AMD Processor Temperature

[tcompguy]

I have a 1.2 ghz Atholon K7 (K7VMA). I purchased the machine with the processor installed. I have been having problems with overheating. I have the computer under a desk in a corner and it was performing horribly. The bios indicated it was operating at 62 C degrees/143 F degres. I pulled it out from under the desk and opened one side of the case and the temperature immediately started to fall. My intake and exhaust fans (1 of each) are working fine.

Why did it overheat and what is a normal operating temperature? A technician at a computer store said that it should not be above 120 F degrees. My computer at work is a similar AMD operating at 129 F degrees with no problem. Testing my machine it remained at 131 degrees F with no processor function. What is a good temperature and would different glue (if there is any) or a different fan be the best upgrade?

I downloaded a burn in test, but is there any other way I can check for CPU and mainboard damage?

Please help!!

[Telexen]

It was hot because the warm air being blown out of the case had nowhere to go and found it's way back into the case. It shouldn't damage it if it's not left at that temperature for a long period of time...but if there was any damage it probably wouldn't be running.

[tcompguy]

What is a normal operating temperature? I have had a heck of a time trying to track this down. Is 131 F degrees alright or is that a little hot?

[Bob The Great]

Welcome to TechIMO Tcompguy!

Those CPU's run a little warm but you don't want it to hit much over 130 in my experience. Personally I think 120 is to warm for a CPU if you want complete system stabilty but in most cases due to different situations aprox 120-125 is a standred. I'd deffinitly not let it go to 135. Much past there your in some bad territory.

Even if it works well now it will lower the life span by a lot and cause your system to be a lot less stable.

[Gait_Keeper]

Welcome to Techimo........

normal is a little vague, as chips from different lots will run slightly higher or lower

Of course lower is better, AMD site site dosen't give an average, but mentions 90C and that's plain dumb

anywhere in the 40C's to the 50C's is good after 59C do something
room temp is a factor also

40C = 104F
59C = 138F

like telexen said you need space between the wall and the rear of your case.

[ragtop]

Opinions vary on acceptable CPU temps - but I think Gait_Keeper's advice is pretty good for a general purpose machine. (Altough you would probably want to keep it a little lower if you're doing a lot of gaming or other things that require max stability.)

As for fixing the problem - make sure you have a good exhaust fan at the rear of the case and double check that in fact its blowing out. Also check for dust buildup on the fans and heat sink.

Next, you would want to pull the heat sink/fan off to check for proper application of thermal compound (Arctic Silver is the best choice for thermal compound - follow manufacturer's instructions for application).

If it's still too hot, there are a lot of good heat sink/fans out there that are not very expensive. Pick up a good aftermarket unit and it will significantly outperform the OEM unit that's probably on there now.

Another thing to remember is that the MB temp probes don't always give accurate readings - so don't assume the readings to be absolute truth.

[Gait_Keeper]

What's your room temp on an avage July day?

my 1800+ machine was at 62C idle the other day when I came in from work, I quickly moved it to my ACed bedroom, now running 39C at 45% load, and when my load increases my RPM's on my HSF increase dropped to 37 at 80% load

Yes clean your fans and make sure they are blowing in the right direction

front fan = intake
rear = exhaust
CPU = blows towards the heat sink

at one time I thought it should blow away from the CPU to take way the heat, silly me LOL

I cut a blow hole in the top of my case for exhaust and put a 80mm fan there, consider that?

[tcompguy]

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!! I looked at the intake and it was dusty, but still turning. I figured for $6 I might as well replace it. The answer came when I took off the front cover. It was PACKED with dust!! I still replaced the fan and cleaned all of the dust. Thanks for all of the help. I know now to check that area..my intake is real close to the floor and I don't have any kind of filter.

[jerrygarcia]

Also, check to see if your power supply fan is okay. It is probably dirty too. When buying new fans, go with a ball bearing fan instead of a sleeve bearing fan.

Did you happen to buy that combo on eBay from a seller named compu4me? I bought 2 barebones from them.

Welcome to TechIMO!

[l33tz0r0]

well i got 4 fans in my case (1 in the power supply unit to exhust 1 a bit lower then it one on the top of the case (as mentioned b4) and on in the lower front part that intakes air) im running a amd 3.0 + and its running preety good @ 113F/46c~ @ 30% load it never reached over the 51c i suggest if u dont have some kind of a whole in ur upper part of the case make one and put a fan to exahust the hot air out of the case which works for me