So with the weather getting hot, I was curious about my system temperatures and downloaded a software called SpeedFan to check them.
I found that while idling (CPU usage around 25% in the task manager), my CPU is at 60°C and my GPU at 53°C (see detailed picture at the bottom of the post). While playing Wasteland 2, I had 68°C for the CPU & 78°C for the GPU.

These temperatures seem high to me. Are they ? Should I do something ?

EDIT: here are some more precise numbers that I got with another software

Idling : http://i.imgur.com/D0pFnk2.png
Playing : http://i.imgur.com/uxpdNbE.png

View attached image.
9 years ago*

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Are these temperatures normal ?

View Results
Yes
No

Your idle temps are uninteresting, but the temps whilst playing are ok, no need to worry if they aren´t increasing.

9 years ago
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While playing - for CPU is kinda ok but for GPU is way too high.

9 years ago
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No it´s not, If it goes above 90°C you should worry, but above everything is fine.

9 years ago
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Doesn't it depend on the graphic card you are using?

9 years ago
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Ofc it does, to a degree, that why I said 90°C, that is good for every card, most can withstand 100°C, but if you get such temps you really should be worried.

9 years ago
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+1

9 years ago
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I can suppose u are using the stock cpu cooler

9 years ago
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You must do something (clean insides of your PC, change thermal compound on cpu and gpu, change whole cpu cooler for a better one, if you have old computer case then you could change it for one with better air flow). There are many possibilities why your temperatures are so high.

9 years ago
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100-110 ( ur fried ))

90-100 (ok)

80-90 (good)

70-80(verygood)

60-70(excellent)

Edit: Here i found a good article about preventing overheating. Mybe will help you.

9 years ago*
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90-100 is never ok. And you listed 100 as ok and also as fried. There should be a big difference between ok and fried.

If anyone wants to know about safe temps, they need to do some research about their specific CPU or GPU because a safe temp for 1 model could be unsafe for another.

9 years ago
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If you have a stock cpu cooler it's quite normal.
You could buy a cheap cpu custom cooler and get at least -10°

idle temps are a bit high, try to clean your case

9 years ago
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It's a bit high but nothing to be seriously worried about unless you are getting performance issues. Cleaning your heatsinks and the rest of the case might help. If you don't have case fans, you might just want to leave your case open.

//edit: My temps on my laptop, but it doesn't seem to read my GPU temp. (not idle, but im not gaming or running other heavy duty applications atm either)
http://i.imgur.com/B8upgcj.jpg

9 years ago*
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Playing Wasteland 2 and it took me a while to figure out that noise. It was the GPU fan spinning at higher speeds.

9 years ago
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I got a max speed of 3603 RPM while playing it. Is that a lot ? It sounds like a lot.

9 years ago
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I'm guessing you have Windforce card. It's counting all the fans on the card and shows the combined RPM. It's a bit high RPM but nothing to worry about, it's just noisy.

9 years ago
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There's only one fan. The card is SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870

9 years ago
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One fan going at those speeds isn't good for it. There's something wrong with the settings either in the GPU's software or bios.

9 years ago
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What should be the max speed it goes to ?

9 years ago
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I just went and played for a while and GPU-Z gave me 1609RPM as the highest. I don't know how it counts it, so it could be that each fan was at 1609 or 536.

Definitely shouldn't be as high as you're getting.

9 years ago*
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rpm is variant depending on fan size and fin count. 3600rpm on his fan might = 360cfm airflow, and 1600 on yours might = 350cfm. it might be completely normal for that fan to spin at that speed at full load. I know my r9 270x at full load has a much lower fan speed than the old nividia it replaced.

9 years ago
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Damn. I have the same card...

9 years ago
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You can always see if you can manually adjust the fan speed for your GPU. I never feel like it kicks up enough, so I turn the GPU fan up using the AMD Control Center when I'm gaming, to help keep things cool. Also, buying an after-market CPU cooler makes a world of difference, especially if you do any overclocking. Having adequate case fans is also really important.

9 years ago
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They're fine. You can drop them with few degrees with proper air flow and a lot more with an aftermarket cooler if you're still using the stock one.

9 years ago
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You are probably just overdue on dust cleaning.

