Processor temp

[i_like_peanut_butter]

Finally got lm_sensors up and working on my machine. Looking at the readouts though it looks like my CPU is running a little hot (4C, 8Farenheight). Is this something to be worried about, or chalk it up to the lack of percision of the sensors?

[swangods]

What model/speed of processor?
What kind of cooling are you using?

I have a 1.2gHz Duron and Athlon XP 1800+ (~1.54gHz) both running in Linux machines and the BIOS monitor tends to agree with multiple software monitors on temps- using stock cooling (ie. the fan and heatsink packaged with each cpu) I'll average 105-110, though the past couple hot months it's been in the low 120s (pardon my Fahrenheit- in Celsius those are somewhere in the 40s I think). I could probably do much better with some thermal paste and heftier heatsinks, but I haven't had any problems.
On a side note, I have a PIII running at 733mHz (on a W2k machine) that never breaks 90. 85 is about as high as it gets.

[i_like_peanut_butter]

Sorry, forgot the important details

Athlon 1.2 Gig
Standard cooling

Runs about 145 degrees F, 62C

[mdwatts]

That does seem a little hot to me.

My dual MP 1800's with the Volcano 7 HS/Fan's run at about 42C.

[MartinB]

Mine's running at 55C (131F)... Should I get better cooling or am I okay?

[bwkaz]

Check the web sites of your chip manufacturer(s), and find their documentation on "safe temperatures" for their chips.

There are some rules of thumb that apply, but if you want to know if it's cool enough without a doubt, then go to the mfr's website and try to find documentation.

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by bwkaz
Check the web sites of your chip manufacturer(s), and find their documentation on "safe temperatures" for their chips.

There are some rules of thumb that apply, but if you want to know if it's cool enough without a doubt, then go to the mfr's website and try to find documentation.

Exactly !!!

Don't ask us... Ask the manufacturer. :)

[baragon0]

Don't ask LNO, ask Linus.

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by baragon0
Don't ask LNO, ask Linus.

So Linus knows what the safe temperatures are for all the processors on the market.

And I thought he only worked on the kernel.

Thanks for the tip.

I'll let you know what he says.

[baragon0]

Don't ask us... Ask the manufacturer.

Don't ask LNO, ask Linus


Catch my drift?

[Timothy L. Miller]

Originally posted by MartinB
Mine's running at 55C (131F)... Should I get better cooling or am I okay?

Depends on the processor. If you're running a fairly recent P4 or Athlon, should be fine. If you're running an old P3 or Athlon, then you might run into problems.

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by baragon0





Catch my drift?

Not really. Of course you know that I'm kinda slow without my Google for Linux.

As bwkaz had suggested, the processor manufacturers will know best what the running temps should be for their cpu's.

For my kernel questions, I do usually ask Linus.

[i_like_peanut_butter]

Checked AMD's site but couldn't find any specific temp. information, just a list of recommended heat sinks and fans. Shot an email off to Micron tech support, hopefully they'll get back to me.

All in all the Micron has been good to me.

[swangods]

Originally posted by i_like_peanut_butter
Sorry, forgot the important details

Athlon 1.2 Gig
Standard cooling

Runs about 145 degrees F, 62C

145?!? Yowch! That's awfully high. Are you overclocked at all?

The most recent and previous generations of Athlons and Durons are rated to run up to about 170 safely, I believe, and can torture-test something near 200. Even still, I wouldn't want to be at 170, or even 145. I get nervous above 125.

Definitely should look into some new cooling. Thermal paste is a good solution; it tends to fill air gaps between the processor die and the base of the heatsink. A lot of people like Arctic Silver, supposedly the particules are small enough to make a great seal. Also, keeping your case temp down will help a bit. Definitely make sure you've got some extra case fans, and having more exhaust than intake will create the right kind of airflow to cool down a little more. You may also note higher CPU temps if it's a small case or if the power supply is right above the CPU, which unfortunately often happens.

[Timothy L. Miller]

Originally posted by swangods


145?!? Yowch! That's awfully high. Are you overclocked at all?

The most recent and previous generations of Athlons and Durons are rated to run up to about 170 safely, I believe, and can torture-test something near 200. Even still, I wouldn't want to be at 170, or even 145. I get nervous above 125.

Definitely should look into some new cooling. Thermal paste is a good solution; it tends to fill air gaps between the processor die and the base of the heatsink. A lot of people like Arctic Silver, supposedly the particules are small enough to make a great seal. Also, keeping your case temp down will help a bit. Definitely make sure you've got some extra case fans, and having more exhaust than intake will create the right kind of airflow to cool down a little more. You may also note higher CPU temps if it's a small case or if the power supply is right above the CPU, which unfortunately often happens.

They claim...my T-bird core 1400 ran unstable at 160 (WAY insufficient cooling). I've since added cooling and underclocked it, so that it's running happier than a clam at around 135, even running cool enough that it allowed me to OC my video card...

[swangods]

Originally posted by Timothy L. Miller


They claim...my T-bird core 1400 ran unstable at 160 (WAY insufficient cooling). I've since added cooling and underclocked it, so that it's running happier than a clam at around 135, even running cool enough that it allowed me to OC my video card...

What kind of video card are you using? Some of the ones that come with built-on heatsinks and fans on the gpu can really get cranked up a bit.

[kZahradnik]

Originally posted by baragon0





Catch my drift?

Don't ask Linus ask the Kernel?

[Timothy L. Miller]

Originally posted by swangods


What kind of video card are you using? Some of the ones that come with built-on heatsinks and fans on the gpu can really get cranked up a bit.

I swap out every few days. I run an ATI Radeon 7500 that I've found overclocks quite nicely now that I've underclocked my cpu (default couldn't get it above stock speeds without crashing), but I keep switching back to an All-In-Wonder Radeon 7500 until it pisses me off. No TV tuner app that I've tried will work with it (gatos says it's not an ati card), and in windows, it just randomly restarts my computer every 30 minutes to an hour. Just to check if it was heat, I underclocked my processor to 1000 MHz and cranked down the core voltage a little to kill some heat...was running BARELY over 100 degrees, still would restart whenever I attempted to use the TV...so it's not heat. Course, everything else works on that card just fine.

[liquidfx13]

AMD Athlons/XP's cook at 90C(not sure what that is in Farenheit). Both of mine currently run at around 42C (about 105F +or-). Most BIOS these days have failsafe setting so that you don't cook your CPU. I Keep mine at around 75C and have never even come close to it.

I got really into the cooling issue with my Athlon 1.4 when i noticed that it was running at around 66C. I only had the stock heatsink and 1 fan running even though it was a full tower. Ran it like that for 9 mo. without a problem or even knowing for that matter. I added 3 case fans (all blowing out) and my temp dropped to 50C. I couldn't believe it. Since then i have added a Thermaltake Volcano 7+ heatsink/fan and am running at avg of 42C. Therefore.......be sure that you got your airflow right.....if you don't have enough "exhaust" coming out of your box......the number of fans you have isn't going to matter that much.