Crazy CPU temperature or not?

[Turkish]

I usually idle around 30 C but I played a bit of Doom 3 today and my CPU temp was up at 52 C when I got done :Q Is this normal? I mean I'd expect it to go up a few degrees but maybe this is a sign of trouble? AMD 64 3700+ with stock HSF.

 

[Mojoed]

52 Celcius really isn't that bad at all for that chip under load. My XP chip runs at ~66C during the summer months under load, and I've never had an issue with it. It's 'trendy' to have high-end cooling these days and CPU temps in the 30's-40's under load, but I don't think it really makes that much of a difference. Some may say it lowers the lifespan of the CPU if it runs hot. Perhaps so, but you'll upgrade long long before it ever fails at 52 C.

The FX series CPU's runs especially hot with the retail HSF, they hit 60 C easy and are rated for about 80 C max. In my opinion, aftermarket HSF's are a luxury. (Well, unless you're going for max OC or using a Prescott 🙂 ) Sure they're nice to have, but not necessary. I'm assuming from your idle temps you have an aftermarket HSF.

If your system is stable now, I really wouldn't start to worry unless it breaks 60-65 C. Even then it'll probably be ok.

 

[Turkish]

Thanks for the response Mojoed.

I usually idle around 30-32 degree and that's why I was wondering 🙂

My CPU is not overclocked and no I don't have an aftermarket HSF 🙂 It's the stock AMD HSF 🙂

Thanks for the quick response though, much appreciated. Do you have any recommendations on HSF for my CPU? 🙂

 

[dbuttcheek69]

yeah thats really fine my overclocked 2.4 prescott @3.0 ghz runs around there, but i recently put in a new thermaltake heatsink, so its alot lower now.

but thats definitely safe.

 

[Spike]

52 C is on the uper end of 'normal' for CPU's under load. I hit that occasionally in the winter and all the time in the summer (max summer temps used to be 60C!). While this will shorten the life of your CPU, it is nothing to worry about as it does not shorten it that much. If you are a northen hemisphere dweller, then this should worry you a little if you hit this often in the winter. Come summer, you can add at least 10C to that (unless you live in the way north of Canada) so you may want to look at better cooling, or at least opening the side of your case. Just my $.02

 

[Turkish]

Thanks Mojoed, dbuttcheek69, and Spike 🙂 I guess it was playing a game for 4+ hours that put a lot of load on my CPU, it's at 32 C right now 🙂