My CPU is at 52C

[jmc41]

I just put in a new dual core CPU, the old 3200 idled around 32C, this one just hit 52C (with the zalman cooler on max), is this normal while it beds in or did I screw up with too much or not enough thermal stuff?

Quite concerned I'm going to kill it :s

[Feek]

Doesn't seem excessive to me.

[Mark]

Firstly, which type of dual core CPU? It matters as the thermal characteristics are different.

Secondly, is the new temperature at idle or under load?

[jmc41]

AMD one, one of the 939 X2s 4200+. Running at clock speed of 2.21ghz.

Pretty idle, email, ff, ie7 (work email), messenger is about it. Got it down to hovering around 40 with all my fans at max, case side off, and my room ambient temperature now resembles a fridge :s

[Dymetrie]

My 4200 X2 runs at about 40-50 idle, tops out at around 60 under load....

Slow silent fan on it as well.

Considering my old 3000+ was running at 60 idle then I'm more than happy :)

[Mark]

Does sound high for idle temps. If you have spare thermal material available it's probably worth cleaning and re-applying. I don't have an X2 for comparison unfortunately and I know they run hotter than Core2 chips (my overclocked Core2 runs at 45-50 with full load on both cores).

[Will]

I've got an X2 4400+ overcooked at around 2.45ghz (2.2 stock), and at idle it sits around 35~40C - I've got one of these Zalman "flowers" and decent high volume low speed fans in my case. On high loads it gets to high 50s which is perfectly safe. 50C at idle is a bit dodgy... have you checked that the voltages are right?

[jmc41]

Yeah this is the 7700 AlCu or something, 92mm beast. The 120mm Cu only one weighting in at about 1kg went back due to not actually fitting.

Voltage is showing a 1.31 through the temp tool thing. Have got it down to between 37-38C now, though my feet are starting to freeze off.

Scan says it should work at 1.3V so I guess thats okay.

I've had to borrow some arctic cooling silicone paste, maybe I should get some artic silver stuff next time I order something - I refuse to pay £6 postage for a < £6 item that weights about 2g including packaging and give it another go.

How long do these things normally take to "bed in"? Might fire up UT04 and see what that does to it. Maybe it needs some heat to 'bed in'?

[Mark]

A few days to a week for the most noticeable results, longer may achieve a little more. Running it hotter (50C or so) may help as 'bedding in' is a thermal process. I doubt it'll drop temps by more than a few C though.

[jmc41]

Okay cheers mark.

I'll leave it a few days at least and see how it goes. Doesn't sound like it's in imminent danger of death which is a good thing. Only thing that worries me more than a chip change is a northbridge one.

[jmc41]

Right o....

I was having fun trying to play the UT demo which lasted 10 minutes until my CPU hit 60C.

I then ordered some OCZ silver type stuff (think it's fake silver but comes out the same on a test I found).

So, stuck that on and seems much better, low 40s idle and mid-50s under load (silent fan/warm room) and it's only been in there an hour so should hopefully drop to idle < 40C again once it gets sorted.

Thanks again for all the feedback!

[Mark]

Glad you got it sorted. :)

[Admiral Huddy]

Remember more isn't always better :)

[testpattern]

i've just put in one of the same chips in mine, i noticed you mentioned the voltage at 1.31 is that right, i mean do these run at lower voltage than the 939 single cores? (mines at 1.40v, but if i can turn it down stably too chill i will)

[Will]

My 939 is around 1.31 stock as well with no issues. Though it's upped a little for a mild bit of overclocking.

[jmc41]

Voltage is still at 1.31V, not overclocked at all. Can't remember what the single one ran at!
Scan lists it as a 1.3V chip so I imagine it's right.

testpattern: What temps are you getting? :)

Huddy: Used a tiny amount of stuff this time, (small grain of) rice sized rather than pea sized!

[killerkebab]

60C is fine, I used to run an XP2600 on 70+. Only problems arose when programs would start crashing at ~80C.

Rock solid CPU though, still runs to this day, a few years on. I changed it's motherboard 2 or 3 years back and gave it a new cooler so it runs on 50 when idle, which is still more than acceptable :)

That said, I don't know how fragile todays chips are...