Personal computing discussed

Moderators: renee, Flying Fox, morphine

 
gallicbear
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:07 am

Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:06 pm

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
Grand Admiral Gerbil
Posts: 10368
Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2003 3:11 pm

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:17 pm

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
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Posts: 3776
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:50 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:18 pm

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)
Last edited by DPete27 on Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Main: i5-3570K, ASRock Z77 Pro4-M, MSI RX480 8G, 500GB Crucial BX100, 2 TB Samsung EcoGreen F4, 16GB 1600MHz G.Skill @1.25V, EVGA 550-G2, Silverstone PS07B
HTPC: A8-5600K, MSI FM2-A75IA-E53, 4TB Seagate SSHD, 8GB 1866MHz G.Skill, Crosley D-25 Case Mod
 
Ryhadar
Gerbil XP
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:51 pm

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:19 pm

Is this with the stock heatsink and fan? Those temperatures are fine if so.
 
gallicbear
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:07 am

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:29 pm

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
Gerbil Jedi
Posts: 1924
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:08 pm
Location: NY/NJ/FL

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:13 pm

You worry too much. Any CPU temperature is "normal" as long as your PC is perfectly stable :wink:
Gifter of Nvidia Titans and countless Twitch donation extraordinaire, nothing makes me more happy in life than randomly helping random people
 
gallicbear
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:07 am

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:22 pm

Thanks, JohnC, for your input. Makes sense.
 
Ari Atari
Gerbil First Class
Posts: 145
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:00 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:32 pm

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
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:07 am

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:58 pm

Appreciate your contribution, Ari Atari.
 
FormCode
Gerbil
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:35 am

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:11 am

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. :)
Core i3 3220, Gigabyte H61MA-D3V, 2x4 GB Kingston 1333Mhz, Sapphire HD6790, WD 6400AAKS, Sony 5240S DVD-WR, Mushkin EP-400AP, Antec Mini P180, Microlab Solo 6c, Razer Salmosa, Microsoft Comfort Curve 3000.
 
gallicbear
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:07 am

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:26 am

Thanks, FormCode.
 
PGleo86
Gerbil
Posts: 47
Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 7:03 pm

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:09 am

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.
ASUS Z97-A, i7 4790K @ 4.8 + Corsair H100i GTX, Fractal Design Define R5 (window, Titanium), 20GB DDR3/1600, ZOTAC GTX 980 AMP!, 620W PSU, 5TB HDD, 512GB Samsung 840 Pro
 
gallicbear
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:07 am

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:43 am

TYhank you for the suggestion,m PGleo86. But I'm not into overclocking or gaming. Right now things are just running great.
 
maxiboy211
Gerbil In Training
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 2:26 pm

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Wed Nov 19, 2014 2:38 pm

I have a Intel Core i3 3220 CPU too but my goes up to 65 C when at full load and up to 45 C when idle... Is that safe or is it too high?
Here's a picture of my components and their temps. when idle (since i'm not allowed to post URLs) :
Image
 
Chrispy_
Maximum Gerbil
Posts: 4670
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 3:49 pm
Location: Europe, most frequently London.

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Wed Nov 19, 2014 4:22 pm

Also fine.

65C under load is perfectly normal for a stock cooler in a case that isn't completely loaded with huge fans. Here's my i7 in a foam-lined soundproof case with only three slow-spinning 120mm fans:

Image
Congratulations, you've noticed that this year's signature is based on outdated internet memes; CLICK HERE NOW to experience this unforgettable phenomenon. This sentence is just filler and as irrelevant as my signature.
 
Forge
Lord High Gerbil
Posts: 8253
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2001 7:00 pm
Location: Gone

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Wed Nov 19, 2014 5:48 pm

I've broke lots of stuff, so I'd love to volunteer to be a living citation.

