I'm having temperature issues, and I need help getting to the root of the problem. I built this computer back in March of 2006. I just recently purchased a nice new widescreen LCD monitor (1680 x 1050 display) and starting playing games on my computer again.

When doing some routine maintenance and cleanup, I noticed that my idle and load temp numbers seemed high.
I also had my computer shut itself off on two occasions. Once when playing an older RPG for only an hour. The second time was when I tried running the 3DMark06 test, which really bogged down the cpu and forced the computer to shut itself off.

Here are my temp numbers per Everest (idle/medium load):
Motherboard: 25C 25C
CPU: 44C 66C
GPU: 60C 67C
GPU Ambient: 44C 50C
Maxtor HD: 42C 43C

I don't overclock at all. Don't know whether I need another fan is something else is amiss.

I appreciate any and all help I can get in resolving this and making sure my computer is running at it's optimum level.


Case: Antec Sonata II
PSU: 450W Antec SmartPower 2.0 (ATX12V)
CPU: Intel P4 630 3MHz
Mobo: DFI LANParty 875P-T
RAM: 2GB OCZ PC-3200 DDR400 Dual Channel Platinum
Video Card: 256 MB eVga GeForce 6800GS AGP8X
HD: 200GB Maxtor ATA
Lite-On DVD-RW
Lite-on DVD
Monitor: 22” Samsung Syncmaster 226BW
OS: Windows XP Home Ed. SP2

I am assuming that you regularly use a can of compressed air to clean out fans and heatsinks [including the power supply] and all of the fans are running at proper speeds, including the fan(s) inside the power supply.

Using a higher resolution screen with high detail when gaming will cause the computer to work harder, which will require more electricity and produce more heat. A weak power supply can also cause the system, including the power supply itself, to run hotter. With the computer running at idle and then under load I suggest using a multi-meter to check voltages and make sure they are good.

If you take the case cover off and position a floor fan next to the computer and find that temps fall and you no longer have computer problems, such as the shut down that you mentioned, then I would suggest better case cooling.

How do you verify the fans are running at the proper fan speed?

I believe the max temp for my particular CPU is 67.7C

If the fans are plugged into a motherboard headder you can check speeds in BIOS or with SpeedFan

Personally I do not like Core 2 Duo CPUs to go above 60 degrees C and prefer 55 degrees C maximum. Fan speed vary, depending upon size and amps. Finding the proper speed could be tricky but some replacement fans show RPM along with amps, such as these or these Click on a fan to see specs.

You can look at your fans and determine the approximate speed by finding the amps and then compare that with fans from sites such as the above. SVC is one of my favorite sites due to low prices and I have never had a problem with that company.

P4 processors run hot, so do vga cards. Your temps are typical, I think.
Verify that the fans are running in the proper direction by dangling a piece of tissue next to them to see which way they are blowing. The suggestion to remove the case side and direct a house fan on the innards is a good one. It will tell you what your potential is for better cooling. If necessary, you could replace the fans with higher speed versions, and get better cooling at the price of increased noise.

When I had a similar rig, the best solution I found was to replace the standard cooler on the vga card with a Arctic cooling NV silencer 5. http://www.arctic-cooling.com/disc_prod1.php?type=2 It is discontinued now, , but you may be able to find it somewhere. It only costs $15-$20 or so, and does a wonderful job. The secret is that it is a two slot cooler that sends the heated vga air out the back of the case, instead of letting the heated air recirculate inside of the case, reheating the vga card and giving the cpu cooler hotter air to work with. In my situation, it reduced BOTH cpu and vga temps by 5c.

As stated above, likely one of two problems- excess heat, or a weak psu.

The 6800 GS is not a power hog, nor known for needing aftermarket cooling to stay within temps.

The Sonata is known as a "Quiet" case, so you may just have heat buildup in the case.

The above mentioned removal of side of case and an external fan blowing in will let you know if you have found the problem.

If it persists after that, most likely the psu is going tango uniform on you, time to get a new one.

Here's some more info and an update:

It had been a while since I cleaned the dust out. I did that first, but only for a minimal improvement in the temperatures. The temps I first posted were post-cleanup.

I also have and use the PC Wizard temp readings, but they gave me almost exactly the same measurements. Here are the results from the PC Wizard Global Performance Benchmark (if that helps anyone) ran just now:

PC Wizard Rating: 2699.29
Processor Global Performance: 3588.925
Cache Global Performance: 19488
Memory Global Performance: 2411
Video Global Performance: 1440
Hard Disk Global Performance: 65


As for a reference, It is now 8:15am est. The room temp is 24C (75F). My computer has been on for 30 minutes and idling. My current CPU is 39C (102F) and GPU is 56C (133F). The temps in the initials post were from yesterday afternoon after the computer had been on for several hours.


