Aqua-Soft ForumsFolks, I'm an AMD user, so I know my CPU will run at pretty high temperatures. This is a stock HP Pavilion A320N PC. I recently updated the BIOS, and it gave me a temperature monitor on it. So I checked that, and I'm running at 54○C or 131○F. Now, is it just me or is that a tad bit hot? It was pretty close to idle at the time that I checked that. What do you all think? I have an AMD Athlon XP 2800+ at the stock speed of 2.0Ghz with a stock heatsink and fan.
[question]I think my CPU is running a tad bit hot...
Usually the advice I hear most is: dont use the stock heatsink/fan assembly that comes with the CPU. Always go a step or two above that. Given that, though, your CPU doesn't sound like it's too hot for a 2800+, but I'm guessing. My 1800+ and 2000+ both stay steady around 110°F when idle and peak around 130°F when at 100% for extended periods (rendering 3D for example).
A while back I checked to see what the maximum overheat temp should be for my 1800+ and it turns out it's pretty high -- 194°F according to the AMD site, so obviously you are right not to worry much about it overheating. If it get's too hot and performance dips, though, you can always strap an AC unit directly on that puppy.
eek, hp. don't mind me. i've just had bad experiences with them, so i only build for myself now.
anyways, 54c isn't hot, but it's a little warm. the burn temp for amd chips is high, around 90c, but most people like to keep load temps under 65, or even 60. i personally can't stand it if my temps go into the high 50s (usually it's in the 30s/40s). but your temps are fine.
if you're worried about heat, think about adding case fans (you might need to mod your case). you should also clean out the dust and tidy up the cables.
finally, if you're so inclined, get a new heatsink. thermalright, swiftech, zalman, and the vantec aeroflow are all good.
I have a Pentium 4 2.4 Ghrz and it usually runs around 45 C at idle, and thats
with a barebone case. Sometimes it overheats though if Im doing something resource
heave for a long time. My bios shuts my PC off automatically though when it reaches
the preset heat level. =)
Athlon XP's operate quite nicely at 131f. Something you wont find in their specs, but is pretty common knowledge, is that they can handle temps upto 170f before becoming unstable, so you're well within the safety zone.
A solid Zalman 6000 or 7000 fan system will most likely drop your CPU temp to the 110f+/- range, perhaps lower, although you will have to measure youre internal case room to make certain a Zalman solution will fit. They're pretty damn big.
use the cpus that are for the top of the line cpus like 3.6 ghz certified ones. then you will never heat up. that's what i did by buying the zalman full copper heatsink for my intel p4 2.66 ghz cpu. that's to ensure that it won't overheat. you can never overdo cooling too much. but will overdo not cooling enough.
if not, then coolermaster's and thermaltake and others should do nicely, but a bit louder. i use the 3 volt for my computer zalman cooler.
Yeah that's definitely a little warm than what most would consider optimal. I run a 2.53ghz P4 and it stays in the 110F / 45C range.
One thing is for sure though, HP, Dell, Gateway, and all of the other companies that don't build gaming machines seriously skimp when it comes to cooling. To get the best performance and longest life out of your CPU you need good cooling. It's always recommended to have a fan at the front of the case pulling air in, a fan at the rear of the case blowing air out, and most importantly a good heatsink fan combo. The fan on the heatsink needs to blow air TOWARDS the CPU as well.
While I know most companies like Dell, HP, etc. don't really come with the most mod-friendly expandable cases, if you can add a fan to the side pulling air in, or front or whatever it will help. It also helps to get a high RPM fan. While higher RPM fans are louder, you could always rig up a system to control the fan speeds if your fans support that. Even so, with the increase in noise it will be worth it. Most of all, get a GOOD heatsink/fan combo. This is more than likely going to require some modding to the internal structure, as I know the inside in most cases that come from those companies are designed with plastic air ducts and whatnot to direct the air from a crappy fan to where it needs to go.
A lot of computer crashing and freezing, game problems, performance issues etc can be tracked to overheating systems. A cool running rig will extend the life of the processor as well as give you less issues/problems down the road and possibly improve performance. I also recommend opening up your PC every now and then (while UNPLUGGED) and taking a can of compressed air to it, blowing all the dust out of the power supply, heatsink, fans, off of peripheral cards, etc. Dust can become a major problem as well if you let it get bad.
Flyakite, I find it quite funny that there are actually people in the world today that would make you have to put unplugged in caps to make sure they saw it. Kinda like "Don't iron your clothes while wearing them..." Heh, I do need to do something though, its a microATX case, but I think I can fit some stuff in it...