ATHLON 2600+ CPU TEMPERATURE AND CASE TEMPERATURE

[mhg53]

Syntax SV400 MB with Via KT333 Chipset. Athlon 2600+ (333mhz variety). Vantec TMF (TMP) Heat sink and fan. ATI Rage Pro Video card with onboard fan. Vantec Stealth 80MM Out flow fan mounted below power supply. 1- CD, 1-CDR/W, 1- WD 80GB 7200 HD. Case - Mid tower, low front vents, low side vents on one side. 350W Power supply.

According the MBM (Motherboard Monitor) latest version - CPU runs 37-39C and case runs 70C. BIOS shows CPU at 37-39C.

Looked at all the threads on temperatures, but have not found the difinitive answer - what should the CPU Temperature run? what should the case temperature run?

Of course - How accurate are the sensors? After reading the other threads on this, it seems that the information on my sensors are reversed?

Suggestions? Am I OK or should I do something else - I LIKE QUIET MACHINES.

 

[franklin97355]

Somethong is wrong if your case is running at 70C.

 

[mhg53]

Could the sensor that indicates 70C actually be the MB temperature and not the case temperature? or the 70C be the CPU temperature and not the Case temperature? Does 37-39C seem like a reasonable MB or Case temperature? I am guessing the the 37-39C is the CPU as that is what the BIOS indicates. ????

 

[paparazi]

I have the same CPU but with a Gigabyte Nforce2 motherboard, my temps right now are system 40C and CPU 51C.
The readings are obviously wrong, you system temp should be lower than the CPU temp and as for them being the wrong way around I dought that too.
70C is pretty warm for an Athlon Thoroughbred, they don't run at all stabley at 70C that why I don't think thats your CPU reading.
Just in case though, you have used thermal compound on the CPU to heatsink base? havn't you? and the heatsink is the correct way around (recess in base positioned over the socket "A" writing of the CPU socket.
And your CPU fan is spinning correctly?
Well anyway it would be crashing all the time at that temp.
CPU temps under 60C are just fine.
The usual culprit is an early bios release, these anomolies are usually cure by flashing to the latest bios version.
Martin

Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[mhg53]

The Chipset is the VIAKT400 and the KT8235(?). The 37-39C comes from the BIOS and is echoed in the MBM software. the 70C comes from a Sensor #1, and I have no idea where it is located. This temp only shows up in MBM. The heatsink/fan is mounted correctly and thermal paste (white) was used. CPU fan is turning at about 5800RPM and the case fan at about 2380 RPM. These speeds show up in both the BIOS and the MBM software. Have not flashed the BIOS, will be checking for a newer version. Is there better software for monitoring temperatures?

 

[xomcat]

Try speedfan from

http://www.almico.com

.If you get the same readings,take the side of your case off & try any kind of fan (blowing in)that will give that puppy proper air.

 

[craigey]

[this is an answer I gave to someone asking a similar question on another forum]

The AMD chips maximum safe operating temperature is between 85-90 degrees Celsius. Obviuosly running a chip this hot will severely shorten it's life and can cause lock-ups in windows / linux. There's also a higher risk of the chip going Ka-put.

Ideally you want to be seeing temperatures of around 40 - 50 degrees celsius. (60 should be the absolute maximum you should allow). If the computer was homebuilt then the heatsink may not be efficent enough for the processor. (the same could also be true for PC's bought from shops). So you could try changing the heatsink/fan for one designed to cool a faster AMD chip then the one that your running. But before doing that you may just want to disconnect the heatsink and then reconnect it. Just to make sure that it hasn't come loose. It happens very easily, especially if the Pc has been moved recently.


You also want to check for adequate airflow through the computer case. Their should be at least one intake fake (at the front of the case - suck cold air in), one exhaust fan (blowing air out the back). And also the one on the heatsink itself.

If the temperature is still too high then you can try using a product called artic silver. It's a thermal conductive paste. You just apply a very small amount to the die (the raised black bit in the middle of the AMD chip). You only need enough to cover the suface of the die, so that you can spread the paste wafer thin. You must be very careful not to use an excessive amount. The idea of the paste is that it gets sandwhiched between the heatsink and the CPU die, and the paste then fills in all the microscopic indentations of the heatsink / die. Because air is an insulator it doesn't conduct the heat to the heatsink very well, but because the artic silver has filled in all the gaps where the air would hide, you get a better heat transfer.

 

[paparazi]

craigey
Good basic information but I do think the first part is a little misleading.
Depending on core type, Burn out temps (absolute maximums) for Athlon/Duron range from 85-95C
They can't/won't run at these temps for any time without freezing or crashing.
I just think you shouldn't have used the word "safe" and then maximums, I'm sure you hadn't intended to.
If I was going to say safe maximum for an Athlon/Duron it would be below 65C
With good stable and generally attainable maximums in the mid 50's C
Martin


Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[tempo21]

you get lock up about 60C, so 80C is unrealistic.

your case temp may well refer to your northbridge chip - and this can run very hot. Verify your figures using a program like sisoft sandra.

