Ideal CPU temps?

[YosemiteSam]

I recently built my first system... an Athlon XP 2200+ on a MSI kt3Ultra... MSI geforce4 4200 Ti...
and 512Mb pc2100 RAM.
I'm just wondering what the ideal temps are for
a. ideal temps
b. temps after playing 2 hours of games.

I checked my temp after playin GTA3 and Warcraft3 for about 2 hours last night and it was about 52 C.
Usually during normal use (not gaming) it sits around the low to mid 40's.
Is that acceptable? Should I do anything to make it better?.. (and if yes, what?)

thanks!

 

[lordbob99]

hey yosemitesam,

as long as your computer is running stable, those temps are fine.

if you want to get lower temps, the two steps to take would be
1. lower your ambient temperature - usually by increasing airflow.
2. replace your hsf. the thermalright sk-7 or slk-800 are two excellent heat sinks that can be had for $20 and $30 respectively. these two heat sinks coupled with either a panaflo L1A or a ystech adjustable fan can also serve to quiet your computer down.

like i said, as long as everything's runs stable and you're comfortable with the temps, then you're good.

hope this helps.

LordBob99

 

[YosemiteSam]

thanks lordbob.
I'm thinking about switching the heatsink... currently I'm using the one that came with my athlon.
Also I'd really like to switch my rear case fan.. it REALLY loud.
I did apply Arctic Silver thermal compound before attaching the heatsink thinking it would really
make a difference.. guess not.
Another question... My case came with this attachment.. a plastic funnel like thingy which is attached
to the side of the case and is supposed to extend right over the heatsink and funnel the air out the side
of the case.
I'm not using it currently.. do you think I should start using it or just remove it?

 

[Macro2]

you didn't put artic silver on the chip and still use the thermal pad that comes on the stock AMD heatsink did you?

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: YosemiteSam
thanks lordbob.
I'm thinking about switching the heatsink... currently I'm using the one that came with my athlon.
Also I'd really like to switch my rear case fan.. it REALLY loud.
I did apply Arctic Silver thermal compound before attaching the heatsink thinking it would really
make a difference.. guess not.
Another question... My case came with this attachment.. a plastic funnel like thingy which is attached
to the side of the case and is supposed to extend right over the heatsink and funnel the air out the side
of the case.
I'm not using it currently.. do you think I should start using it or just remove it?

That funnel is to draw exterior (cooler) air to the heatsink, rather than case temperature air like most cases. Your temps seem great to me, especially considering it's stock XP cooling. If you decide to change your HSF, do it for the noise, not the extra cooling.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Originally posted by: Macro2
you didn't put artic silver on the chip and still use the thermal pad that comes on the stock AMD heatsink did you?

No no no... I scraped off the thermal pad first and then applied the silver compound.
Glad I did my research first

 

[human2k]

I have a similiar setup, but its xp1700 tbred B overclocked on a Vantec copper HSF, it idles around 32c, maxes 40c. Gotta love AMD. Rig: see sig.

 

[DX2Player]

Asus P4T533 with P4 2.53
Stock Heatsink/fan
24C/74F Idle
39C/104F full load

 

[YosemiteSam]

Thanks for all the responses y'all.
Still wondering though what the ideal temps are for idle and max load.
Or at least to know when do you start to get in the "danger zone"?

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: YosemiteSam
Thanks for all the responses y'all.
Still wondering though what the ideal temps are for idle and max load.
Or at least to know when do you start to get in the "danger zone"?

~95 C is when your CPU will melt and burn.

 

[Bookie]

I actually had one of those athlon 1400 hot chips that hit 99 degrees once because I had the computer backed up against the wall and no air could get out (oh and that was after 4 hours of Warcraft 3). I just turned off the computer, fixed the air problem and it still worked(s).

My current 1800+ ran at 53C with the stock hsf. Once I replace it with the slk-800 and the vantec stealth fan, it now idles at about 40C (and is much quieter).