Case/CPU temperature question

Kurron Nye · 07-18-2007, 04:08 PM

What is considered a 'normal' temperature difference between that of the CPU and that of the air temperature in the case?

The question came up when I was observing the temperature monitor in my PC BIOS, and it tracks both the CPU temperature and the system temperature.

I am basically trying to rate how effective my current cooling is in the system before looking at more advanced cooling systems (the system is currently air cooled, and the case (a Antec Sonata II) does have ducting to draw hot air off the CPU, and I do have system fan mounted for extra air intake. (the case also has an adjustable speed exhaust fan, and I am using an aftermarket CPU cooler..forget the brand but its huge with fins and pipes going all over.

Cobalty2004 · 07-18-2007, 04:24 PM

A good system doesn't get much hotter than the outside.

My house is at 74F right now and my system is only at 75F

My CPU temp is at 77F

Having an Antec 900 case with all fans on max is the shit.

4 120MM fans
1 8" fan only 4" or so away from my CPU
Stock CPU cooler...

yea I love it

rabb1t · 07-18-2007, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurron Nye

I am basically trying to rate how effective my current cooling is in the system before looking at more advanced cooling systems (the system is currently air cooled, and the case (a Antec Sonata II)

I can tell ya that won't have very good air flow. It is a decent system, but it only has a single 120mm fan, and it is mostly closed off to be silent.

I used to have a smaller case, the Antec SuperLanboy, and moving to the 900 dropped the CPU temps by about 5-10c. While the Sonata series is a slightly larger case than the LanBoy, it has a touch less cooling because it is mostly focusing on silence.

Moving to something like the 900 would probably be your best bet. NewEgg link $100 after rebate, no shipping cost, good till the 19th (tomorrow). ProVantage link $87.50, that's it's normal price, not sure on shipping.

Although... you don't mention what your CPU is, what kind of cooling you are using (retail cooler? aftermarket cooler?) and what your GPU is. Those parts will vary in terms of what kind of heat they generate. Like, a P4 generates way more heat than a Core 2 Duo or AMD X2, and a series 8 card will generally produce more heat than a series 7. Like, if you are running a P4 with a series 8 that's going to be throwing out a ton of heat into the case, so a case would totally be the better deal, but if you are on a Core 2 Duo with something like a lower powered series 7, say a 7600 GT, then a better case probably won't make a huge difference.

In terms of CPU temps, as long as you don't sustain over 70c you are fine. My old 3500+ core would hit 65c under load on the retail cooler and it was just fine. My AM2 X2 running in the 900 I think is around 40c idle and 55c under load. (I have my fans on the lowest speeds though to keep the case pretty quiet.)

Cobalty2004 · 07-18-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabb1t

I can tell ya that won't have very good air flow. It is a decent system, but it only has a single 120mm fan, and it is mostly closed off to be silent.

I used to have a smaller case, the Antec SuperLanboy, and moving to the 900 dropped the CPU temps by about 5-10c. While the Sonata series is a slightly larger case than the LanBoy, it has a touch less cooling because it is mostly focusing on silence.

Moving to something like the 900 would probably be your best bet. NewEgg link $100 after rebate, no shipping cost, good till the 19th (tomorrow). ProVantage link $87.50, that's it's normal price, not sure on shipping.

Although... you don't mention what your CPU is, what kind of cooling you are using (retail cooler? aftermarket cooler?) and what your GPU is. Those parts will vary in terms of what kind of heat they generate. Like, a P4 generates way more heat than a Core 2 Duo or AMD X2, and a series 8 card will generally produce more heat than a series 7. Like, if you are running a P4 with a series 8 that's going to be throwing out a ton of heat into the case, so a case would totally be the better deal, but if you are on a Core 2 Duo with something like a lower powered series 7, say a 7600 GT, then a better case probably won't make a huge difference.

