How hot is too hot? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

chainsawred · 07-09-2003, 09:51 PM

I am wondering how much heat is normal for a PC to give off. I recently fried the cheap 300 watt power supply that came with my case, and replaced it with an Antec 430 watt True Power. After installing the new power supply, the temperature of my CPU jumped about 7 degrees Celsius (according to the temperature sensing program that came with the motherboard).

I am running an Athlon XP 2400+, not overclocked or anything, with a Radeon 9200. I just put in a case fan, and it dropped the temperature about 5 degrees. The CPU now runs at about 50 degrees normally, and about 57 or so while gaming. I realize this is within the maximum limit of the processor, even allowing 15 degrees or so for sensor error.

What troubles me though is that my case, especially around the power supply, is warm to the touch. Not so warm that it will burn you, but warm enough that you might want to curl up next to it in the winter....

Is this a normal phenomenon, or should I worry?

longjohns · 07-09-2003, 10:26 PM

average of what i've read on oc'ing sites is about 50 C as a max full load temp.

fwiw, my comp is generally at about 46 C and i cannot feel any warmth at my power supply. it is probably about 300W piece of crap

i have three case fans, plus the cpu hsf and the power supply fan

spcae maggot · 07-09-2003, 11:07 PM

Yeah onboard temp's are alway's a bit off, giving lower values than the truth. Personally I just try to keep under 60(full load).
PSU can run fairly hot with out a problem, but if your worried about it heating up other devices in your box then you could put a higher rpm fan in it.

poof · 07-10-2003, 12:26 AM

Your processor seems to be OK. It seems as though your case needs some ventilation though.

It's interesting that your cpu is cool, pun intended, but your case is not. Maybe you need some objective temp readings from your case, a thermometer, or some software that tells you what is really going on. After all, if you put your hand on the radiator in your car it will feel very hot, but, your engine might think it is OK.

emopwr · 07-10-2003, 07:25 AM

AMD XP+s tend to run hotter than most. 57c full load isnt anything really to worry about as long as everything is running fine (ie no lockups/crashes).

Sleepyjack · 07-10-2003, 07:29 AM

amd's run hotter, but i think they're also certified at a higher capacity than pentiums. So its kinda the same... i think??

anyways 57 is ok for a full load. Although the default amd HS/fans aren't the best.

The_Dude · 07-10-2003, 08:02 AM

i'm running at 41 C for cpu temp (the high limit is 80) and the case temp is 31 C (high is 80).

btw, i have an athlon xp 2000+ w/ the standard heatsink/fan combo + 3 case fans.

merkdr · 07-10-2003, 09:22 AM

i gotta 1800+ running 46-51 , i actually thought this was running hot.added 2 case fans , not much diff

chainsawred · 07-10-2003, 09:35 AM

Maybe I should start a new thread for this, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice about improving the airflow through the case. I am using a mid tower case, with not much hardware (videocard, modem, cdrom, floppy, hard drive) and the thing is cram packed with cables and wires... I know that all these cables are obstructing the airflow, but what what can be done? If anyone has an especially tidy case I would love to see pictures of it

longjohns · 07-10-2003, 10:07 AM

switch to the rounded ide cables

emopwr · 07-10-2003, 11:40 AM

yeah switch to rounded cables, use ties to organize wires. i dont think its gonna drastically improve anything though. Maybe try running with the side cover off. there are a ton of case mod sites on the net with pictures you can browse through to get some ideas.
http://www.hitechmods.com/
http://www.twistedmods.com/

yakimushi · 07-10-2003, 03:17 PM

You really don't need to do anything drastic.

Do clean up the cables as best you can, that will improve airflow.

I am running an XP2100 (1.73Ghz) OC'd to 1.9GHz (~XP2400) and my temps stay around 51C. I don't have AC on most of the time, so ambient air temp is Probably 26C.

Inside my case I have one 80mm fan in the front, one 80mm on the CPU, and one 80mm blowing out the back. The PSU has one 80mm but I don't really count it as it really doesn't contribute to cooling the case. The two case fans are running on 7v to keep the noise down.

In the case I also have two 7200RPM hard drives, two optical drives, vid card, sound card, TV tuner (toasty!), and two ethernet. With all this my case temp is never more that 5C above ambient.

The trick is airflow. Maintaining slight positive pressure inside the case will ensure that fresh air is constantly moving into the case, while the hot air is being moved out. I suggest you get a rheobus so you can adjust the airflow of the fans properly. Plus, you can cut down on noise considerably.

Remember, the trick isn't to have huge amounts of air getting into your case. It works, but its expensive to do and noisey. A steady flow of air is much more beneficial.

Or you can watercool

I'm only using air right now while I upgrade my h20 setup.

ToiletDuck · 07-10-2003, 03:40 PM

dont forget your case is drawing air from the room its in, hopefully you have some kind of AC in the computer room.

wraithhibn · 07-10-2003, 04:28 PM

getting 57C is probably with the stock Heatsink Fan, thats your problem. It just doesnt cool well. Most people try to keep temps below 60C. Casefans do help too, but to lower your temps the best your gonna need a new HSF.

