Why is my CPU so Hot?

[dapellegrini]

Is it normal for my CPU to running between 53-57c ??

Just upgraded to an ASUS A7N8X-E (default bios settings, no OCing yet) with an Athlon 2800 (333mhz) w/ Stock HS and 2x 512 DDR 3200 Crucial Ram in dual channel...

When I load into the bios and check the hardware monitor it reads between 53-57c...

So I went down to Fry's and bought some Arctic Silver Ceramique, turned the machine off for the night and then, this morning spent about an hour carefully cleaning the wax off of the HS and CPU and following the ArticSilver.com instructions to the T...

Well, here I am 3 hours later and my CPU is again running between 53-57 degrees... I am a little confused... I am confident that the Ceramique was applied correctly and all surfaces were as clean as possible...

I have a normal boring case, added 2 80mm case fans (front and rear). My PS (ThermalTkae 420w) also has an exhaust fan down onto the CPU. I have left several plates off of the back of the case to let it breath and everything else seems to be cool and fine.

What am I doing wrong? Also are there any windows applications that I can run that will read the CPU temp without having to drop back to the bios.

Thanks in advance!

Dan P.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

That sounds about right for a stock cooler.

 

[Varun]

Yeah stock HSF's are not very good, I would go with a better one.

 

[peacemaker1ps]

Seems tad high.
Time to get better Heat Sink and fan.
I am running 2400 at default speed.
It's just under 50C at idel.

Stock HS.

 

[powerMarkymark]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
That sounds about right for a stock cooler.

I agree.

You could try CPU Idle linkage, it worked on my AMD machine (16% decrease in CPU temp at idle) but of course under load the temps would increase again.

If you change heatsink you could go for a Thermaltake, unlike others, I have had good results with them and are inexpensive alternatives to stock.

 

[Cerb]

What's the case temp?
If the case temp is around 40C, then those CPU readings are fine (for the retail cooler).

 

[ku]

I'd like to add on to Cerb's post and say that if your case temps are around 30-35, those temps seem right. What motherboard did you have before and what temps were you getting?

As for new heatsinks... try the ThermalRIGHT, not the Thermaltake, heatsinks. If you want to save some money, get the ALX-800 (SVC is having a sale on the SLK-900A's too) or if you want to go all out, go for the SP-97.