Normal CPU temperature

[gallicbear]

Hi there. Just installed a new system with an i3-3220 processor and 8 GB of RAM. So far, between idling and installing programs, the core temp has fluctuated between 30 C and 55 C. Are those normal ranges? According to the monitoring program, the tJ max temp is supposed to be 105 C. I have been searching for articles on CPU operating temperatures with nothing conclusive. The specs at Intel do not directly address the temp subject. You can download some long, complex datasheets. But after glancing at their 100+ pages or so, it's way too technical. Why don't they give a simple chart of some sort? Maybe I am too worried... But thank you in advance for your input.

[UberGerbil]

Yes, those are entirely normal ranges. Given a typical ambient home/office temperature of 20-25°C, you wouldn't expect to see anything lower than that. And the 50°C range is a very reasonable and safe range for a processor. You'll find overclockers around here with CPUs that regularly tolerate much higher temps than that, and we've had people on here with badly/incorrectly attached heatsinks or failing fans who have reported temps approaching triple digits without having their CPUs fail. Of course they got the situation fixed, because that's far from ideal, but it didn't kill their CPUs (and modern CPUs will shut themselves down before they get to that point anyway).

So, it's good that you checked, and you should look at the numbers again periodically just to make sure nothing is going wrong, but you've got nothing to worry about.

[DPete27]

Assuming you're using the stock Intel cooler? 50C is perfectly fine under load. Keep in mind that Intel coolers are geared more toward lower noise than lower temps. (for example)

[Ryhadar]

Is this with the stock heatsink and fan? Those temperatures are fine if so.

[gallicbear]

Thank you all for your help. And yes, I am using the regular cooler that came with the i3 3220. But I will continue to monitor, as suggested, for several days. For now the system has been up for less than 24 hours.

[JohnC]

You worry too much. Any CPU temperature is "normal" as long as your PC is perfectly stable

[gallicbear]

Thanks, JohnC, for your input. Makes sense.

[Ari Atari]

JohnC has the right idea, but I can't totally agree with him. Lower is always better, but chips are designed to operate at a large range of temperatures. Right now you're perfect. Begin to worry when you're closer to 75C or when the processor idles near 55C. I've seen laptops with extremely bad cooling, and when they reach about 82C they throttle their clock speed back so they can cool down. You will notice things not running well if you get to that point.

[gallicbear]

Appreciate your contribution, Ari Atari.

[FormCode]

I have a similar setup, with 8 gb ram and a 3220 in an H61 mobo,stock cooler and the temps range from 32-35 at idle all the way to 55'ish when playing games, so I'd say your registered temperatures are fine, ridiculously normal I might add.

[gallicbear]

Thanks, FormCode.

[PGleo86]

If you're realllly worried about it, you can get an aftermarket cooler for pretty cheap. I got my Xigmatek Gaia for $5 after rebate, slapped a couple $8 120mm fans on it, and my overclocked AMD A8 (not exactly a cool-running processor even at stock speeds) under load runs about 25-27C, idles at 22C. With the stock cooler at stock speeds it idled at about 35C and got up to around 50C under load, as far as I remember. Might be a decent option for you if you want to go that route, but as everyone else said, you're perfectly fine as-is.

[gallicbear]

TYhank you for the suggestion,m PGleo86. But I'm not into overclocking or gaming. Right now things are just running great.