Best temperature ranges?

M R · 12 Dec 2010

Hello,

I have a question regarding temperature:

What are the appropriate temperature ranges for the following machine:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad
RAM: 4GB
Motherboard: Intel DG31PR
HD: 500GB

According to Speccy, the motherboard is at 72ºC. That is worrying me a bit.

Also, I notice that it has only 1 extra fan (aside from the one inside the power source and the processor's cooler). Besides, all the fans are placed so that they take air out, none of them is taking air in. Is it OK? Could that be the reason why it's so hot in there?

Thanks in advance.

zigzag3143 · 12 Dec 2010

M R said:

Hello,

I have a question regarding temperature:

What are the appropriate temperature ranges for the following machine:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad
RAM: 4GB
Motherboard: Intel DG31PR
HD: 500GB

According to Speccy, the motherboard is at 72ºC. That is worrying me a bit.

Also, I notice that it has only 1 extra fan (aside from the one inside the power source and the processor's cooler). Besides, all the fans are placed so that they take air out, none of them is taking air in. Is it OK? Could that be the reason why it's so hot in there?

Thanks in advance.

Motherboard or CPU is at 72? In the final analysis go to the mfr and find out what the design temp range is.

Also need to know what load the CPU was under at the time and what the ambient temp was.

Ken J

Kipper · 12 Dec 2010

Yep, need a lot more info to answer

stock OEM cooler??

Case model, number and size of fans, intake and exhaust??

72 at Idle or running heavy processes such as Video Editing etc....?

You could start by filling in your system specs the rest of the way.

M R · 12 Dec 2010

Umm I'm a little lost here. Here goes:

I'm using a program called speccy to monitor hardaware temperature.

It goes like this:

CPU 39ºC (I'm only running firefox and downloading files from the internet. It ranges from 2% to 8%. ALso it stay at 72 most of the time, even if I'm running many programs)

HD 41ºC

Motherboard 72ºC

Please explain a little these terms as I'm not very familiar with that kind of hardware:

What is intake? The fans sucking in air (so to speak)?
Exhaust? The fans blowing air out?

What is stock OEM cooler?

I have only one fan which is connected directly to the power source, unlike the CPU fan, which is connected to the motherboard. The computer is custom made so the case is from a local company tat manufactures them. I can describe it: the most interesting thing I find is that the power source is located at the botton, when most models have it at the top. Also there is space only for one fan at the back, and perhaps another one at the bottom, next to the power source.

The temperature here is 23ºC.

Also, if I open the case and place it on the floor, the temp goes down to 60ºC.

Golden · 12 Dec 2010

PSU (power supply unit) on the bottom of the case are quite common. How many fans are at the front of the case? Are they drawing air into the case, or blowing air out of the case?

ickymay · 12 Dec 2010

60deg C is still very hot for a motherboard chipset temp

please can you download and run the 32 bit version of blackbox just to verify the reading from speccy is correct ?

If your temperature is true as everyone has already advised your fans blowing into and out of the box are likely not doing the job and its also likely the heatsink on the motherboard chip has slipped and or needs re-seating ?

looking at your motherboard the northbridge chipset is the one just to the left of the CPU with a huge aluminum heatsink with fins and this may need re-seating ?

smarteyeball · 12 Dec 2010

M R said:

Umm I'm a little lost here. Here goes:

I'm using a program called speccy to monitor hardaware temperature.

It goes like this:

CPU 39ºC

A tad warm, but still within the safe zone.

ALso it stay at 72 most of the time, even if I'm running many programs)

If that's the CPU - then that is far from good. Far too hot. It sounds like the HSF is not properly seated.

HD 41ºC

That's fine. Some hard drives simply run hotter than others. In my experience, Western Digitals tend to run warmer than others.

Motherboard 72ºC

For an ambient 'in case temp' - that is very hot indeed.

What is intake? The fans sucking in air (so to speak)?

Correct. Most common placements are in the front (in front of the HDD cage) or side intakes (side of the case in line with CPU area)

Exhaust? The fans blowing air out?

Correct again.

The general rule of thumb is, cool air in (intake) - hot air out (exhaust)

What is stock OEM cooler?

The stock OEM cooler is the particular CPU manufacturers cooler. Also commonly refereed to as a heat sink fan.

I have only one fan which is connected directly to the power source,

The PSU fan? ie, it's part of the PSU? That's normal.

the most interesting thing I find is that the power source is located at the botton, when most models have it at the top.

Bottom mounted PSU's are also normal.

Also there is space only for one fan at the back, and perhaps another one at the bottom, next to the power source.

On the bottom of the case, near the middle? Best used as an intake fan.

The temperature here is 23ºC.

Also, if I open the case and place it on the floor, the temp goes down to 60ºC.

Without knowing the proper case etc - it's hard to say. But at any rate, that PC of yours is running far hotter than it should be.

Especially with those ambient temps.

Another thing to consider is that the BIOS is reporting inaccurate temps to Speccy.

M R · 12 Dec 2010

I'm going to take some pictures of the open case so you can take a better look. Batteries are dead so it'll take a while.

With my scarce knowledge in this matter I presume that fan placement might be wrong as there is no intake at all. All the fans I have are taking air out.

I'm going to try changing their position to have some intake. Now, what is the rule for that? I have the following fans:

The PSU fan (exhaust)
The stock OEM cooler (for Intel core 2 Quad processors) (exhaust)
One fan placed in the front of the case (what I call the back, it's where you connect other cables) (exhaust)

That is all. There is only one remaining place where I could place a fan, it would be a the bottom, near the center as you said.

Another question: what about dust? Is it not a problem to have intake fans taking dust inside the machine? I onserve that all coputers sold in this region have no intake, could thi be the reason or is it just mistake on themanufacturers' part?

Golden · 12 Dec 2010

Most intake fans have a little grill lined with foam in-front of them to trap most of the larger dust particles - unfortunately some always gets through which is why its a good idea to clean-out the PC once in a while.

I think we definately need some pictures of this case - I find it suprising that there isn't a fan drawing air into the case.

Don't muck around with the fans yet : lets first see the pictures of your case.

M R · 12 Dec 2010

Ok Here are the pictures.

The camera is right here next to me, so tell me if you need something specific.

I also attached the infor provided by another program. It's more detailed but I don't understand it very well (Aux?)