I'm guessing these temps are OK...

[Hurricane Andrew]

My new (not overclocked) system, an Athlon 64 3000+, with a crappy case that doesn't afford much in the way of intake or exhaust, tops out at 52-53 degrees, and that's while browsing the web AND downloading some large files AND re-encoding/burning a DVD AND listing to MP3's in the background at the same time. Idle temps are right around 40. Actually, once the burning starts and the encoding stops, temps drop to 48 or so.

I hate to be obsessive compulsive about temps, but considering my last system was a PIII-550, which didn't require much in the way of cooling, I learned quickly how important temps can be, especially with the A64's.

 

[Operandi]

Your fine.

Using the stock cooler?

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

No, the CPU was OEM. Using a $20 Speeze Heatsink/Fan. Supposedly good for up to a 3400+ (accoriding to MFR specs). If I'd have known before I bought it, I'd have gotten something a little better, but since I figure I'm OK, I didn't want to mess with removing the HS, Thermal Compound, and re-doing the whole thing. I figured only a few things could result from removing the old HS and installing a new one, and most of them were bad. Kind of the old Woody Hayes take on passing...

 

[akira34]

Does your mobo support cool and quiet? If so, give that a try... If not, then get a better cooler... I'm getting steady idle speeds at about 32-36C (depending on what the room temp is and what I set the bios to). Load temps run about 44-46C... Then again, I'm using a Thermalright SLK-948U cooler (for now) with a decent 92mm fan... I'll be installing the XP-120 cooler once my back recovers (threw it out yesterday, pain like you can't even think about unless you've done it).

I expect to get either much better temps with the XP-120 OR the fan will be barely turning making for an even quieter system. With the cool and quiet aspect of the mobo enabled, and the system just running along (under 20% load) the fan spins slow enough to not be loud. Put it under heavier load and it starts spinning faster, up to the ~35db max the fan puts out.

 

[DJSfurry]

im hitting 31 idle and 39 load here in winter with the case closed. in fact now browsing the web i have 29 cpu and 15C motherboard temps. id invest in a better heatsink as you dont have any case cooling. either that, or leave the case open. that should lower those temps. as for a heatsink the Thermalright XP 90 works wonders. truly amazing heat sink. ive overclocked to 2.4 it STILL idles at 31 (but its now 29) XP 90 all the way

 

[Mrvile]

Or you could go all out, take a drill, and drill a bunch of little holes all over the case.

But seriously, I'd get a better CPU cooler if you can afford one, probably an XP-90 or a Zalman 7000. Both are kinda pricey though, around 40 bucks (the XP90 can hit 55 once you include a fan) but they pay off. Your current temps aren't bad, try running Prime95 on it to see what your real load temps would be. What case do you use btw?

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

This is the case: http://www.soyogroup.com/products/proddesc.php?id=196

The front intake is pretty much UNDER the front USB ports (the little cover on the bottom front of the case). I helped that by raising the case 3 inches off the ground to get some intake. Prime 95 didn't take me any higher than 53, though I only let it run for about 30 minutes. It hit 52 pretty quickly (less than 5 minutes), but never got beyond 53, so I stopped it. Frankly, I don't want to spend any more $$$ on cooling if I don't have to, and I think as long as I'm only topping out at low 50's, it's not going to kill the CPU so I'll probably just sit tight. I don't plan on overclocking, and for 80% of what I use the system for, it'll be running in the low-mid 40's.

And don't laugh at the case. I got it for free about 4 months ago, before I realized what a difference air flow and cooling make. I guess you really do get what you pay for...

 

[Mrvile]

That case is awesome! All you need is a little turbine mod on the front there, a better side panel, and wham!

 

[akira34]

As a general rule (read that again) soyo products BLOW and poorly at that. I don't know of any self respecting system builders that ever use a soyo branded product more than once. Even then, it's not for long before chucking it for something made by another company that makes a product 10000x better for just a few dollars more (if it even costs more). MAYBE soyo has turned their sheit around lately, but I won't trust that for a system I'm building ANYONE... We'll maybe for my worst enemy that doesn't live in the same state, and will never have my address.

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

Originally posted by: akira34
As a general rule (read that again) soyo products BLOW and poorly at that. I don't know of any self respecting system builders that ever use a soyo branded product more than once. Even then, it's not for long before chucking it for something made by another company that makes a product 10000x better for just a few dollars more (if it even costs more). MAYBE soyo has turned their sheit around lately, but I won't trust that for a system I'm building ANYONE... We'll maybe for my worst enemy that doesn't live in the same state, and will never have my address.

You sure have that right. I'll certainly pay more attention to the case on my next build (if not sooner).

 

[leigh6]

Dont let the obsession of temps get you to spend any more money. 53 degrees running prime 95 is just fine. Not great. But no need to do anything.

Leigh