In terms of CPU temps, as long as you don't sustain over 70c you are fine. My old 3500+ core would hit 65c under load on the retail cooler and it was just fine. My AM2 X2 running in the 900 I think is around 40c idle and 55c under load. (I have my fans on the lowest speeds though to keep the case pretty quiet.)

Question.

Is my system off? I have a 900 case. C2D (forget the numbers, speed is 2.13ghz) with a stock cooler. And I idle at 23c. I have that monster fan on high, and my room stays at a comfy 74F.

That seems a little low, most I have ever seen my temp is 94F (dunno what that is in terms of Celsius.)

Crappy sensor? Crappy mobo? (MSI P6N SLi)

rabb1t · 07-18-2007, 05:20 PM

Well, systems will vary a lot. Like with my cooler peeps have reported tems 5 to 10 c lower than what I see on NewEgg, but, as mentioned I keep my case fans and CPU fan on low and there are other factors. (Such as the northbridge chipset, your GPU, etc.)

You should be able to set the reporting method in the bios (C or F). Checking a converter... heh 94 F is 34.4 C. That's totally fine. As I said, you don't need to 'worry' until you are sustaining temps over 70c for prolonged periods of time.

Sounds about right. Most reports on C2D cores I've seen are 20-30c idle and 30-40c under load. Depending on what case peeps have, what cooler, if they OC, etc etc. I'd say average average is probably 25c idle and 35c under load. Don't have one though, so I can't say from personal experience.

You can probably turn it down to low and still be totally fine. Considering that the case sounds like a airfield on high, you may want to bump them all down to medium to spare your ears a bit.

Cobalty2004 · 07-18-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabb1t

Well, systems will vary a lot. Like with my cooler peeps have reported tems 5 to 10 c lower than what I see on NewEgg, but, as mentioned I keep my case fans and CPU fan on low and there are other factors. (Such as the northbridge chipset, your GPU, etc.)

You should be able to set the reporting method in the bios (C or F). Checking a converter... heh 94 F is 34.4 C. That's totally fine. As I said, you don't need to 'worry' until you are sustaining temps over 70c for prolonged periods of time.

Sounds about right. Most reports on C2D cores I've seen are 20-30c idle and 30-40c under load. Depending on what case peeps have, what cooler, if they OC, etc etc. I'd say average average is probably 25c idle and 35c under load. Don't have one though, so I can't say from personal experience.

You can probably turn it down to low and still be totally fine. Considering that the case sounds like a airfield on high, you may want to bump them all down to medium to spare your ears a bit.

Thanks, yea that case can get hella loud.

rabb1t · 07-18-2007, 05:29 PM

heh I know. When I first set it up I bumped one onto the high setting and I was like 'oh noes, this isn't the default volume is it?!?' then I was all 'phew, I just bumped one to high'.

Kurron Nye · 07-19-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabb1t

I can tell ya that won't have very good air flow. It is a decent system, but it only has a single 120mm fan, and it is mostly closed off to be silent.

I used to have a smaller case, the Antec SuperLanboy, and moving to the 900 dropped the CPU temps by about 5-10c. While the Sonata series is a slightly larger case than the LanBoy, it has a touch less cooling because it is mostly focusing on silence.

Moving to something like the 900 would probably be your best bet. NewEgg link $100 after rebate, no shipping cost, good till the 19th (tomorrow). ProVantage link $87.50, that's it's normal price, not sure on shipping.

Although... you don't mention what your CPU is, what kind of cooling you are using (retail cooler? aftermarket cooler?) and what your GPU is. Those parts will vary in terms of what kind of heat they generate. Like, a P4 generates way more heat than a Core 2 Duo or AMD X2, and a series 8 card will generally produce more heat than a series 7. Like, if you are running a P4 with a series 8 that's going to be throwing out a ton of heat into the case, so a case would totally be the better deal, but if you are on a Core 2 Duo with something like a lower powered series 7, say a 7600 GT, then a better case probably won't make a huge difference.

