Is my processor really running almost 90C???

[TBay]

Hi Everyone,

I was thinking about adding on a water cooling setup, so first, I downloading AMD's Overdrive. According to it, my processors are running 85-90 degrees C. Could they actually be that hot??? I have handbrake running and I'm showing 100% on all 4 processors.

Thanks for the help!

Here's my setup:
-Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX

-Motherboard: MSI 890GXM-G65 AM3 AMD 890GX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

-RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3K2/4GR

-OS: Windows 7 (64 bit)

-Case/PS: Antec Three Hundred + BP430 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply

 

[Phynaz]

Is it possible? Sure, why wouldn't it be?

Did you install the CPU heatsink?

 

[Slufa111]

Max for these chips aren't high. 62C I think I read.

 

[hdfxst]

It's got to be reading it wrong.The 955 came with a nice 4 pipe cooler.Did you look in the bios and see what that says?My 955 at 4.0Ghz with an old ac freezer 64 doesn't hit 50c.also check what the voltage is i've had boards set the default volts at 1.475

 

[TBay]

I was guessing that a temp that high would burn it out quick, but I've been running it for over a year now.

Yes, I installed a heatsink. I bought an aftermarket one, but thought the AMD one looked better designed, so I used it. All 4 cores are reporting the exact same temperature, so I'm assuming there is only one temp sensor.

Sounds like my only option is to upgrade the cooling? Is there any chance the AMD software is wrong?

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[SickBeast]

OP you'd better be careful or else the only thing "black" about your black edition processor will be the dark chasm that was once your core before it burnt to a crisp.

My Phenom II runs at 50C under full load, and that's overclocked to 3.8ghz at 1.4v. I'm using a Hyper 212 cooler.

 

[TBay]

Alright, I went into the BIOS, under "H/W monitor", here is what it says:
CPU temperature: 60C
System Temperature: 28C
CPU FAN Speed: 3614RPM
SYS FAN Speed: 0 RPM
CPU Vcore 1.384V
3.3V --- 3.280V
5V------- 4.876V
12V------12.144V

Do these mean anything useful? Sorry for all the stupid questions!!!

 

[SickBeast]

That means that your CPU is idling at 60C which is way too high.

You need to sort out what's going on. Check to see if your heatsink is clogged with dust. My best guess at this point would be that your heatsink is improperly mounted. You'll also need to use some thermal paste, but when you apply it, make sure you put a tiny drop on the core, about the size of a grain of rice, then spread it with seran wrap.

If you're using the stock cooler, it probably just clamps on there. Just make sure you're doing it properly and that the heatsink is making good contact.

You would be wise to spend $20 on a decent cooler like I did with the Hyper 212. It was the best deal when I bought it. I'm not sure what the current best budget heatsink is at this point.

Good luck!

 

[SickBeast]

Just as a comparison, my CPU idles at 30C, FYI.

 

[TuxDave]

Even for a 125W TDP chip, that's way too high. Remove and redo your heat sink.

 

[aphelion02]

Its quite possible that a combination of poor seating + crappy AMD stock heatsink is really causing your temperatures to be that high. If your BIOs reads 60 degrees that is pretty insane; it shouldn't be much more than 40 at idle.

I highly recommend at least reseating your heatsink + reapplying TIM, or better yet get something like the Hyper 212.

 

[TBay]

Thanks for all the replies!!! I'm opening up the case now. I will get back to you guys in just a sec.

 

[TBay]

Heat sink is securely on. It looks pretty dusty though.

When I built it, I'm not sure if I applied additional thermal compound since I think the heat sink already had it applied. Should I have done this?

 

[Elixer]

Heat sink is securely on. It looks pretty dusty though.

When I built it, I'm not sure if I applied additional thermal compound since I think the heat sink already had it applied. Should I have done this?

What heatsink are you using ?
If it had that gummy pink/grey stuff, then yeah, you should have used something better.
I am shocked that your CPU is still OK...

 

[SickBeast]

Something doesn't make sense, OP. Your CPU should not be running that hot, even with the dust, provided that the heatsink is indeed on there properly.

Your heatsink probably came with a thermal pad preinstalled, which means you should be fine without the paste. If you're going to put thermal paste on there, make sure you completely remove the thermal pad first, which is a PITA BTW.

At this point, if I were you, I would invest in a better HSF. Something definitely is not right. Is the fan spinning on the thing? Is the heatsink hot to the touch, even when the CPU is idling?

 

[TBay]

What heatsink are you using ?
If it had that gummy pink/grey stuff, then yeah, you should have used something better.
I am shocked that your CPU is still OK...

Yea, it had the grey stuff and I don't recall adding anymore. I am using the AMD heatsink because I thought it looked really robust (maybe it is if it's installed professionally! Haha).

I'm pretty surprised too! I had all 4 cores at 100% for hours at a time yesterday while backing up some of my DVD's to my HD.

Does radio shack or best buy carry a good thermal compound? Any suggested brands?