Following your advice, I removed the side panel of my case last night and remeasured the temps with the side open and also with a floor fan blowing into the case. Here are the idle temps:

Room Temp was 26C (79F)
Case closed Case Open Open with Fan
CPU 42C 41C 41C
GPU 62C 59C 56C
GPU Ambient: 44C 42C 39C
Maxtor HD: 43C 44C 34C


The GPU came down a little, but the CPU remained about the same.


I also attempted to run the 3DMARK06 test again last night (the one that made my computer turn off last time). My computer actually completed it this time, but crawled through it ever so slowly. Here are the basic numbers from it:

3DMARK06: 2284
SM 2.0: 965
SM 3.0: 882
CPU Score: 861

Graphics Test 1: 7.998 FPS
Graphics Test 2: 8.091 FPS

CPU Test 1: 0.272 FPS
CPU Test 2: 0.436 FPS

HDR Test 1: 7.377 FPS
HDR Test 2: 10.262 FPS

Thanks all for the help! I really appreciate it. Hopefully we'll get it running up to speed in no time.

Not much you can really do, with 79F ambient room temps. Looks like its doing the best it can. I wouldn't be too worried.

Grimmy,

What is the recommended ambient room temperature to optimally run a gaming rig in?


Darn Florida heat.

Hi,
Well you aint said what cpu cooler your using if it`s a STOCK 1 BIN IT!!!
There as much use as a chocolate fireguard, im sure there`s a review on here saying how to pick the best cooler for your setup!!!

Have you got all the additional fans for the CASE!! ie the 120mm and the 80mm fan???

What temp is your Northbridge chip if you can touch it after an hour with out removing your fingerprints THAT`S OK if not stick a fan on it 40-60mm 5000rpm well do it nicely!!

Also my own preference is to ditch the PSU 2x80mm fans suck i would go for psu with a 120mm fan

Heh... I wouldn't say there's a standard recommendation, but I'd say 70F would be good for any system.

My room does get around 79-80F because of the heater kicking on for winter, but when it does hit around 70F, everything runs pretty cool.

Seems running Crysis Demo really heats my system up, my 8800GTS gets around 72C+ and my NB really starts to get hot, 52-55C, with room temps of 76-78F.

MMM Grimmy when i OC my C2D@2.13-2.80 was when i had probs ambient room temp was 24oC NB chip was at 55oC and the comp would shutdown stuck a 60x60mm 5000rpm fan on it dont go over 40oC now lol

Ok the cpu gets toasty at them speeds air cooled 50-55oC and the ATI hd2900xt get`s to 70oC afterplaying UT3 4 4hours OH i wish i could work out how to post piccy`s on here!!

I'm getting a 40mm for the NB. Should be getting it in few days. Since I use the Tuniq HS, it really doesn't help the copper MB cooler since the HS fan doesn't blow on the MB.

And it seems Cyrsis Demo, is basically the only game that pushes my system hard.

All the other games don't really heat it up much.

I dont see much difference in temp playing Crysis\UT3\Bioshock

I think the resolution I was playing on, was 1280x1024, X4 Antialiasing turned on. I was trying to get the most eye candy, without too much choppiness. But I suppose if I run it lighter, less eye candy it wouldn't heat up as much.

PFZ1,

The CPU cooler is the stock that came with the P4 630 chip. By "BIN IT", do you mean replace it?

The case came with a 120mm Rear Exhaust TriCool fan with a 3 speed switch. It was set to low (1200 RPM). I set it to High (2000 RPM) last night. The case has additional mounts for a 92mm CPU fan and an 80mm VGA card fan, neither of which I'm using.


I'm slowly tweaking things to try and bring the temps down. I don't want to overkill the situation, by doing everything at once.


Does a better CPU cooler with a better thermal paste seem like it would offer the most drastic improvement? Or does adding two additional fans to the case?

A better 3rd party HSF can help, but won't help much if your ambient temps are hot. I've used AS5, and to tell you the truth I don't see that much of a difference, especially when my room temps are 80-85F during the summer.

The best way to keep things cool, remove as much dust as possible, try to get ambient temps down to around 70F, and try to get the best airflow going through your PC case, as far as cable management / moving HD's away from intakes if they can stay cool enough (34-38C) ect.

Grimmy,

As Danra mentioned earlier, "using a higher resolution screen with high detail when gaming will cause the computer to work harder, which will require more electricity and produce more heat".

My new 22" widescreen LCD monitor I just purchased is running a display of 1680 x 1050 at a refresh rate of 60Hz.

Should I use different display settings for different tasks (gaming vs. non-gaming)? I hope my new monitor isn't causing some of these probs.

I currently use a 22" at the same desktop resolution, and refresh rate. That's more of a personal preference if you ask me. I normally run games according to how smooth I can get it to run.

So basically my resolutions change when I play games, with no problems. Thing is, if you can run games at the same resolution, your desktop should pop back faster.

Edit:

As far as trying to produce less heat, higher resolutions make the GPU run harder, lower resolutions, the CPU runs harder, from what I understand.