Anything below 80C is fine for usage. Things are different if you're overclocking, that changes the scenario a bit, but for stock clocks and heavy use, anything up to and including 80C is dandy. 80C-90C is cause for concern, mainly because a bad environmental shift can put you into Red Zone, but it's fine otherwise. CPUs have come a long way in the last 10-20 years and are now very robust and capable of keeping themselves out of thermal trouble. Anything 90C on up is cause for major concern, IMO, but you're not even breaking 60, so party on, Wayne.
Please don't edit my signature for me. Thanks.
 
sschaem
Gerbil Team Leader
Posts: 282
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:05 am

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:18 pm

In general you want to have the smallest gap possible between idle and load temperature.
For example if cooling system try to chill the chip at idle, and you have high temp under load, this is bad.
Large gap in idle/load is what can kill your chip prematurely.

As a side reference TSMC silicon is rated at 105 Celsius. By that I mean the die can run 27/7 at 105 for its rated lifetime.

Intel usually rate tjunction at ~100c
The 3770k is rated at 105c
http://ark.intel.com/products/65719/Int ... o-3_90-GHz

Note: This is not directly related to tcase numbers you see on desktop intel processor.
http://www.intel.com/support/processors ... 034526.htm

What is Tcase vs. Tjunction?
These terms are related to processor temperature for desktop and mobile systems based on Intel® Processors.
To allow optimal system operation and long-term reliability, the processor must not exceed the maximum case temperature specifications as defined by the applicable thermal profile.
Tcase is the temperature measurement using a thermocouple embedded in the center of the heat spreader.
This initial measurement is done at the factory. Post-manufacturing, Tcase is calibrated by the BIOS, through a reading delivered by a diode between and below the cores.
Tjunction is synonymous with core temperatures, and calculated based on the output from the Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) using the formula Tjunction = (Tjunction Max – DTS output).

So to maximize your CPU longivity:

a) Keep you Intel CPU tjunction at 100c or lower (check you CPU datasheet), alternatively Tcase at 65c
b) Reduce gape between idle and load temperature. (Preferably you idle temp would equal your load temp)
 
DPete27
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Posts: 3776
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:50 pm
Location: Wisconsin, USA

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Thu Nov 20, 2014 9:44 am

sschaem wrote:
you want to have the smallest gap possible between idle and load temperature....

No offense, but reading your post initially I was dismissive. But, the more I thought about it the more it made sense from a technical standpoint. A smaller temperature delta means a smaller range of expansion/contraction internally (however minuscule). This has obvious benefits, but again, can't prove if they're significant at this scale.

I will say that almost every system out there automatically accomplishes what you're saying by varying CPU fan speed based on temps (primarily intended to reduce system noise at idle). I guess it just boils down to say that it might not be beneficial to run your CPU fan at a constant RPM.
Main: i5-3570K, ASRock Z77 Pro4-M, MSI RX480 8G, 500GB Crucial BX100, 2 TB Samsung EcoGreen F4, 16GB 1600MHz G.Skill @1.25V, EVGA 550-G2, Silverstone PS07B
HTPC: A8-5600K, MSI FM2-A75IA-E53, 4TB Seagate SSHD, 8GB 1866MHz G.Skill, Crosley D-25 Case Mod
 
Forge
Lord High Gerbil
Posts: 8253
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2001 7:00 pm
Location: Gone

Re: Normal CPU temperature

Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:56 am

DPete27 wrote:
sschaem wrote:
you want to have the smallest gap possible between idle and load temperature....

No offense, but reading your post initially I was dismissive. But, the more I thought about it the more it made sense from a technical standpoint. A smaller temperature delta means a smaller range of expansion/contraction internally (however minuscule). This has obvious benefits, but again, can't prove if they're significant at this scale.

I will say that almost every system out there automatically accomplishes what you're saying by varying CPU fan speed based on temps (primarily intended to reduce system noise at idle). I guess it just boils down to say that it might not be beneficial to run your CPU fan at a constant RPM.


Seconded. While minimizing the difference between idle and load temps is a good thing, and something to be pursued when it doesn't conflict with any other goals, I would stop short of saying it's very important.
Please don't edit my signature for me. Thanks.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
GZIP: On