seemingly excessive heat

h0bbes

New Member
I just built my first computer and used all the stock cooling and followed all instructions. The computer works great, but I set up the temp monitoring programs first thing and they read that the mobo was too high and the CPU was fairly hot. Here's my system and temps. please tell me what you think:

a8n32-sli deluxe
amd x2 3800+
2x1GB corsair ram
512MB radeon x1600 pro
Hitachi 80GB SATA
all stock cooling
very cheap case (possibly an issue?)

Idle:
CPU: 46
mobo: 45-46

untested at load because PC Probe said 45 was too high for mobo.

I have added a 12cm fan pushing air out the back, which has helped a lot. Temps are now:

idle:
CPU: 45
mobo: 36
load:
CPU: 47-48
mobo: 40-41

Is this too hot? Why is it so hot and should i liquid cool? Money is not an issue but i dont want anything i dont need. sorry this is so long. thanks.
 
Those new temps are fine, mine aren't much different, although it's unusual for your CPU temp to only go up by 1-2C under load.
 
Those temps are too high. Your cpu will have its lifespan drastically reduced.
Your probably right on the case being a contributing factor. What size case, how many and location of fan, exhaust/intake? Have you cleaned the fans recently?
 
AMD X2 series will reach thermal shutdown at 65C. It's generally advised to keep the CPU temp below 50C to preserve maximum lifespan (although some will say <55C is fine). You can add additional case fans to lower temps further, and cleaning out any dust is always a good idea, but water cooling is completely unncessary.

Oh, and make sure that your 'load' temp is the load temp with both cores in use. If that's with only a single core, it'll jump up much higher.
 
Greggie Boy said:
Those temps are too high. Your cpu will have its lifespan drastically reduced.
Your probably right on the case being a contributing factor. What size case, how many and location of fan, exhaust/intake? Have you cleaned the fans recently?
no those temps are not way too high.they are actually normal. and a cpu can last a long time. its not like it will reduce the lifespan to a low 1-2yrs....and by 2yrs+ its a good time to upgrade and he probably will. so it doesnt matter.
 
1.Show us the case.
2.Fans seem to do the best cooling if the intake is located at the bottom/front, and the exhaust is located at the top/back.
also any side fans blowing air directly onto your motherboard/gpu/cpu are very welcome.
3.those temps are a bit on the high side and would do something else to lower them perhaps a new HeatsinkFan for your cpu, this is the best one.
after installing that HSF your cpu temp should drop considerably. motherboard temp seems to be alright. you should see nice results from the big typhoon or other similar products and water cooling is unnecessary.
 
my guess is youre running the stock psu? also, use some thermal paste, preferrably arctic silver. im sure it came with thermal pads or something was already neatly smeared on the heat sink, but that stuffs garbage. it really is. or, if you really want, you CAN go with a very basic water cooling system. they range from fairly complex to fairly easy. other than that, id say youre fine.
 
yea, as long as you used stock cooling you're fine. it'll last you quite some time with 45idle. mines actually less idle but i didnt use stock cooling... and i overclocked, but basically remember like oc 101 says guys, 10C cuts cpu life in half! oh well, yea as long as it lasts you a good 5 or 10 years youre good.
 
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