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Once and for all.....what are safe operating temperatures?

S

Shooters

Diamond Member
It seems like this question is asked all the time, and everytime there's a different answer. I thought my PIII 700@933 was okay, but then after searching through the archives I'm not so sure anymore. Can someone please post normal/safe operating temperatures for different kinds of setups? Maybe something like:

Celeron: x to y degrees C
PIII: x to y degrees C
Duron.....etc.

Also, could you please include safe motherboard operating temps?

Mikewarrior seems to be the expert on this subject, so hopefully he'll see this post.

Thanks,
Shooters

 
Safe ambient case temp: Within 10C of room temp.

Safe Celeron 2 temp: Depends on overclock, but generally within 15-20C of ambient Case temp is "normal", and 25C-30C would likely still be acceptable.

Safe P3 Temp: Same as celeron 2 temp.


Now's the tricky one, socket-a "safe" temps. Depends on MB as different mB's read temps differently. I'll use the popular 3 as an example:

MSI K7T series(uses a SMD resistor to read temp):~50C seems to be the "read temp" safe limit on this board

Abit Kt7(socket-thermistor): ~55-60C seems to be the "safe read temp" limit.

Asus A7V(socket-thermistor): ~60-65C seems to be the "safe read temp" limit.

With the p3/c2 operating temps, this is assuming you have the ability to read the internal diode. With the Socket-a temps, these seem to be safe "read" temps that give enough leeway for possible read errors on these mb's parts.

Hope this helps,
Mike
 
Thanks, that helps a lot, but I've got a couple of more questions. When you say "ambient case temp" is that the same as the motherboard temp reading that is displayed in Motherboard Monitor 5? Also, you say that normal cpu temp is generally within 15-20 degrees of case temp. I understand this, but what is considered "normal" case temp. Obviously if someone's cpu temp is within 15-20 degrees of their case temp but their case temp is 75 degrees then something is very wrong. I'm running a slot 1 PIII 700@933 on an Asus P3V4X. My motherboard temp is usually around 35 degrees and my cpu temp hovers around the low to mid fifties while playing Unreal Tournament (the motherboard and cpu temps are around 32 and 40 at idle, respectively). Is this considered acceptable? Also, what is this internal diode that you're talking about, and how do I know if I have the ability to read it?

Thanks for the help,
Shooters
 
Well, the itnernal diode is an internal mechanism inside p3 chips(fancy wording, huh) that can be used to read cpu core temps. In order to read it, you need a mb compatible with reading internal diode temps.

Your mb reads internal diode temps fine. One thing I would say is that your MB temp of 32-35C is a bit high. This number is usually 2-5C higher than ambient case temp. I would personally get some case cooling(depending on where you live, of course.. if your room temp is 30C there isn't much you can do here).

your cpu temps are likewise fine, but a bit warm due to a "warmer" case.


Mike
 
Okay, let me make sure I get this. You're saying that Motherboard Monitor 5 is telling me my motherboard temp and I just assume that my ambient case temp is 2-5 degrees lower? I guess basically what I'm asking is if a program will actually tell me my ambient case temp or if I just subtract 2-5 degrees from the temp that Motherboard Monitor gives me to figure it out.

What's a good mobo temp to shoot for with my setup since you think it's a little high.....mid to high twenties?

Yeah, my case is a little cramped. I'm going to get a roomier one with more fan placement options soon, so hopefully that will help.

Thanks,
Shooters
 
Well, you can't always assume that... that's just the average.. To measure ambient case temp you need a third temp probe, or a radio shack indoor outdoor thermometer measuring tmep 1inch from fan inlet.

Good mb temp is 25-30C.

Mike
 
Sorry about all the questions, but I've just got one more. You said that I need a third temp probe to measure ambient case temp. Do you happen to know if this is possible with my Asus P3V4X? In Motherboard Monitor I set "MBM 5 sensor" to "sensor 3" and "Should display board sensor" to "Asus 3", but the dashboard shows Sensor 3 at -1 degrees, which I know can't be right. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks,
Shooters
 
Sensor 3 is a header that lies about 2/3rds of the way down on the slot 1 and to the left. It is in the manual as "jtpower". You can hook up another thermistor to that jumper to get a third reading. I'm not sure if your mb came with one or not, but you can always make your own.

Mike
 
I have the same board(P3V4X) and yes the thermister header works and gets very accurate reading on case temp.


These are the official specs on P!!! and Celeron processors.
P!!!
Celeron
 
Frosty, is the thermistor header you're talking about the same as sensor 3 in Motherboard Monitor 5? Did you have to do something special or connect an extra device to get it to work because like I said, I always get a reading of -1 degrees everytime I activate it. Sorry, I'm a little foreign to all this cooling stuff, so I'm not quite sure how everything works.
 
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