System temp; what is normal?

[protokatie]

I have presented my fears in the past about running a compy at 100% all the time (easy way to kill a compy), but I finally DLed speedfan for my laptop (which may end up doubling as my arcade computer in the future) and got some shocking heat measures from it.


At idle: 60-65C
At Max load: 87-89C

The laptop has an AMD AthlonX2 dualcore @ 1.9 Ghz. I have read about laptop CPUs sometimes being safe (and even designed) to operate at as high as 105C, but am unsure as I had always been used to desktop models where 65C is considered the maximum one should allow the CPU to get to.

BTW, I haven't gotten any lockups or forced shutdowns on this compy; but my last laptop died completely to the point I couldnt get the case open fully as the heatsink had MELTED the plastic above it and fused with it.

Anyone out there have any info?

[Blanka]

65 is not too high for a desktop CPU. I would worry about 105 for a notebook more than 105 for a desktop. You don't put your desktop on your testicles!
If you have Intel CPU's, not much can go wrong, as they have good overheat protection. It will result in a screen of death in the worst case.
I don't know how AMD's are today, but they could be killed by heat in the past.

[Mauzy]

You don't put your desktop on your testicles!

I don't think she does either. 
 

[CCM]

You don't put your desktop on your testicles!

I don't think she does either. 
 

 

[knave]

At idle: 60-65C
At Max load: 87-89C

Anyone out there have any info?

Those temps should be within the CPU's acceptable range.

[RayB]

AMDs always run hot.

[SavannahLion]

Have you tried cleaning the laptop and checking the heatsink compounds to make sure they haven't turned crusty?

My laptop starting at 130F on most days going as high as 160F (about ~54C and ~71C) just idling. I really couldn't run the laptop under load since it would overheat and the protection circuits would kick in. So I decided to go in and clean out the the three year old laptop and make some repairs. I removed foam-like "bricks" of dust blocking the fan ports and replaced the dried out heatsink compound on the CPU with Arctic Silver (tried to do the same to the GPU but I didn't have the properietary bit). I knocked the system wide temp down to no higher than 110F (~43C) and the CPU no higher than 125F-130F (~51C-~54C) under load (haven't tried a GPU intense game though) or with the exhaust/intake ports blocked (eg with a blanket). For comparison, the laptop in question is a 2GHz Duo.

I still don't have the same baseline as I had when I bought the laptop brand new, but it's far better than what I was getting at its worst.

[protokatie]

Thanx for the replies.

As per checking the vents, they are fine. The system hasn't ever dropped out due to over heating. The fans adjust based on heat levels (3 levels of fan speed). I still find 80+ C to be oddly high. BTW this is still a rather new laptop, and I keep it propped up to allow for good airflow. Nothing seems to be going wrong, and am wondering if the proggy I am using is giving bad values.. (I left the thing off for 8 hours and when I turned it back on it gave an idle temp of 46C for a few minutes. It also had a pic of a checkmark next to the temp until it went above 50C then it showed a flame indicating overheat.)

I know most info here is antecdotal (sp?); but if anyone has really dealt with this and has hard info, please add to this thread (would be good for others as well)

thanx 

[SavannahLion]

M'Kay.....

Compare the values against the BIOS. See what the difference is after you stabilize the temps.

Check your fans and fan ports anyways. Take the cover off and actually look inside.

You did not specify how new your laptop is or even what brand, model or anything of the sort. It might be a known issue with your model. Remember, early Apple laptops were cooking due to too much heat sink compound.

I wasn't able to locate recommended temperatures (I confess I didn't really try), but you can search for yourself at AMD.com.

[Ummon]

I see you're back from your hunting expedition?