If your CPU is a Barton Core it will run cooler than its thoroughbred predecessor.

T3/\/\p()
tek-tips UK branch!
_________________

http://www.tempocentral.com

 

[craigey]

Sorry the basic info wasn't very specific, but I was in a hurry and was hoping my answer come close to giving you a bit of help. paparazi You were right though about the maximum safe part of my post. It should really be "maximum".

By the way guys, (this is quoted from AMD theselves)

Although "normal" operating temperatures are not specified for AMD processors, there are maximum operating temperature ratings that must not be exceeded. The maximum operating temperature of a processor may be determined by the processor's Ordering Part Number (OPN). Refer to the processor's data sheet for additional information (data sheets may be downloaded from the Technical Documents page). Typically, the maximum operating temperatures for Socket A AMD Athlon™ and AMD Duron™ desktop processors are 90 degrees Celsius for processors operating up to 1GHz, and 95 degrees Celsius for processors operating above 1GHz.

Note: The maximum operating temperature specification is based on a measurement taken directly from the top center of the processor die. The temperature reported by a system's BIOS may not reflect the true temperature of the processor if the measurement is taken from an alternative location. Additionally, the reported temperature will be affected by the accuracy of the thermal probe, hardware monitor, and analog to digital signal conversion. As a result, some variance should be allowed when comparing the maximum operating temperature to the temperature reported by the system's BIOS.

More can be found here

http://139.95.253.213/SRVS/CGI-BIN/...0000000109314161,K=5058,Sxi=16,Case=obj(4511)

Anyway I hope that clears it up a bit. (sorry guys that sounds really bitchy, it's not meant to though)!

mhg53 it does sound like there is a problem with the sensor reporting 70c for case temp, mu guess would be that the Bios may need an update as paparazi already said. Although I would also reccomend removing the heatsink / fan (with the PC off), then clean any thermal compound off of the heatsink (use lint free cloth & ??isopropyl??), re-apply a small (2-3mm bead on the cpu die - the raised bit). You ccn use almost any thermal compound, but arctic silver is a popular choice. Then just re-attach the heatsink / fan when completely dry / clean, making sure it's sittting properly. Hopefully you should see some drop in temps.

 

[mhg53]

I took the advice of removing the CPU fan and cleaning the heat sink paste, and reinstalling. Used a smaller amount of heat sink paste - Now the CPU temp is reported at 34-39C in both the Bios and Sandra. The MB Temp and the Aux Temp are now reported at 127C. This is the reading I get with the cover off, and the machine just booting. No "hot" spots on the MB. I can touch every chip and nothing is "burning" hot, just warm. Added an inbound fan and that did not change the temperature on the MB. Sandra reports that Monitor #1 is a an ITE chipset, and also states: "Motherboard Specific Support = No." Funny that since reinstalling the CPU heatsink and fan that I now have gone from a 70C MB Temp reading to a 127C Temp reading. I have sent an Email to Syntax Technical support asking for information regarding heat sensors. Since the Award v6.00PG (4/2003)Bios only shows the one sensor (CPU) I think that the answer that I will get from them is only a CPU sensor.

About ready to forget about the MB Temp and just worry about the CPU temp.

 

[adkmom]

Put a fan on your side panel- blowing in. Hits the memory & CPU.

Worked great for my rig!

Mom

PS- It could be a screw up on what reading is what. I used Sandra & AIDA32 & a couple of readings looked "swapped".

 

[Grunt2002]

Hi,

Let's keep it realistic : a sensor that detects so high temperatures is crap, or the software that provides you this info is buggy. What is sensitive is your cpu. If you're at 39° at max, then everything is fine. Your mb should not be warmer than 30° (I observed it usually was about 10° cooler than the cpu). With all the vents and fans you have, you could not run warmer anyway

I have seen this kind of bug on an asus motherboard. The cause was the bios that I had to flash (but this is definitely not your case).

Cheers,

Grunt

 

[norty303]

This is all down to MBM I believe. I had a sensor on a PC-Chips 810 that fluctuated wildly from 45c up to 75c. It turned out it was a 'spoof' sensor that didn't actually exist on the board and had me doing all of the same things you're talking about. I would say it's not actually measuring anything. Have you configured mbm for all of the sensors that it lists? I'd start with that and discount the weird one

 

[Jontmke]

I agree with norty303. Make sure MBM (which I use also) is using the correct sensor. Look in your manual or on the board.

Jon

There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. (Bertrand Russell)

 

[mhg53]

I requested information from Syntax on the location of the heat sensors on the MB and the response from them was "Generally, there are several temperature sensor on the motherboard at various locations but the sensor of main concern is the below the CPU and should be optimally maintained at the lowest temperature possible."
With that information I will probably just monitor the CPU temperature, and possibly install a heat sensor inside the case and monitor the case temperature. Might uninstall and reinstall either Sandra or MBM and see what changes, if any I get.