In terms of CPU temps, as long as you don't sustain over 70c you are fine. My old 3500+ core would hit 65c under load on the retail cooler and it was just fine. My AM2 X2 running in the 900 I think is around 40c idle and 55c under load. (I have my fans on the lowest speeds though to keep the case pretty quiet.)

I am using a socket 939 Athlon 64 X2 4200, with an aftermarket cooler (forget the brand but its a big affair with fins and pipes and a fan)

My GPU is an Asus Radeon x1900XTX 512mb PCI express

I also have 3 HDDs in the lower drivebays, and I have a second air intake fan mounted behind the drives (that is in additon to the exhaust fan on the back).

I havent installed any, but the duct that leads hit air off the CPU has mounts in the for a pair of fans to increase airflow off the CPU but I am not sure how much more ffective adding fand in the duct will be.

Yea the case is pretty closed up, and it seems to me that even with the extra frount mount fan for air intake, the front is pretty closed off, so not that much cooler air can get sucked in.

Between the monster GPU I have in there, 3 HDDs, and a Socket 939 Athlon X2, it seems a case better suited for cooling would be in order.

rabb1t · 07-19-2007, 07:31 PM

Yeah with 3 HDs in there a better case is really required.

The X2 with that fancy cooler should be plenty to pull the heat off of there. I don't think that duck (HA!) really helps. The GPU heat generation is probably 'medium' in terms of what its tossing into the case.

But yeah, with 3 drives, that's likely your trouble spot. Multi-drive creates a lot of heat. Totally go with something like the Antec Nine Hundred case. You should have no problem spacing the drives out so there is an empty slot between them, and the 2 front fans should easily cover airflow for all 3.

Suds · 07-19-2007, 07:40 PM

Or you could grab a Antec P180b for $50(check Sales thread) and completely separate your HD's from the rest of your system. 50$ is damn cheap for that case and does just as good a job of cooling as the Antec 900. Of course, you'd have to decide based on what you like, just tossing it out there.

rabb1t · 07-19-2007, 07:49 PM

True true, they are pretty similar. I like how the 900 looks a lot more though. Also note that even though the P180 looks small, it is actually bigger than the 900. I saw them side-by-side at a lan party where Antec had a booth and was surprised by that. (It isn't a lot bigger, couple inches longer and wider and maybe 1 taller.)

Kurron Nye · 07-20-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabb1t

True true, they are pretty similar. I like how the 900 looks a lot more though. Also note that even though the P180 looks small, it is actually bigger than the 900. I saw them side-by-side at a lan party where Antec had a booth and was surprised by that. (It isn't a lot bigger, couple inches longer and wider and maybe 1 taller.)

What about this idea?

I have 2 empty 5.25" bays up top, plus the front accessible 3.5" bays are empty.

What if I moved 2 of the drives into the upper 3.5" bays to increase the airflow for the front intake fan? I got an aftermarket VPU cooler for the vid card, and totally removed that duct (that thing seemed to be seriously blocking airflow)

My current System Temp at idle is 34 deg. Celcius, and the CPU temp is 40 deg C.

Does the 939 variation of the X2 4200 run hotter than the AM2 version?

EDIT: I went looking around in my BIOS and lowered the thresholds for the 'Smart Fan' settings, then observed my temps for a while. System is noisier now, but the temps dropped from what I listed above to 35 Deg C for the CPU and 30 deg C for the system temp.

rabb1t · 07-20-2007, 06:35 PM

Not sure on moving the drives. With the 900 the drives are behind the fans, so it's pushing the air over/around the drive and into the case where it can get pulled out the back. If you move the drives to an area where air isn't being moved around the heat from the drive may just sit there.

I wouldn't worry about case temps too much. Just worry about the effect of case temps on the parts. If the CPU is 40c then that's totally fine. No need to worry there.

The 939 version could be hotter than the AM2 version, but if it were it wouldn't be by much. It would have more to do with the dye size than it would the socket type.