My Computer's On Fire

**Rellikard** · 2011-07-16 08:23

Ok so, my computer's been generating a lot of heat lately so I finally ran a temp test on GPU and CPU and both are idling around 60C. Any suggestions as far as what I can do to lower temps to around 40C while idling?

CPU: i7-920
GPU: GTX 260
CPU Cooler: Coolermaster H50

Thinking of rebuilding in the near future (2-3 months?) with i7-2600k, Corsair 600T case, GTX 560 Ti, and not sure about the CPU cooler. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

**The Stig** · 2011-07-16 08:30

60c is actually pretty normal especially with an i7-920. Under stress it should get pushed to 90 but that's still pretty normal.

**Isiolia** · 2011-07-16 10:33

60C is pretty warm idle for an i7. Using the same cooler, my i7 950 idles (depending on core) at like 47-49C, and I've seen people claim 40C or even under. 90C at full load is higher than most people prefer...but it's functional, especially if you consider that most normal usage won't run the CPU as hard as most burn in tests will.

Did it used to be lower? Or did you just not pay attention to the measurements before? You could look and see if the radiator is clogged with dust, if your fan placement is optimal for it and/or add another fan for push/pull. CPU, if you're OC'ing, you might have more vcore than needed, and you can usually cut temperature by disabling hyperthreading too.

**Jojimbo** · 2011-07-16 11:09

My 920 idles at <50, going to 70~75 while playing games. GPU idles at 60 for top, 41 for bottom (without the incresed idle clock for dual monitors they are both <45 when idle) and increases to 70~85 depending on the game, 92ish under FurMark though.

My temps use to be at 27~32C for CPU, have no idea what happened to increase it by that much but I mainly blame ambient temp of my last room and that my tower was probably in a better location before I moved.

Personally I would hold off upgrading, or only upgrade the GPU. 920 > 2600k probably isn't a *massive* jump, especially when you have to replace mobo/ram as well and you'll be better off upgrading to Ivy Bridge when they are released later this year (hopefully). I'm going to hold off upgrading my CPU for as long as possible myself as no game seems to come close to maxing out usage, planning to just upgrade to the next gen of GPU and then upgrade CPU gen after that and possibly get another card to SLI/CF when it's price has dropped.

**Rellikard** · 2011-07-16 15:23

CPU used to idle around 45-50C when I first got the H50. Also, I already have the 2600k. Got the CPU for $100 from Intel and I already have another motherboard coming via UPS, just trying to decide when I should build. Bought the GPU same time as motherboard. Just wondering if I should hold on building. Not in any real rush. Everything I bought except the CPU, I can return anytime in 1-3YR.

**Lucavi** · 2011-07-16 16:12

Originally Posted by Isiolia

60C is pretty warm idle for an i7. Using the same cooler, my i7 950 idles (depending on core) at like 47-49C, and I've seen people claim 40C or even under. 90C at full load is higher than most people prefer...but it's functional, especially if you consider that most normal usage won't run the CPU as hard as most burn in tests will.

Did it used to be lower? Or did you just not pay attention to the measurements before? You could look and see if the radiator is clogged with dust, if your fan placement is optimal for it and/or add another fan for push/pull. CPU, if you're OC'ing, you might have more vcore than needed, and you can usually cut temperature by disabling hyperthreading too.

Just installed a new V6 GT CPU cooler and my idle/load temps went from 60/100 to 34/60, completely maxxed out. Anything over 60c and you're technically shortening the lifespan of your parts. I'd just hold off for now if you aren't cringing over the temps or plan to upgrade anyway.

**Minions** · 2011-07-16 23:48

Depends what version of the 920 he has. If he has the original without d0 stepping it runs hot as hell. Having it idle at over 50 degrees is not that uncommon with the first version of that processor. The D0 stepping runs cooler (which coincidentally allows for much better overclocking due to it having less heat). I have one without d0 stepping.

**Cheerios** · 2011-07-17 14:08

Originally Posted by Lucavi

Just installed a new V6 GT CPU cooler and my idle/load temps went from 60/100 to 34/60, completely maxxed out. Anything over 60c and you're technically shortening the lifespan of your parts. I'd just hold off for now if you aren't cringing over the temps or plan to upgrade anyway.

The lifespan shortening doesn't matter if you plan on replacing the hardware within 5 or 6 years.

Bockage · 2011-07-17 15:54

My i7 950 runs at about 40C idle and about 60C under load. The GPU is about the same idle, it hits about 65-70C depending on the game.

