which is reportedly 4-10C less than the CPU Die temp, which the BIOS and most other programs report. So I guess by that, I could assume that as long as my temps stay under 80C, I should be good, which I am. And hell, that's under idle conditions. They don't say anything about loaded conditions. At idle conditions, I run about 58-60C.

[Frobozz]

Seems I've got an average running-heat processor. 51 degrees for my AthlonXP (AMD processors usually run hot too).

[ober]

Actually, some of the later model AthlonXPs run cooler than some of the similar-range P4s.