What's a good idle temp for a P4 3.2 (stock speed)?

Rieper · Oct 6, 2003

I hover around 47-50c when my pc is idle based on what Hardware Doctor is displaying. Is this normal for a 3000RPM cpu fan which I have installed?

When gaming I quickly check, and it says 59c. Should I be concerned at this temp? I usually game for an hour or two about 3-4 times a week. Could 59c be detremental to my cpu's health in the long run? I paid $380 for this P4 3.2 and I don't want to lose it in three months due to heat issues.

Thanks.

h2so4 · Oct 6, 2003

"Rieper" wrote:

I hover around 47-50c when my pc is idle based on what Hardware Doctor is displaying. Is this normal for a 3000RPM cpu fan which I have installed?

When gaming I quickly check, and it says 59c. Should I be concerned at this temp? I usually game for an hour or two about 3-4 times a week. Could 59c be detremental to my cpu's health in the long run? I paid $380 for this P4 3.2 and I don't want to lose it in three months due to heat issues.

Thanks.

Your readings seem identical to my own. The room temperature here in the UK is 17.1c and my CPU temperature is @ 46c. If I run FS2004 for an hour or so my CPU temp stabilises in the low to mid 60s. I've benn running this thing for three months or so (at default settings, i.e., no overclocking) and my system has been stable-ish. I don't think that my own occasional program crashes are temperature related as they have occurred at lowish CPU temps.

Abit explains the high CPU temps as being to do with the algorithm used to translate the readings from hardware. I've taken the position of accepting Abit's account of these high temp readings but with a degree scepticism. I am not sufficiently knowledgeable about these things to distinguish fact from bullshit on Abit's site. However, I know just enough to know that there's a fairly high level of bullshit in Abit's marketing speak.

I should add that my system is contained in a Lian Li case with two front fans sucking and a single fan plus Enermax PSU blowing. I have the Zalman 7000cu heatsink/fan running at full speed and have checked and re-checked the contact between CPU and heatink and the application of Arctic Silver III. So I carry on with my temps as they are more in hope than expectation.

I'm deciding whether to abandon the IC7-G in favour of an Intel board or whether to buy a very expensive Herman Miller Aaron chair. I've long lusted after one of these chairs so at present I'm inclined towards sticking with the Abit motherboard for a while longer.

I don't think that you are likely to do any damage to your CPU at the temps you report.

Skid · Oct 6, 2003

"h2so4" wrote:

I'm deciding whether to abandon the IC7-G in favour of an Intel board or whether to buy a very expensive Herman Miller Aaron chair.

Go for the chair.

Skid · Oct 6, 2003

"Rieper" wrote:

I hover around 47-50c when my pc is idle based on what Hardware Doctor is displaying. Is this normal for a 3000RPM cpu fan which I have installed?

When gaming I quickly check, and it says 59c. Should I be concerned at this temp?

Perfectly normal for the stock hsf -- at least on an Abit board as reported by hardware doctor.

jardinero · Oct 6, 2003

"Rieper" wrote:

I hover around 47-50c when my pc is idle based on what Hardware Doctor is displaying. Is this normal for a 3000RPM cpu fan which I have installed?

When gaming I quickly check, and it says 59c. Should I be concerned at this temp? I usually game for an hour or two about 3-4 times a week. Could 59c be detremental to my cpu's health in the long run? I paid $380 for this P4 3.2 and I don't want to lose it in three months due to heat issues.

Thanks.

Rieper,

Those temps you posted seem a bit on the high side for your processor at idle, I can just imagine how high they go when you are playing a good game which will demand a lot from the CPU.

You may want to check what the temperature of your case is inside; it may be suffering from insufficient input of fresh air.

A quick test comes to mind, remove both sides of the case and leave them off for about 20, 30 minutes or longer while your computer is at idle and check the CPU temp in this mode. If the temperature has come down considerably, you need to force more fresh air inside your case.

You may want to check that the heatsink is seating flat on top of the CPU and that there is sufficient and not too much "grease" between the 2 mating surfaces.

I have to tell you that I am running the same CPU as you. The ambient temperature of the room where the computer is located hovers around 35 degrees centigrade.

My CPU goes up to only 50C degrees while running Prime95, and hovers at about 40 degrees at idle.

Also, I've made sure there is plenty of air coming inside the case and going out of it, I am running it with a Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu cooler. This cooler has made all the difference in the world in keeping the high temp down when running at 100% for hours.

I'm sure others will give you more tips and other things to try.

TomG · Oct 6, 2003

not bad...

Skid · Oct 6, 2003

"jardinero" wrote:

"Rieper" wrote:

...