The first thing you should do is open up your case and take a can of compressed air to it. Blast all the dust bunnies you can out of CPU & GPU heatsinks and make sure all the other fans are relatively clean, then check your temps again. It's an easy and cheap thing to try and can often bring down temps a lot.

**Dmitry** · 2011-07-18 04:56

I use the Coolermaster Hyper 212 on my CPU, it took the idle temps from 40ish C down to I want to say 25-29, but I haven't checked in a while. Under load it used to get pretty hot also, but now I hardly ever see it break 40-45. I use an i5 750 at 3.4ghz

**Olo401** · 2011-07-18 10:08

Originally Posted by Rellikard

Ok so, my computer's been generating a lot of heat lately so I finally ran a temp test on GPU and CPU and both are idling around 60C. Any suggestions as far as what I can do to lower temps to around 40C while idling?

CPU: i7-920
GPU: GTX 260
CPU Cooler: Coolermaster H50

Thinking of rebuilding in the near future (2-3 months?) with i7-2600k, Corsair 600T case, GTX 560 Ti, and not sure about the CPU cooler. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Originally Posted by Rellikard

CPU used to idle around 45-50C when I first got the H50. Also, I already have the 2600k. Got the CPU for $100 from Intel and I already have another motherboard coming via UPS, just trying to decide when I should build. Bought the GPU same time as motherboard. Just wondering if I should hold on building. Not in any real rush. Everything I bought except the CPU, I can return anytime in 1-3YR.

If you're running that hot using a water cooler there's gotta be something wrong with the setup (I'm assuming you mean the Corsair H50 btw). Check to see if the CPU block is screwed down properly - if there looks like a gap or it rocks then that's your problem. Make sure there's no kinks in the hose from the block to the radiator. If it's still reading high at idle after that, try reseating the CPU block with a fresh application of thermal paste.

As far as graphics cards go, 60c at idle is about normal. They run hotter than the CPU by design.

**Boyiee** · 2011-07-18 21:22

The corsair H50/70 suck. There is probably nothing wrong with the set up. Big air > those coolers. Lower temps, quieter, win/win.

**Isiolia** · 2011-07-19 09:16

Originally Posted by Boyiee

The corsair H50/70 suck. There is probably nothing wrong with the set up. Big air > those coolers. Lower temps, quieter, win/win.

They're not terrible, just inferior to what you can get with an air cooler for the same money. H50/H70 are pretty quiet, and can fit into case setups that'd have issues with a big air cooler.

**Gryffes** · 2011-07-19 10:05

2600k air cooled by noctua dh14, idles around 29-31.

6990 in the same case, idles around 45.

**Boyiee** · 2011-07-21 02:42

Originally Posted by Isiolia

They're not terrible, just inferior to what you can get with an air cooler for the same money. H50/H70 are pretty quiet, and can fit into case setups that'd have issues with a big air cooler.

I couldn't stand the stock fans with the H70. They weren't LOUD, but the sound they made was unbearable after a while. Changed to GT15s and still didn't like it. Its either Big Air or Big Water for me. I shouldn't have left big air in the first place. But that's my ears, not the same for everyone.

**Vandole** · 2011-07-21 05:23

i just looked at my heatsing and i had a cake of dust around one of the two fans on my hyper 212+, idling with my 2600k at 4.0 ghz @ 22 celcius right now.

May be time for you to bust out a can of air and give it a good ol dusting.

**Isiolia** · 2011-07-21 08:14

Originally Posted by Boyiee

I couldn't stand the stock fans with the H70. They weren't LOUD, but the sound they made was unbearable after a while. Changed to GT15s and still didn't like it. Its either Big Air or Big Water for me. I shouldn't have left big air in the first place. But that's my ears, not the same for everyone.

I've just got an H50, and I have the radiator mounted over one of the 180mm fans in a Silverston Raven RV2 (with another fan on top for push/pull). In my setup it's not particularly noisy - though again I'd agree, the cooling performance is not that impressive, especially considering the money. The H70 review I'd read prior to buying (HardOCP's) did indicate that the H70 was a fair bit louder for not a lot more cooling though, which is one reason I didn't go with it.

**Rellikard** · 2011-07-21 10:36

Can anyone recommend a decent air cooler?

**Olo401** · 2011-07-21 11:34

^ Right now you can't go wrong with the CM Hyper212+.. it doesn't cost much at all and performs very well in the benchmarks.

**Dmitry** · 2011-07-21 22:05

Originally Posted by Olo401

^ Right now you can't go wrong with the CM Hyper212+.. it doesn't cost much at all and performs very well in the benchmarks.

2nded. I'm sitting around 42 degrees under about 60% load across all the cores.

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