07-09-2003, 09:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
chainsawred Tilted Location: the hills of kentucky	How hot is too hot? I am wondering how much heat is normal for a PC to give off. I recently fried the cheap 300 watt power supply that came with my case, and replaced it with an Antec 430 watt True Power. After installing the new power supply, the temperature of my CPU jumped about 7 degrees Celsius (according to the temperature sensing program that came with the motherboard). I am running an Athlon XP 2400+, not overclocked or anything, with a Radeon 9200. I just put in a case fan, and it dropped the temperature about 5 degrees. The CPU now runs at about 50 degrees normally, and about 57 or so while gaming. I realize this is within the maximum limit of the processor, even allowing 15 degrees or so for sensor error. What troubles me though is that my case, especially around the power supply, is warm to the touch. Not so warm that it will burn you, but warm enough that you might want to curl up next to it in the winter.... Is this a normal phenomenon, or should I worry?

07-10-2003, 08:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	i'm running at 41 C for cpu temp (the high limit is 80) and the case temp is 31 C (high is 80). btw, i have an athlon xp 2000+ w/ the standard heatsink/fan combo + 3 case fans. __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

07-10-2003, 04:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
wraithhibn Dopefish Location: the 'Ville	getting 57C is probably with the stock Heatsink Fan, thats your problem. It just doesnt cool well. Most people try to keep temps below 60C. Casefans do help too, but to lower your temps the best your gonna need a new HSF. __________________ If you won't dress like the Victoria Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

07-09-2003, 10:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
longjohns Insane	average of what i've read on oc'ing sites is about 50 C as a max full load temp. fwiw, my comp is generally at about 46 C and i cannot feel any warmth at my power supply. it is probably about 300W piece of crap i have three case fans, plus the cpu hsf and the power supply fan

07-09-2003, 11:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
spcae maggot Upright	Yeah onboard temp's are alway's a bit off, giving lower values than the truth. Personally I just try to keep under 60(full load). PSU can run fairly hot with out a problem, but if your worried about it heating up other devices in your box then you could put a higher rpm fan in it.

07-10-2003, 12:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
poof Psycho	Your processor seems to be OK. It seems as though your case needs some ventilation though. It's interesting that your cpu is cool, pun intended, but your case is not. Maybe you need some objective temp readings from your case, a thermometer, or some software that tells you what is really going on. After all, if you put your hand on the radiator in your car it will feel very hot, but, your engine might think it is OK.

07-10-2003, 07:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
emopwr Crazy Location: florida	AMD XP+s tend to run hotter than most. 57c full load isnt anything really to worry about as long as everything is running fine (ie no lockups/crashes).

07-10-2003, 07:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Sleepyjack Fast'n'Bulbous Location: Australia, Perth	amd's run hotter, but i think they're also certified at a higher capacity than pentiums. So its kinda the same... i think?? anyways 57 is ok for a full load. Although the default amd HS/fans aren't the best.

07-10-2003, 09:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
merkdr Tilted Location: ottawa, canada	i gotta 1800+ running 46-51 , i actually thought this was running hot.added 2 case fans , not much diff

07-10-2003, 09:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
chainsawred Tilted Location: the hills of kentucky	Maybe I should start a new thread for this, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice about improving the airflow through the case. I am using a mid tower case, with not much hardware (videocard, modem, cdrom, floppy, hard drive) and the thing is cram packed with cables and wires... I know that all these cables are obstructing the airflow, but what what can be done? If anyone has an especially tidy case I would love to see pictures of it

07-10-2003, 10:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
longjohns Insane	switch to the rounded ide cables

07-10-2003, 11:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
emopwr Crazy Location: florida	yeah switch to rounded cables, use ties to organize wires. i dont think its gonna drastically improve anything though. Maybe try running with the side cover off. there are a ton of case mod sites on the net with pictures you can browse through to get some ideas. http://www.hitechmods.com/ http://www.twistedmods.com/

07-10-2003, 03:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
yakimushi Addict	You really don't need to do anything drastic. Do clean up the cables as best you can, that will improve airflow. I am running an XP2100 (1.73Ghz) OC'd to 1.9GHz (~XP2400) and my temps stay around 51C. I don't have AC on most of the time, so ambient air temp is Probably 26C. Inside my case I have one 80mm fan in the front, one 80mm on the CPU, and one 80mm blowing out the back. The PSU has one 80mm but I don't really count it as it really doesn't contribute to cooling the case. The two case fans are running on 7v to keep the noise down. In the case I also have two 7200RPM hard drives, two optical drives, vid card, sound card, TV tuner (toasty!), and two ethernet. With all this my case temp is never more that 5C above ambient. The trick is airflow. Maintaining slight positive pressure inside the case will ensure that fresh air is constantly moving into the case, while the hot air is being moved out. I suggest you get a rheobus so you can adjust the airflow of the fans properly. Plus, you can cut down on noise considerably. Remember, the trick isn't to have huge amounts of air getting into your case. It works, but its expensive to do and noisey. A steady flow of air is much more beneficial. Or you can watercool I'm only using air right now while I upgrade my h20 setup.

07-10-2003, 03:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
ToiletDuck Insane Location: In beautiful (YOUR AREA)	dont forget your case is drawing air from the room its in, hopefully you have some kind of AC in the computer room.