I hover around 47-50c when my pc is idle based on what Hardware Doctor is displaying. Is this normal for a 3000RPM cpu fan which I have installed?

When gaming I quickly check, and it says 59c. Should I be concerned at this temp? I usually game for an hour or two about 3-4 times a week. Could 59c be detremental to my cpu's health in the long run? I paid $380 for this P4 3.2 and I don't want to lose it in three months due to heat issues.

Thanks.

Rieper,

Those temps you posted seem a bit on the high side for your processor at idle, I can just imagine how high they go when you are playing a good game which will demand a lot from the CPU.

You may want to check what the temperature of your case is inside; it may be suffering from insufficient input of fresh air. ...

Keep in mind he's running an Abit IC7-G. They tend to report about 10C higher than most other boards. Subtract 10C from his temps, and they're the same as yours.

I have an IC7, cooled with a Vantec Aeroflow in a case ventilated by two 120 mm fans. My temps on a 2.4 overclocked to 3.3 are almost identical to the OP's 3.2 with a stock Intel hsf.

His temps, and mine, only seem high in comparison to those reported on other boards. In fact, they are exactly what should be expected on that hardware.

h2so4 · Oct 6, 2003

"Skid" wrote:

"h2so4" wrote:

I'm deciding whether to abandon the IC7-G in favour of an Intel board or whether to buy a very expensive Herman Miller Aaron chair.

Go for the chair.

I'm very tempted. Have you tried this marvel of ergonomic design? Will it cure my writers' block, add to my cyber credibility, be comfortable?

S.Anderson · Oct 6, 2003

My problem I believe is not enough RPM intake. Currently I have a Thermoflow intake fan, which is temp regulated. Unless it gets hot inside it will remain around 2500RPM. I will instead go with a good 3800RPM fan from Vantec to push more cooler air inside my case.

Hopefully this will lower my cpu temp.

"jardinero" wrote:

"Rieper" wrote:

...

I hover around 47-50c when my pc is idle based on what Hardware Doctor is displaying. Is this normal for a 3000RPM cpu fan which I have installed?

When gaming I quickly check, and it says 59c. Should I be concerned at this temp? I usually game for an hour or two about 3-4 times a week. Could 59c be detremental to my cpu's health in the long run? I paid $380 for this P4 3.2 and I don't want to lose it in three months due to heat issues.

Thanks.

Rieper,

Those temps you posted seem a bit on the high side for your processor at idle, I can just imagine how high they go when you are playing a good game which will demand a lot from the CPU.

You may want to check what the temperature of your case is inside; it may be suffering from insufficient input of fresh air. ...

David P. · Oct 7, 2003

I'm deciding whether to abandon the IC7-G in favour of an Intel board or whether to buy a very expensive Herman Miller Aaron chair. I've long lusted after one of these chairs so at present I'm inclined towards sticking with the Abit motherboard for a while longer.

I haven't seen any benchmarks for that chair. I think I'd stick with the Abit.

David P.

TomG · Oct 7, 2003

I have two of them... one for me and one for the wife. Very comfortable chairs and adjustable out the wazoo. I'd say they are worth the money, personally.

Skid · Oct 7, 2003

"h2so4" wrote:

"Skid" wrote:

"h2so4" wrote:

I'm deciding whether to abandon the IC7-G in favour of an Intel board or whether to buy a very expensive Herman Miller Aaron chair.

Go for the chair.

I'm very tempted. Have you tried this marvel of ergonomic design? Will it cure my writers' block, add to my cyber credibility, be comfortable?

Well, one out of three's not bad ;>)

Gerard H. Pille · Oct 7, 2003

h2so4 wrote:

"Skid" wrote:

"h2so4" wrote:

I'm deciding whether to abandon the IC7-G in favour of an Intel board or whether to buy a very expensive Herman Miller Aaron chair.

Go for the chair.

...

It may allow you to sit iso. stand in front of your computer, which probably is more comfortable.

h2so4 · Oct 7, 2003

It may allow you to sit iso. stand in front of your computer, which probably is

more comfortable.

--

Gerard H. Pille

Good point! The more I think of it the more this chair makes sense.

h2so4 · Oct 7, 2003

"TomG" wrote:

I have two of them... one for me and one for the wife. Very comfortable chairs and adjustable out the wazoo. I'd say they are worth the money, personally.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

You must be one of those "new man" types. I'm sending my wife out to sell kisses to sailors to pay for the chair. I find that rubbing her down with an oily rag keeps her in reasonable condition.

TomG · Oct 7, 2003

uh, the wife has the better paying job between the two of us so what she wants (in terms of toys and such...) she gets. (Hush Jef!)

Jef Norton · Oct 7, 2003

TomG · Oct 8, 2003

well, good for you!