Acceptable temperatures for Q9550 and P5K mobo

[David Cole]

My newly built system is a Q9550 with Thermalright 120 Extreme cooler; Asus P5K Premium motherboard; 3Gb ram; x2 WD Velociraptor hdds; Asus EN 8600GT vga card; Asus Xonar D2X soundcard; 4 or 5 usb peripherals. All in a P182 case with an Enermax Modu82+ 625W psu. Vista Ultimate.

Fans: Scythe Slipstream (1200rpm) on the 120 Extreme; a Noctua NF-P12 (1300rpm) inner case fan suspended over the passively cooled vga card and mobo; Noctua F-S12 (800rpm) instead of rear Tricool; Scythe slipstream (500W) instead of upper Tricool. All fans on Zalman Fanmates.

I am seeing temperatures (in a warm room) of 43 degrees for the CPU and 37 degrees for mobo (system).

I would like to wind down the fans a bit to quieten them. I'd be grateful for an idea of what temps for my cpu and mobo would be acceptable.

Thanks.

David

[murtoz]

I am seeing temperatures (in a warm room) of 43 degrees for the CPU and 37 degrees for mobo (system).

Where are you seeing these temps? Seriously, Take 4 h/w monitoring softwares and you get 4 different temp readouts. Have a look at this link and this one. There's a lot more reading out there on this subject. Also, you didn't say if this was load or idle?

As a reference, I run an Asus Maximus Formula, QX9650 OC'ed to 3.9Ghz, TRUE + Noctua fan @ 1200rpm, 8800GTX + HR03 + Noctua fan @ 1200rpm, no chassis fans. Chassis currently open.
(i know, i know - new thermal solution [lots of ducts, couple more fans, lower rpms], that should make it quieter
My temps are as follows.
== Idle ==
Asus PC Probe / Speedfan: 40 (This is Tcase as per the Anandtech article)
Realtemp: 43 (hottest core, presumes a 95 degree C Tj Max)
Coretemp: 53 (hottest core, presumes a 105 degree C Tj Max)
== Load ==
(Prime95, small FTT's, stable temps, about 20-30 minutes in)
Asus PC Probe / Speedfan: 67
Realtemp: 67
Coretemp: 77

Hope that helps.

[David Cole]

I am seeing temperatures (in a warm room) of 43 degrees for the CPU and 37 degrees for mobo (system).

Where are you seeing these temps? Seriously, Take 4 h/w monitoring softwares and you get 4 different temp readouts. Have a look at this link and this one. There's a lot more reading out there on this subject. Also, you didn't say if this was load or idle?

As a reference, I run an Asus Maximus Formula, QX9650 OC'ed to 3.9Ghz, TRUE + Noctua fan @ 1200rpm, 8800GTX + HR03 + Noctua fan @ 1200rpm, no chassis fans. Chassis currently open.
(i know, i know - new thermal solution [lots of ducts, couple more fans, lower rpms], that should make it quieter
My temps are as follows.
== Idle ==
Asus PC Probe / Speedfan: 40 (This is Tcase as per the Anandtech article)
Realtemp: 43 (hottest core, presumes a 95 degree C Tj Max)
Coretemp: 53 (hottest core, presumes a 105 degree C Tj Max)
== Load ==
(Prime95, small FTT's, stable temps, about 20-30 minutes in)
Asus PC Probe / Speedfan: 67
Realtemp: 67
Coretemp: 77

Hope that helps.

Thanks. I am seeing the temps in the BIOS/Hardware/Power screen. Worryingly, my CPU temp is now hovering around 47/48 degrees and the motherboard around 43 degrees. When I see the temps in the BIOS screen the pc is (I assume) idle.

I was just after a approximate answer - what temps should I be worried about? I'll follow up the links you posted.

[David Cole]

I've got hold of Everest Ultimate and see that my Velociraptors are hot. I have them installed in the lower front bay so I'll have to lash up a fan at the lower front of the case somehow. Maybe a 92mm.

[Monkeh16]

You can easily fit a 120mm fan there if you have a modular PSU.

[murtoz]

I was just after a approximate answer - what temps should I be worried about? I'll follow up the links you posted.

From the first link in my post:
Tcase/Tjunction (per core)
--70--/--75--75--75--75-- Hot
--65--/--70--70--70--70-- Warm
--60--/--65--65--65--65-- Safe
--25--/--30--30--30--30-- Cool

Your BIOS shows Tcase, so you're ok atm, but you should really check under load. Prime95 is often used to stress a cpu fully (more than you would ever be able to do running normal applications). For your processor, I would aim at 65-70 under full load.

[David Cole]

I was just after a approximate answer - what temps should I be worried about? I'll follow up the links you posted.

From the first link in my post:
Tcase/Tjunction (per core)
--70--/--75--75--75--75-- Hot
--65--/--70--70--70--70-- Warm
--60--/--65--65--65--65-- Safe
--25--/--30--30--30--30-- Cool

Your BIOS shows Tcase, so you're ok atm, but you should really check under load. Prime95 is often used to stress a cpu fully (more than you would ever be able to do running normal applications). For your processor, I would aim at 65-70 under full load.

Much obliged. That's very helpful. My temps for cpu and mobo are ok - but then the fans are all turned up full. Must try under load. I have been researching to see what is the best combination of fans. There seems to be no agreement. I am disappointed by the temps I am seeing given the fans I am using.

Am worried asbout the hdds now - 52 and 50. Will have to get a fan down there somehow.

Thanks again.