AMD 3200+ Cooling Question

[joshharrington]

I have a MSI K8N Neo Platinum motherboard with an AMD 3200+ 754 processor. I haven't had any bluescreens or problems with my PC, but monitoring temps in BIOS I noticed that my CPU temp was around 66 degrees C/ 150 degrees F. Just wondering if I should be concerned, or if these chips normally run this hot. This was after having my PC on for a few days and running EQ2 for about 10 mins, then a restart, update, followed by another restart and BIOS update where I saw the temps. All help would be appreciated with suggestions of what I could do. Thanks guys!

 

[dfnkt]

that seems really hot, my 3000 thats oc'd runs near 40 @ load, check the connection between the heatsink and the cpu, also make sure there is enough, and not to much thermal paste (AS5) preferably.

 

[joshharrington]

The contact is good, and the AS5 is minimal. My case is in a computer desk and there isn't any ventilation except the door in the front. Would it help to get the PC out in the open or just have a hold put in the back of the desk so air can circulate?

 

[RallyMaster]

A64s need airflow. When I close the case door on my computer, my temperatures automatically go up 4 degrees. So are you saying your case doesn't have an exhaust fan? That's not good for airflow. You also need to keep the computer out in the open so it can be exposed to cooler air instead of recycling the old hot air of the cabinet back into the case.

 

[A554SS1N]

Can you post a piccy of the side of your case open, to get an idea of the layout - it may be that cables could be cleared up a little more, or hard drives rearranged or higher airflow fans may be needed. Also, what are the ambient temperatures in your room - is it just very hot in your room (i.e. well over 25C)? 66C is too hot to run at for longer periods, so It'd definately be a good idea to get it a little lower - as you've got a S754 A64, I assume it's the older 130nm core which have 1.5v vcore? If so, try undervolting it to 1.4v to see if that helps lower things.

 

[nataku00]

I have the same chip as you on an Asus K8V SE DE mobo and my cpu will usually only hit 46-48C under load from gaming and ~38C idle with the retail cooler. Your temps do seem a little high.

 

[pkme2]

CPU Temperatures
My working temperature ranges from 34/36C, load 44/45C and mobo 29/31C.
At 66C, you would have problems for sure. If you can use a pen temperature probe to get accurate temps, it would be best.
Usually airflow restriction is the main cause for overheating problems, so try getting your rig into the open.

 

[joshharrington]

I think by cutting a hole in the back of my desk (the flimsy fake wood stuff) I'll be able to get fresh air in and out of the system. I have an 120mm exhaust fan, and a 80mm intake fan in the front of the case. I also have a 80mm fan on the side window blowing out. I don't think fans is the problem, probably just hot air recirculating. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[RallyMaster]

Hmm, you might want that 80mm side to be an intake. You also should consider making the cabinet door a huge piece of steel mesh for max airflow

 

[Operandi]

What is your system temp? CPU temp is always relative to the ambient system temp (case temp), so if your system temps are abnormally high your CPU temp will be the same. So pay attention to your system temp as well, something in the 30-40c is a good target in my opinion.

Having said that 66c is pretty high for that CPU, though still within the safe zone. I've built a few systems with the 3200+ now, all of them cooled by Zalman CNPS- 7000ALCu's, I don't bother with stock HS/Fs anymore. I don't think I've ever seen the CPU temp rise above the mid 40s, this is with the fan running at 1400-1500 RPM (5v equivalent), until the temp exceeds 50c.

 

[joshharrington]

Originally posted by: A554SS1N
Can you post a piccy of the side of your case open, to get an idea of the layout - it may be that cables could be cleared up a little more, or hard drives rearranged or higher airflow fans may be needed. Also, what are the ambient temperatures in your room - is it just very hot in your room (i.e. well over 25C)? 66C is too hot to run at for longer periods, so It'd definately be a good idea to get it a little lower - as you've got a S754 A64, I assume it's the older 130nm core which have 1.5v vcore? If so, try undervolting it to 1.4v to see if that helps lower things.

The core is 1.45, at least according to BIOS. Ambiet temperature in case is around 42 C. My room is pretty comfortable...probably 72 with my computer on, and with it off around 65-68 as it's in the basement where it is cooler. I still that that my main problem is air circulation. As you can see by the pictures the desk bay is pretty enclosed.


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[joshharrington]

sorry..not the best at pictures (actually I didn't want to take my case out of the slot of death)

 

[Operandi]

42c seems way too high for such a cool room temp. Comparatively my system is normally in the low to mid 30's at an equivalent room temp, and I'm working with relatively low case air flow.

I would say either you are either recycling a lot of warm air like you thought and/or your case has very poor air flow.

 

[A554SS1N]

From the pictures, the hot air definately needs a way out from the back of desk bay and is why it's resulting in such high temperatures - your own suggestion of cutting a hole at the back of the desk would help - preferably space for direct airflow from both the rear 120mm fan and the PSU fan so both can get rid of the hot air they produce quickly.