Thanks again for all the help, I think you guys just saved me a lot of money!!!

 

[RampantAndroid]

Yea, it had the grey stuff and I don't recall adding anymore. I am using the AMD heatsink because I thought it looked really robust (maybe it is if it's installed professionally! Haha).

I'm pretty surprised too! I had all 4 cores at 100% for hours at a time yesterday while backing up some of my DVD's to my HD.

Does radio shack or best buy carry a good thermal compound? Any suggested brands?

Thanks again for all the help, I think you guys just saved me a lot of money!!!

They do. And I'd totally use their brand on a TO220 chip or something, but not a CPU. Look on newegg or similar for some thermal paste...$5 for a tube probably.

 

[omek]

I'd reseat the heatsink. Make sure you don't have too much or too little thermal paste on the CPU also.

Overdrive polls the core temperatures for each core which do get quite a bit hotter than the Tcase temp and the tmax for the core temp on a Phenom II is 90c.
The 62c max temp is for the Tcase.

You can find the tcase temp in these programs without having to check the bios.
http://openhardwaremonitor.org/downloads/
http://www.almico.com/speedfan444.exe
In hwmonitor it's "temperature 1" for me and it's the same in speedfan under "charts".

 

[RampantAndroid]

I'd reseat the heatsink. Make sure you don't have too much or too little thermal paste on the CPU also.

Overdrive polls the core temperatures for each core which do get quite a bit hotter than the Tcase temp and the tmax for the core temp on a Phenom II is 90c.
The 62c max temp is for the Tcase.

You can find the tcase temp in these programs without having to check the bios.
http://openhardwaremonitor.org/downloads/
http://www.almico.com/speedfan444.exe
In hwmonitor it's "temperature 1" for me and it's the same in speedfan under "charts".

Make sure to buy some new thermal paste BEFORE reseating though. Do not reseat without changing the thermal paste.

 

[SickBeast]

I wonder if the OP could have such poor case airflow as to cause a heat issue like this.

 

[TBay]

They do. And I'd totally use their brand on a TO220 chip or something, but not a CPU. Look on newegg or similar for some thermal paste...$5 for a tube probably.

Do you think it's alright to use the radio shack thermal paste, at least temporarily until the newegg thermal paste comes?

I'd reseat the heatsink. Make sure you don't have too much or too little thermal paste on the CPU also.

Overdrive polls the core temperatures for each core which do get quite a bit hotter than the Tcase temp and the tmax for the core temp on a Phenom II is 90c.
The 62c max temp is for the Tcase.

You can find the tcase temp in these programs without having to check the bios.
http://openhardwaremonitor.org/downloads/
http://www.almico.com/speedfan444.exe
In hwmonitor it's "temperature 1" for me and it's the same in speedfan under "charts".

What is the difference between tcase and the core temperatures? I would guess that the tcase is just measured further away and less likely to fluctuate rapidly?


The fan on the heatsink IS RUNNING as well as the two fans on the case.

 

[dbigers]

This may sound stupid, but have you verified that the fan is spinning? Maybe the fan has crapped out.

Nevermind, I see that you verified that the fan is working. Then definitely you need to get some new paste and try again.

 

[SickBeast]

OP do you not have a computer store near where you live?

The radio shack stuff will probably work, but you'll probably see a 5C drop in temps if you use the good stuff from newegg.

For the time being you should undervolt and underclock your CPU and see if that reigns in your temps so you can at least use your computer in the interim.

 

[TBay]

I wonder if the OP could have such poor case airflow as to cause a heat issue like this.

Yes, I just now checked that.

OP do you not have a computer store near where you live?

The radio shack stuff will probably work, but you'll probably see a 5C drop in temps if you use the good stuff from newegg.

For the time being you should undervolt and underclock your CPU and see if that reigns in your temps so you can at least use your computer in the interim.

That sounds like a good idea. Does AMD's Overdrive let me do that? I haven't yet read anything about changing the clock speed, so I'm not sure if I know how...

Is this the recommended CPU cooler? (Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler)
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-...8382370&sr=8-1

 

[omek]

What is the difference between tcase and the core temperatures? I would guess that the tcase is just measured further away and less likely to fluctuate rapidly?


The fan on the heatsink IS RUNNING as well as the two fans on the case.

The tcase temp is taken from the casing of the CPU. I don't know where exactly but most likely the top of the CPU where the thermal paste is applied.
The core temp is taken from the physical cores themselves on the CPU. The cores transfer the heat to the tcase that is cooled by the heatsink, so yeah. The tcase is actual metal which absorbs the core heat which will stay hotter longer and will get less hot than the cores which are producing the heat. The cores heat up rapidly and cool much more rapidly than the tcase.

Something isn't right there. Wait till you get some thermal paste (if you haven't got any) and re-apply it to the CPU. Make sure your seating it correctly too, you've got put quite some pressure on the lever to get it to latch.