CPU Temp

I'm running an AMD Duron 1.80ghz at 13.5x133. I'm not gaming or anything so the speed is great and the few games I do play are older and run flawlessly. The thing is, my CPU is running warm. At first I couldn't get an accurate CPU temp from any apps: Everest showed a figure that jumped all over the place- from 9C all the way to 179C!!!! Half the time it showed no reading at all. PC Wizard2006 reports a constant 32C which seemed too low to be accurate. Speed Fan was similar to Everest- it jumped around and had no reading at times also. CBI showed a constant 151C. Finally, I downloaded and installed HMonitor, which showed the true temp of approx 50C. This matches the temp displayed in the BIOS hardware monitor so I know it's accurate. Anyhow, with PC just runnning at idle, the CPU will get up to 54-55 degrees; AT IDLE! From the little research I've done, Durons should run under 50C at a medium to medium-high load. And a Duron should NEVER get above 55C. I'm damn close to that at idle. My heatsink is copper-based w/ thin aluminun fins with a 60mm fan (one of the 'thicker' ones- about 3/4 inch) spinning at just under 4000rpm average, with an all time low of 3842rpm. I'm not having any stability trouble or any lock-ups or 'bi-polar' behavior... the PC runs GREAT. I'm just a bit worried that the life span of my CPU will be shortened by it running hot all the time. The heatsink/fan and case are totally dust and dirt free and the fan is new; I even have the side of the case removed. Any suggestions? Ideas? Comments?

Thanx- hopperdave2000

PS- if I burn up the CPU it's not a big deal, the cost is not an issue. I guess I'm just curious more than anything. Perhaps a different heatsink/fan will do it.
Oh... I'm not overclocking either. I'd like to but my MoBo has no FSB or multiplier settings that are user accessible.

 

I can't actually help you here, but something I feel needs mentioned, temperatures read though the computer aren't necessarily accurate. Calibration of something like that is simply not a priority of the MB manufactuere, a lot like the time of day clocks used to be on older version.

Having said that, the heat sink has to be seated correctly, and a little thermal grease (heat sink compound) wouldn't hurt. A lot of the modern heat sinks depend on a plastic to melt in around the CPU, which I'm a bit suspicious of. The thermal grease will guarentee a good thermal conduction path.

It took me several trys to get a fan/heat sink I was happy with on my athlon 2400. I'm a fan of copper fins because of it, but don't worry excessively over it one way or another.

 

Not sure about the Duron's, however your CPU multiplier seems excessive at 13.5 for 133Mhz FSB
On the athlon 64 3000+, mine is 'stock' at 9.0 (9.0 Multi x 200Mhz FSB= 1804.00Mhz CPU clock)

AMD's are known to run warm...but 55 is starting to heat up!
Maybe give the internal cabling within your case, a clean up, to increase the airflow (and the vents a good clean) or even opt for a larger CPU Cooling setup!

Regards.....