Custom Computer at 70C While Gaming (Is it a bad thing?)

Semicolon · 31 May 2013

A couple months ago I build my first computer and so far everything has been great. But since the weather has gotten warmer (I live in Buffalo) Core Temp has been reporting around 70C when I am playing games (most are Steam games). Otherwise it idles around 25-30C. Is this normal?, good?, terrible? Below are my system specs.

OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1

CPU
AMD FX-4170

Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. SABERTOOTH 990FX (AM3r2)

Memory
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 722MHz (9-9-9-24)

Graphics Card
2048MB AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (Sapphire/PCPartner)

Hard Drives
932GB Western Digital WDC WD10 02FAEX-00Z3A0 SATA Disk Device (SATA)
233GB Maxtor 7 Y250M0 SATA Disk Device (SATA)
233GB Western Digital WDC WD25 00BEVS-08VAT2 SATA Disk Device (SATA)

PSU
CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 600W ATX12V v2.3

Case
Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower

Cooling
Stock

Golden · 31 May 2013

70 seem far too high to me considering the max temp should be around 61:
AMD Processors for Desktops: AMD Phenom

Operating a component above its maximum rated temperature could damage it.

I would re-check the CPU cooler and thermal paste application, and then stress test the CPU under load to make sure its all good:

CPU - Stress Test Using IntelBurnTest

Regards,
Golden

Layback Bear · 31 May 2013

I personally never use a stock cooler. I agree 70c on a cpu is to high for me and it's right on the edge for a gpu under load.

AddRAM · 31 May 2013

Way to high

Semicolon · 01 Jun 2013

I am using the pre applied thermal compound that came on the heatsink. Would buying a third party cooler be a viable option now? Or should I look into other possible issues first?

Golden · 01 Jun 2013

Buy some thermal compound (E.g. Arctic Silver) then redo the stock cooler and test before buying an aftermarket cooler, just in case the pre-applied compound wasn't good.

Semicolon · 03 Jun 2013

So before I go out buy thermal compound and try to apply it to my heatsink, I was wondering if the internals of my build are setup it a good manner. I put links to some pictures of my tower.
IMG_7857.JPG
IMG_7858.JPG
IMG_7859.JPG
IMG_7860.JPG

Dude · 03 Jun 2013

Golden said:

Buy some thermal compound (E.g. Arctic Silver) then redo the stock cooler and test before buying an aftermarket cooler, just in case the pre-applied compound wasn't good.

Semicolon said:

So before I go out buy thermal compound and try to apply it to my heatsink, I was wondering if the internals of my build are setup it a good manner. I put links to some pictures of my tower.
IMG_7857.JPG
IMG_7858.JPG
IMG_7859.JPG
IMG_7860.JPG

I would go with Golden's advice and reapply the compound. Your build looks good to me as you have done well with cable management as far as I see.

Semicolon · 03 Jun 2013

Since it was my first build I was a little worried that I had not gotten everything in there properly. Since I have a gift card to l Best Buy I might also get a new cooler at the same time. I will keep posted on what happens. Thank you all for the help so far.

COMPUTIAC · 03 Jun 2013

Might be just me but, looking at the pic's the CPU cooler appears to have a dust build-up in it.
If you look in the first two pic's close, there is dust on the cooler fins behind the blades and on the edges of the fan blades. This could be part of the problem.
There is also a lack of fans ? I only see one in the rear ?

Of-course I agree with Golden on the thermal paste also.