Just how hot is too hot?

[Synergy Blades]

I put my new computer together today :), the 1.33GHz Athlon and it's all fine but I was just wondering what temperature you would let your processor get to before worrying.
Using the software provided I've noticed my processor gets to around 56 degrees. I thought this was too hot as I never had my previous processor get quite so hot. The temperature rose when I first turned it on and entered the BIOS and rose from about 30 to around 50 degrees there, in m$ windows it seems to remain around the 54 mark. It would alert me if it rose to over 60 and I've played Half-Life for an hour so it doesn't seem to go any further than that...
So do you think this temperature is okay?

[Bluetack]

its warm but dont worry too much! my Duron used to run at 64C :lol (now 39C) and they can run up to 90C before they go bang according to AMD.

Did you build it yourself? if so try re-seating the heatsink, i did and noticed it was on the wrong way round and the thermal pad wasnt touching the core :lol sounds daft but if the HSF is uniform you dont know which way its ment to go on!

AMD's do run loads hotter than PIII & Celerys but you should be able to get it down to the 40s easy enough!

I only have an 850 Duron and i use a coolermaster HSF, 2X evercool case fans, one blowing in and one blowing out and a high capacity extractor fan plus the PSU fan blowing out as well!

[Betty Swollocks]

So it's a bit noisy then? :D

[Yump]

Don't knock it Betty, those are the only fans Bluetack is ever going to gather :lol :lol :lol

[Synergy Blades]

Yeah I built it myself, sounds silly but I think I'll try turning the HSF round :lol If it's the wrong way round could it be blowing air into the processor? This one is a Coolermaster btw and I have a system exhaust fan and PSU fan. It's still not as noisy as my last one!

[Synergy Blades]

Well it's at 53, I'm off to do some graphics rendering so that should see if it will get any hotter as it's highly processor-intensive. That or UD Agent :lol

[TNT]

UD agent will be a very good test. If you have Win2K have a look in Task Manager how much CPU usage UD agent can get up to. It is quite likely to be 90%+. And it can sustain it as long as you will let it run.

Anyway, 50-60 degrees is not bad for AMD chip without any extra fans in the case. Athlon will take that without problems.

[Synergy Blades]

Well I let UD run, it got up to about 62... my graphics app got it up to 66. I'm sure that's not right! :eek:
I do have an extra fan in there TNT...
What does the thermal pad look like on the bottom of the heatsink - stupid question but a friend of mine said what was on the bottom of the heatsink was a thermal pad, I'm starting to doubt that advice :p

[onomatopoeia]

My P3 running on 150FSB runs at 30C, maybe climbing to 32 under full load. :)

[Betty Swollocks]

So whats this about needing a fan for your CPU?

[onomatopoeia]

Take the fan off and it runs at 76 which the mobo doesn't like much, starts bleeping at me :lol

[Bluetack]

Synergy mate? you did peel the tape off the thermal pad before you placed it on the CPU core didnt you?

If you did the pad on coolermasters is pinkish in colour and dont worry you will defo be able to see where the core has been touching it.

Betty lovey, its quite quiet TBH! those evercools are super quiet!

I forgot about the HD cooler as well :lol so thats 6 fans :lol i want to dump the hd cooler though! all it does is blow dust onto the HD PCB! this will act as an insulter :lol and just make it hotter!

[Synergy Blades]

Cheers John but there was no tape on it to start with, just a plastic covering and yeah its pink in colour :)

[pudds]

My PIII 500 at 580 runs at 68C under full load.
Thats with a cooler master fan,artic silver and 2 case fans plonked on the floor of my case (haven't got round to fitting 'em).
Hepls reduce heating bills in the winter :)

[Bluetack]

can i come round for a warm Pudds :lol

Synergy mate i ment a plastic cover tapey stuff :lol