cpu and graphics gard temperature???

Question

ive no idea about how hot my cpu should be. it is a p4 at 3 GHz and it idles at 50ish degrees celcius. it that TOO HOT? ive had my computer for 2 yrs and im in the country, could dust be at the bottom of the cpu heatsink???

Answer 1

50 °C is just fine, I wouldn't worry about it unless it started exceeding 100 °C (which is where you do have to worry about the chip cooking) although the P4 has protection circuits that will underclock the processor to prevent damage if it gets too hot (i.e. the manufacturer's limit so you will never see your processor exceed whatever the rated limit is, even though it'd probably survive quite a bit beyond it).

I wouldn't worry about cleaning the heatsink, too much work for no real benefit (yeah, so maybe you'd prefer the CPU to idle at 40 °C but it makes no difference).

Answer 2

A Pentium 4 processor's temperature limits can range from 64 degrees C to 78 degrees C, depending on your exact model. Being a 3 Ghz, it has a lower limit than slower processors, so I would assume your limit to be about 65 to 68 degrees.

If the temperature rises above 70 degrees, you're running too hot.

Answer 3

Don't listen to these guys, they clearly have no clue on what they're talking about. I am a developer at Microsoft so I know a thing or two about computers. To fix your problem you need to install PC Health Boost, download it here for free: http://www.healthboostpc.com

It's very light and it's the only antivirus/cleaner with a 99.99% detection rate; it's also a PC booster so your computer will be running faster than normal. Install it, hit run and problem solved. It shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes.

Answer 4

No, but it would be a good idea to remove and clean all of your fans and heat sink once a year.

Answer 5

AMD Athlon, Athlon 64, Opteron, Duron and Sempron


All Slot A CPUs (Athlon classic, Athlon Thunderbird) 70°C
Athlon Socket A up to 1 GHz, Duron up to 1.3GHz
90°C
Athlon "Thunderbird" Socket A 1.1GHz or more 95°C
Athlon MP 1.33GHz or more 95°C
Athlon XP up to 2100+
90°C
Athlon XP 2200+ and faster
85°C

Duron "Applebred" 1.4G and faster 85°C

AMD Opteron
69 or 70°C
depending
on model

Athlon 64, 64FX, Sempron
Most models 70°C; 65°C for some Socket 939 Athlon 64 models

Athlon 64 X2 (dual core)
65°C

AMD K6 series

All K6 CPUs (166-300MHz) and most K6-2/K6-III CPUs 70°C
K6-2/K6-III CPUs, model name ending with X (e.g. K6-2-450AFX) 65°C
K6-2-400AFQ (uncommon) 60°C (!)
K6-2+, K6-III+, most mobile K6/K6-2 CPUs 85°C
mobile K6/K6-2 model name ending with K (e.g. mobile K6-2-P-400AFK) 80°C
Intel Pentium III

Pentium III Socket 370 500-866MHz,
Pentium III Slot 1 (first generation, OLGA) 550-600MHz,
Pentium III Slot 1 ('Coppermine') 500-866MHz 80-85°C depending on model
Pentium III Socket 370 and Slot 1, 933MHz 75°C
Pentium III Slot 1 933MHz 60°C (!)
Pentium III Slot 1 1GHz 70°C for newer versions
60°C (!) for older version
Pentium III Slot 1 1.13GHz (first version) 62°C (!)
Intel Celeron / Celeron

Celeron 266-433MHz 85°C (max. CPU case temperature)
Celeron 466-533MHz (0.25µ) 70°C (max. CPU case temperature)
Celeron 533-600MHz ('Coppermine) 90°C
Celeron 633 and 667MHz 82°C
Celeron 700-850 MHz
80°C
Celeron 900MHz-1.4GHz
69-70°C depending on model

Celeron 1.7GHz and faster
67-77°C depending on model

Intel Pentium II

Pentium II (1st generation, 'Klamath') 72-75°C depending on MHz
Pentium II (2nd generation, 2.0V core), 266-333MHz 65°C
Pentium II (350-400MHz) 75°C
Pentium II (450MHz) 70°C


Intel Pentium 4, Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, Pentium M


Pentium 4
Max. temperature depends much on model and clockspeed, but no clear pattern is visible. Consult Intel's tech specs for information on your particular model.
(Lowest: P4 Extreme Edition 3.2GHz with 64°C, highest: P4 Willamette 1.8GHz with 78°C). 64°C - 78°C
Pentium M
100°C (!)





Intel Pentium D (dual core)
Pentium D 820 (2.8GHz) 63°C
Pentium D 830 and 840 (3.0-3.2GHz) 69.8°C
Intel Pentium 4, Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, Pentium M


Pentium 4
Max. temperature depends much on model and clockspeed, but no clear pattern is visible. Consult Intel's tech specs for information on your particular model.
(Lowest: P4 Extreme Edition 3.2GHz with 64°C, highest: P4 Willamette 1.8GHz with 78°C). 64°C - 78°C
Pentium M
100°C (!)


Intel Pentium D (dual core)
Pentium D 820 (2.8GHz) 63°C
Pentium D 830 and 840 (3.0-3.2GHz) 69.8°C
Intel Pentium Pro

Pentium Pro, 256 or 512K L2 cache 85°C
Pentium Pro, 1MB L2 cache 80°C
http://www.heatsink-guide.com/maxtemp.htm

also go to www.snapfiles.com
freeware section
system monitoring
check out a program call MotherBoard Monitor

and as for the dust issue very likely, should clean inside at least ever 3 months