CPU temperature vs room temp: how much cooling should I expect in a warm room?

[dsegel]

I have a system with an Athlon XP 2500+ running in a warm room ? the room temp is around 85F (29C), the system/case temp is ~100F (38C) and the CPU is measuring about 134F (60C) with almost no load.

Is it reasonable to expect the CPU to run ~30C hotter than room temperature, or does this indicate a problem with my system cooling? I have one intake and one exhaust fan in the system already. The system is stable, but I?ve been worried because the room temp can go even higher during the hottest days in the summer.

Would a bigger or better heatsink and/or fan help me, or is this about as good as it gets with standard cooling?

 

[MichaelD]

Well, unless you have very expensive refrigerated cooling, you're case temp can never be lower than room temp. Room temp is the best that you can hope to achieve.

Unfortunately, in a hot room, your system is going be hot too.

Recently, I was staying in a room with no AC. If it was 80F in the room, my case temps hovered around 105F...not bad.

Good case cooling is very important.

The CPU temp should not be 30C higher than the case temp! That indicates a problem w/your CPU HSF. Is the fan running? HOw long since you installed it? Heatsinks do get clogged with dust which reduces the amount of cooling air blown thru the fins...which makes the CPU run hot.

Is this a new install or has it always been this hot? Are you sure you've got the HS on there properly?

 

[dsegel]

The CPU is running about 15-20 degrees C hotter than the case, and the case is about 5-10 degrees C hotter than the room temp near the case.

It's always run hot, and I've always suspected the HSF is not on properly, but since it never technically went into the danger zone as per AMD I've just left it alone. But now that it's getting hot again I'm wondering if I should pull it apart and re-do everything.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: dsegel
But now that it's getting hot again I'm wondering if I should pull it apart and re-do everything.

its a good idea to pull it out and redo everything every once in a while anyway. blow the dust outta the HS fins, reapply thermal grease, etc.

but, as far as your temps go, i have a similar situation, but my temps a little bit better (though it's hard to compare CPU temps since my mobo doesn't truly measure accurately). ambient room temp is 26C. Case temp shows 31C. CPU is 41C idle (gets to around 49C load). the case is under a desk, with very little ventilation.

setup is an XP1700+ oc'ed to 2.2ghz with AS3 applied correctly, and an SK-7 with a ys tech 80mm adjustable fan on high. case is an antec 835 with 4 quiet 80mm fans.

it might help if you list your setup as well.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Im having the exact same problem :frown: I dont know what to do. Im using stock cooling and ive cleaned out the HSF and reapplied thermal rease and im idling around 60C. Ambient room temp around 85F. I however have 4x 3000RPM case fans. (Also Vcore is at 1.8) Does ANYBODY know why his and my system are running so hot.
Thx
-Kevin

Btw: Stock cooling used

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Im having the exact same problem :frown: I dont know what to do. Im using stock cooling and ive cleaned out the HSF and reapplied thermal rease and im idling around 60C. Ambient room temp around 85F. I however have 4x 3000RPM case fans. (Also Vcore is at 1.8) Does ANYBODY know why his and my system are running so hot.
Thx
-Kevin

Btw: Stock cooling used

I know you've probably already looked into this, but I'll ask anyway:

(1) Are you sure the stock HS is mounted correctly (ie, not backwards)?
(2) Is the fan blowing towards or away from the HS?
(3) What range of case temps are you getting?

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Im using stock cooling... <snip>... Ambient room temp around 85F... <snip>... (Also Vcore is at 1.8) Does ANYBODY know why his and my system are running so hot.

all of those things I bolded play a huge part in that. getting a better HSF would be key. turning on the A/C might help too

seriously, if you got a good thermalright HS (maybe an slk900) and matched it with a good fan, you might be able to lower your vcore down a bit and help out temps further.

you didnt mention what kind of case you have (very important for airflow) or what your case temps are being reported as.

also, does your mobo read temps from the cpu core or what?