CPU temp too high??

Hi all.
Had a bit of freezing in Far Cry, Sims 2, MOHAA etc.
Downloaded the latest Ati drivers, same problem, now i'm wondering about heat.
Just installed the MBM (motherboard monitor) from here and it tells me that my CPU is running at 57-58C when my Athlon xp 3000 is idle.
From some things i've read this is more like the temp it should be at under heavy load.
Just need some confirmation please.
Thanks.

 

That does seem a little high on the face of it. Extra cooling is usually a good thing.

Specs please.

 

Those temps are okay for that CPU. I've run it stable a lot hotter than that under load. But they are a little high for idling.

If you go into MBM, then Interval and Syslog, check HTML and then aim it a directory, and check CPU temp in the box below, you can have a temperature log. Try running Prime95 and if your machine freezes, you can open that HTML file and see what temp it was at when it froze. If it was over 75, sounds like you got an airflow problem.

Recently I've been on an airflow rampage through my case, it used to be idling mid 50's now its idling low 30's! Tell you somthing, those fan grills you get on most cases (the sort which look like a perforated mesh) they are diabolical for airflow. They reflect the hot air back into the case!! I jigsawed mine out, while I had the case in pieces to add the blowhole. Put a nice wire grill on there instead, much less restrictive

 

Thanks for the replies.

g1lgam3sh(try and use a more complicated name next time) ; Specs below

XP Home SP2
GA-7VT600 1394 Mobo
Athlon xp 3000 (underclocked-2100)!
512mb RAM
Ati Radeon 256mb 9500
Seagate 160gb HDD
On board sound
Direct x 9.0

goldfish; I've set up a log and will see what happens next time it freezes.
Not sure where to find 'Prime 95'? I'll do a search.
Cheers

 

Even though 57-58 C is not high enough to be damaging, it is a high temperature idling or not. My XP3200+ (2.2GHz) runs at max 42 C, case temp. 23 C even after overclocking to 2.4GHz both temperatures won't go any higher than a few degress even under heavy load according to the NVidia System Tools, given the fact that utility is a bit off, I still think your CPU temp. is high. Are you using an adequate heatsink/fan for your CPU, also the overall case temperature has direct effect on the CPU's running temperature.
Did you apply an kind of thermal grease in between the heatsink and the CPU?

Remember if you are using fans to cool the case and CPU (as opposed to liquid cooling), you have to create an air flow, in other words there has got to be an air circulation at all times. Location and number of the fans that are blowing IN and blowing OUT is very important, also proper cabling to ensure the proper air flow....not to forget occasionaly cleaning of fans and other outlets for dust buildup.

 

It might also be that ur cpu cooler is just full of dust therefore restricting airflow, I have this problem with my Zalman CNPS7700-CU, it works great when clean but i have to clean it bout every 2 weeks or else temps go up by 7C or more....

 

Hi.
Thanks for the replies.
I have a new Coolermaster heatsink and fan specced for my CPU.
I have a thermal pad, not grease, is the grease better? I have some.
I have the side of my case off at all times so airflow should not be a problem.
My machine has just crashed while playing MOHAA online.
The CPU temp at the time was 61-62C with case temp at 41C.
If it's not the heat then I have grief elsewhere.
It isn't just the one game it is all of them that crash at times.
It never crashes under normal use so I assume it is the heat or graphics grief.
Cheers.

 

what's the ambient temp? do you have the heat turned up high?

 

pad should be ok though imo grease is better (when applied properly).

No, wrong assumption, leaving the case panels open does not automatically mean it is cool or it would provide proper air circulation, it could actually prevent the proper air circulation since the case no longer enclosed for the case fans to do their job effectively.

This problem could be caused by RAM or Video card (bad or overheating).

 

Pyrate. Ambient doesn't seem to make much diff.
Heatings not on tonight, about 68-70C.

Turco. Yeah, get what you mean with the case thing, cool air provided by the fans escaping to soon.
How can I find out if the graphics are getting too hot?
MOHAA just froze again, in a different way but both have happened before.
One was crackling noise in my headphones with the screeen going black, the other just the game stopping with the screen still showing the last picture.
Bloody annoying this.

 

if it's the video card overheating, you'll see plenty of artifiacting first before a crash.
the crackling sounds is probably just from noise; onboard audio sound is very noisy and just plain bad. so yeah. just telling you it might just be that sometimes.
Actually, having the case open or closed may or may not make a diff, depending on how your fans are set up. if it's set up poorly, open or closed won't make a diff at all.
anyway, just on a hunch, feel the air coming from your power supply. if it's really warm coming out when the computer's under load, you should get a new power supply.
also check to see what processes are running in the background. maybe there are so many that the computer is getting bogged down.
lastly, run memtest or something to see if it is your ram.

 

Well, you are using an ATI card so I wouldn't be much help on checking the heat thing but check the ATI advanced features sections in XP > Control Panel > Display > Settings > Advanced (button) page, you might get some answers from there may be, if not someone who knows about the ATI card and related diagnostic utilities could suggest something I am sure.

ATI is not my favorite, besides the 9500 is not exactly a 'gaming' chipset imo, you should have 9700Pro or better. To enjoy demanding 3D games make that 9800Pro or better even...
As far as the game crashes, there are what I can comment on:

~ Video Card drivers: are they the best (not necessarily most current) version supported by the graphics card you own?
~ GPU on the video card overheating: you have to find a way to check the Video card's temperature. See if it increases after an hour or so of heavy use.
~ System RAM, is it a decent brand? Can you get another same kind RAM to check to see if the RAM was the cause?
~ Check for Mobo BIOS update, even though this is not always the first thing to check, could be the cause nonetheless.
~ Check on technical forum site's of the Game and Video card's manufacturer's web sites to see if this problem is known or experienced by others with the same card and game, etc.

 

Well, must of been the thermal pad or the heatsink not seated properly.
I have now put paste on the heatsink.
The idling temp is now in the low 40's and I have just run MOHAA and the highest it got was 48C.
It was reaching around 63C before.
Hope this has cured my problems, I will see when I spend a good while gaming!
Thanks for the support.
Now let this be a lesson to you all, stop playing games and go and cut the grass for yer mom!!