Why does my Athlon 64 3000+ run at 58?

[KnickFanRA]

Hi folks.

I am running an Athlon64 3000+ with MSI K8T Neo Platinum Motherboard. I am using the retail heatsink, one exhaust fan blow out of the case from the back, and one intake fan blowing air into the case from the front. I have opened up the side of my case.

The motherboard monitor reports CPU temp as 57 when I am doing light work such as browsing and listening to music. It reports the case temperature as 44.

Does this sound normal?

 

[akira34]

Normal? no... I've never seen my Athlon64 3400+ run even close to that temp on the chip... Did you secure the heatsink all the way to the board? What size, make and model fans are you using???

 

[KnickFanRA]

How can I tell if the heatsink is on the right way, or correctly? I mean, I snapped it into place, and I think it is ok. Any way to tell for sure. If I didn't attach it properly, wouldn't my processor be totally fried already? I'm not sure what the problem is.

The heatsink is the one that came with the processor in the retail box. The fans are 80mm generic fans.

 

[KnickFanRA]

So I am thinking the generic fans I have in here aren't really the problem. They wouldn't cause the CPU you be approximately 15 degrees C above normal, right? Even with the case side opened, I still get the 58C...

Could it be that my sensor is lying to me?
Could it be my heatsink not attached correctly?

 

[akira34]

Did you hook the plastic thing on the heatsink down? If it's fully seated/connected per the instructions, then make sure the fans are blowing in the proper directions. Pull them out, check the arrows and reinstall them. What case do you have? What PSU do you have?

 

[KnickFanRA]

I got the CaseEdge Black case recommended by Anandtech in the July (I think) Mid-Range System guide. The fans are blowing in the right directions. (Front fan is intaking air, Rear fan is expelling air). The PSU is an ANTEC True Power 420.

My heatsink seems to be properly attached. It has two little holes on the side and they are in place, and there is a little plastic lever attached to it, which is currently at a 90 degree angle (the top is flat)

 

[Degrador]

It's not just the cpu that's the problem though - 44C for a case temperature is rediculous. I'd strongly be thinking that your monitors are reporting too high. What are your ambient temperatures? If you're going through extremely hot days (ie 40C), then it's likely there's nothing wrong with anything. Your computer can only cool as a relative distance from the ambient temps (with air or water cooling), so 15C above ambient isn't that much of a worry. However, if it's not hot, or you have air conditioning, then something is definitely wrong...

 

[nvfx]

57C only under light work, sounds very high. Ofcourse if you were to tell the same after OC and Torture tests than it would make some sense

And it also depends upon your Room temperature.

I am running the same CPU with a Zalman Cu7000A. Idle temp hover from 38-42 while load temperatures even after some OC remain less than 52 C.

My room temp are 33 C.

Dont worry, make sure your CPU gets a good contact and thats all.

AMD Stock Heatsinks are quick good and do thier job.

 

[Arsynic]

Your case is too hot. Which probably means one of two things:

1. The room is too hot.

2. The case isn't properly cooled.

So the solution is either:

1. Invest in an AC unit

2. Get your case within 5C of the room temperature.

 

[KnickFanRA]

Thanks for your help all... I figured out the problem. Apparently the motherboard sensors are off by 20C or even more.

Wish I had known this earlier

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Arsynic]

Update the BIOS to see if that changes. Sometimes the calculations are way off.

 

[harrkev]

That particular mobo has known problems with the accuracy of the temperature when used with Newcastle processors. Temps read about 10 degrees or so too high.

Some more details here:
http://forum.msi.com.tw/thread.php?threadid=51994&sid=