how hot is too hot for a processor?

OOBradm

Golden Member
May 21, 2001
1,730
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So, I just built my first system. I put thermal paste on my cpu, and then put the heatsink on. Afterwards, i noticed that the heatsink already had thermal paste on it. i figured oh well.
Now, ive been using my computer for a few weeks, and it will seemingly randomly reboot. I check the cpu temp after the reboot, and its always around 46.5º celcius. Is this too hot? can i scrape of some thermal paste?
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
0
If the heatsink already had a thermal pad on it and you added paste, I'd clean both off with rubbing alcohol and if that doesn't work, lighter fluid, then re-apply the proper amount of paste & reseat the HSF
 

Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
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ostif.org
80C+ is considered the unsafe zone for me, but it depends on the chip, there are data sheets that tell you the safe temperature ranges for operation on AMDs and Intels websites.
 

CeilingHoles

Member
Jul 19, 2004
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80C+ is considered the unsafe zone for me, but it depends on the chip, there are data sheets that tell you the safe temperature ranges for operation on AMDs and Intels websites.

If anyone has a link to this, I'd appreciate it.
 

oldman420

Platinum Member
May 22, 2004
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we have a comp at work athalon 750 that the hsf was dead for god knows how long. i went to blow the dust out of this baby and was amazed it still ran the hsf was so hot it blistered my fingers when i touched it. but that darn thing was still running fine. wow
for my home machine anything over 50 and i get nervous and set it back accordingly
i want my cpu to last for a bit
 

OOBradm

Golden Member
May 21, 2001
1,730
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Its an athlon 64 3500+ socket 939

It reboots when i try to use my webcam, and when i tried to burn a cd.

I didnt make sense it was a heating prob, since i play very cpu intensive games and it doesnt overheat then, but does when i try and burn a cd...... but i thought i'd ask. Probably a software issue then. i might reinstal windows
 

h3nG

Senior member
Jan 2, 2003
212
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haha, i use to be like you.

i would freak out if i think my temperature goes too high.

what you'll come to learn is (if your not a hardcore oc'er), when your temp goes too high you'll know. because it'll start acting on you. my cpu is probably burning, cause i am using the noiseless fan. but i've learned not to care, because as long as it doesn't freeze or restart on me, all is well.
 

mjuarez

Member
Apr 25, 2003
50
0
0
It reboots when i try to use my webcam, and when i tried to burn a cd.

Well, if it doesn't reboot when you're playing games, this might point to a power supply problem. In both cases, you're trying to power additional hardware than what is considered "normal PC usage". Do you have a GeForce 6800 card, per chance? Or one of the latest, power-sucking video card beasts? Or maybe 6 hard disks in RAID? Either way, your PSU could be straining under the load. Try to find out what the PSU watt rating is. Or maybe the PSU was bad from the beginning, don't know.

Try to disconnect a few peripherals, and try to get the machine to reboot itself again. If you can't, it will almost certainly point to a PSU problem. Either RMA it (if it's new) or get a new one. Preferably an Antec or Enermax above 400W. These will give you zero problems, and years of faithful service.

Marcos