what are normal processor temps?

[willaby]

What would you guys say to be a normal operating temperature for a processor? I have an AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton @ 2.17 GHz and I want to make sure it's not too hot. Under normal conditions (like now) it runs at ~54-56 degrees celsius. Under load it can get up to ~62C and I've even seen it up around 64C max. Is it running too hot? I don't know what the room temp is, but I think that it's somewhere around normal room temp (~30C?).

[VHockey86]

30C would be one hot room =), about 86 F

but ya, its running hot... Generally the desired cutoff would be 60 under load.

You might want to look into either a) better heatsink for the processor
b) making sure the heatsink is mounted correctly
c) What are you case temps? You might need more case fans to help get the hot air of it.

For that processor with no overclocking id say mid 40s would be average, depending on the ambient room temp possibly low 50s

[willaby]

OK, maybe not 30C, I was trying to think of the celcius equivalent of 70F. Maybe 20C? Anyway, it's normal room temp.

a)I'm using the heatsink that came with the processor.

b)I'm almost completely sure it's mounted correctly.

c)I don't know about the case temp, but the "system" temp (I use a utility called "digidoc" that came with the mobo to tell me the temp, and I'm not sure where it measures the system temp) is usually around 40C or maybe a little less. As for fans, all I have is a fan on the side of the case and the fan in the PSU. The case has 2 more places for fans to be mounted in the back, would you suggest that I utilize them?

Mid 40s?!? Wow! The temps I gave were without overclocking...

Maybe I do have a problem...

[MrPurple]

The heatsink that comes with the CPU is not very good. It may be usable for the lower speed procs, but for the higher end ones you really need something better, and AMD should be aware of this, yet they do nothing saying that their test show the HS they supply are adequate. I guess everyone purchasing a more efficient HS means nothing to AMD. Go figure.

But I digress, you should also apply some good thermal compound, like Artic Silver 3 or Ceramique.

[willaby]

Where would I apply this compound? Straight on top of the chip itself, since the only thing that come into contact with the HS is the chip? (You know what AMD Athlon chips look like, right?)

[ArcticFox]

Yes, apply an extremly thin layer of ArcticSilver III to the core of the chip (that's the little square part, which touches the HSF). I do say those temps are way off, and you need to back off on your clocks to bring them down. Right now, in a cold room, I have a 2500+ at 3200+ speeds with a Coolermaster X-Dream and no case sidepanels on running at 39c, but it varies.

Get a new HSF, thermal compound, and you should be good.

[VHockey86]

40C for the "system" temp (also called ambient or case temp) is fairly high as well. You may want to get some additional case fans if you have room in the case, also if you're going to bother getting Some Arctic Silver 3, while you are it you mide as well just get a new HS. The Thermaltake Volcano series is quite popular.

[willaby]

Originally posted by ArcticFox
Yes, apply an extremly thin layer of ArcticSilver III to the core of the chip (that's the little square part, which touches the HSF). I do say those temps are way off, and you need to back off on your clocks to bring them down. Right now, in a cold room, I have a 2500+ at 3200+ speeds with a Coolermaster X-Dream and no case sidepanels on running at 39c, but it varies.

Get a new HSF, thermal compound, and you should be good.

What do you mean back off my clocks? I'm not overclocking. Never changed the CPU speed, just put it together and went.

40C for the "system" temp (also called ambient or case temp) is fairly high as well. You may want to get some additional case fans if you have room in the case, also if you're going to bother getting Some Arctic Silver 3, while you are it you mide as well just get a new HS. The Thermaltake Volcano series is quite popular.

It does sound like I need to cool the entire case down more. Like I said, it has two more mount points for fans (I'm trying to figure out what size of fan would go there at the moment). Then again, it doesn't seem like the air that's coming out of the fans is that hot...I'm wondering how reliable the digidoc utility is. Is there any other way to check system/cpu temp?

[VHockey86]

U should be able to view the temps in the the BIOS (prolly like a PC Health Section)

But... normally they will read the same as the utility. It could be that the temp sensors in the case are simply bad, however 40C is only 104F, so its not going to feel THAT warm against your skin.

[ArcticFox]

Originally posted by willaby
What do you mean back off my clocks? I'm not overclocking. Never changed the CPU speed, just put it together and went.

You said:

Originally posted by willaby
Mid 40s?!? Wow! The temps I gave were without overclocking...

So I assumed you were OC'ing.