Permissible CPU temperatures

dan_hxff · Post by **dan_hxff** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 7:22 am

Permissible CPU temperatures

It seems accepting higher CPU temperatures is part of silent pc. In a way it's worth the peace and quiet to replace a CPU in 2 years (when it's 1/3 the price anyway) instead of 5 or never. Anyone have the safe operating temperatures for Intel and AMD CPUS?
Athlon XP, Pent 3 and 4 specifically.

Thanks
Dan

dan_hxff · Post by **dan_hxff** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 7:24 am

http://www.podien.onlinehome.de/CPUCOOL.HTM

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 5:16 am

PIII and PIV are safe up to near 70°C. This is where they start to thermally throttle.

I'm half talking out my ass about AMD CPUs 'cause I haven't used on since 1.4Tbird days but I seem to remember hearing that AMD says up to 90°C is OK. Anyone care to help me out here?

powergyoza · Post by **powergyoza** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:05 am

Ralf Hutter wrote:PIII and PIV are safe up to near 70°C. This is where they start to thermally throttle.

I'm half talking out my ass about AMD CPUs 'cause I haven't used on since 1.4Tbird days but I seem to remember hearing that AMD says up to 90°C is OK. Anyone care to help me out here?

Most of the newer or faster AthlonsXP are at 85C now. The more expensive MP's are different - they're usually rated to 90C for the faster ones (95 for the older ones).

You can get it all here: Processor Electrical Specifications

Post by **MikeC** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 12:34 pm

High CPU temps don't seem to be a problem, I can run stably many of my systems with CPU temps that would have most oc junkies pissing their pants in anxiety (I know, cus I was one till I came out from the dark side and found the light)

But I think there is an issue with the effect the extra heat has on other components in/around the CPU, on-mobo components, the PSU components, fan bearings, anything else that might actually wear out faster because of the heat. Like maybe the nylong/plastic Zalman clips for their 6500 P4 coolers. Mechanical components in CD/DVD drives, etc.

My rule of thumb is to try and keep long term peaks with 100% CPU usage under 60C for P4s and 65C for XPs. In one P4 setup, I had to keep it lower than ~57-8C; beyond that it would get unstable, but that was an anomaly. Took it apart & rebuilt it and it's actually fine up to ~70C now.

tragus · Post by **tragus** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 3:29 pm

I've worried about this, as well. At work, I tend to buy/build performance-oriented machines (since we really need the cycles when doing recording, simulations, etc.). But, we're an acoustics lab and we like things quiet. At this point, I think the HVAC is consistantly the loudest thing we can't control

(except for someone turing up an audio monitor way too loud, of course).

Anyway, I've built the systems for quiet. The latest is a P4 3.06 with stock thermally-regulated cooler. It's a bit loud and I'll probably replace it with a Thermalright 900 or so, but it's currently pegged at 59C, MOBO at 35C, while running F@H. So far, it's rock stable. I worry about heat for the longer term, but it seems well within Intel's limits. I've got the guts in a ThermalTake Xaser III (which I wouldn't recommend, BTW), with the critical outtake fans near full speed (though stil quiet).

Bottom line, I've never gotten a definitive answer of good typical temps, just the limits of "beware".

DeadBySundown · Post by **DeadBySundown** » Mon May 05, 2003 6:43 pm

The Motherboard Monitor site has a nice summary page on CPU temperatures:

http://mbm.livewiredev.com/cputemp.html

Permissible CPU temperatures

Permissible CPU temperatures

CPU temp indicator, monitor