9 years ago
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what you can do, put a fan directly on the PC (hope it's not a laptop). it's kind if an insta fix. open the case for better results.
but be careful of dust accumulation

9 years ago
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Idle cpu usage should be ~3-5%, not 25 so better check what's eating up CPU

You say nothing about room temperature, it's the difference not absolute values that says about efficiency of air cooling.
To have comparison: at 23C ambient and idling, my i7 is 33C, gtx970 is 40C, all hdds at 32-36C. All in noise (and airflow) restricted case with fans spinning at 500-750 rpms

9 years ago
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Well I say idling but I have dozens of tabs open, so I guess that's the reason ?

9 years ago
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Better check than sorry (>150 tabs open, cpu ~3%)

9 years ago
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Then I have no idea.
Here's a screenshot of the task manager.

View attached image.
9 years ago
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If it were tabs (crappy script) firefox would be jumping up and down between very low and high values

9 years ago
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Could you click that "show proccesses of all users" button on the task manager and re-post a screenshot? There's something using your CPU all the time, that's why you have that idle temps.

9 years ago
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View attached image.
View attached image.
9 years ago
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System shouldn't be using that much of CPU, usually it is at 0%. Check if it uses that much of CPU even with nothing running or when you open a certain program. In the first case it's probably a bad driver.

9 years ago
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Use Process Explorer to troubleshoot that strange CPU usage by "System" process. Mine is 0%

Tutorial: http://www.howtogeek.com/school/sysinternals-pro/lesson1/

9 years ago*
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You shouldn't be worrying until it gets over 75-80C, if you're running a PC.

On a laptop, the extremes of 75-80C can be often when stressing the machine.

Once you start reaching 90-100C your processor may slowly degrade depending on the quality. Most machines will automatically turn off if you reach these limits -- but they can be disabled.

Don't worry, your processors won't literally start "frying" until over 120C, and buffed up machines with huge heatsinks/fans more near 200C.

9 years ago
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Better heatsinks don't allow for higher temperatures...they dissipate the heat more efficiently and give you lower temps.

9 years ago
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Ever heard of overclocking? :)

9 years ago
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Ever heard of physics? :)
You can have 200C on cpu surface, but that also means it's destroyed

9 years ago
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I don't think you're quite as intelligent as you think you are Mr. Armchair Scientist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NEn9DHmjk0

9 years ago
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Well, that may well be. It's not an easy task to judge oneself.

Sorry, but this only proves that you can let die heat up to 200C (and that I agreed with), not that it will be working after that. Material properties are what they are and no matter how hard you scream, they will not change themselves

9 years ago
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Neat, he fried an ancient CPU.

I heard you can overclock cars too! All you have to do is remove the radiator and you'll get better mileage and a higher top speed.

Clearly you've heard the term, but have no idea what it actually is. Come back when you have some records on HWBot.

9 years ago
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You sound bitter. I'm OC'd right now, CPU and GPU. Rustled jimmies much? I'll keep getting paid in the same IT field for the last decade while you spend your time posting pointless stats to websites. Take care!

9 years ago
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Whatever helps you sleep at night!

Cheers!

9 years ago
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Dont worry, a bit high but thats OK. You can use MSI afterburner, is better than Speedfan.

9 years ago
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I got more precise numbers using HWMonitor, I've posted this in the OP

9 years ago
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A bit high? For real? Hell, these are absoltely fine temps! Everyone who says otherwise has either never really surveyed the temperatures while gaming, uses watercooling (and i mean real watercooling, not that pseudo-corsair-crap) or reads the sensors wrong. 78 degrees worrisome, my ass...

9 years ago
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Exactly, I am using watrecooling and if I would get these temps I would be worried, but for aircooling they are fine.

9 years ago
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Just did a testrun with unigine. Values stabilized at 42C cpu and 75C gpu (aircooling, low noise machine build). Could be bit lower if I upped rpms of fans, but is not worth the noise
Tho it wouldn't be that good if I went SLI (too noisy for the performance gain).

9 years ago
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To be fair though, ungine exercises almost no cpu-load.

9 years ago
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The only time you should worry is when you overclocked to the max and hit 70C°

9 years ago
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I fail to understand idle temperatures with that software (I use hwmonitor / cpu-z / gpu-z), but as long as cpu is under 60 and gpu is under 80 under load, you are fine. You should however keep an eye on that HDD temperature.

9 years ago
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I just edited my post with numbers I got with HWMonitor.
What should my HDD temperature be ?

9 years ago
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HDD is fine http://www.anandtech.com/show/3987/amds-radeon-6870-6850-renewing-competition-in-the-midrange-market/20
the gpu is a bit hot, probably dust\bad airflow
The cpu it's ok if you are using stock cooler.

I would just clean the dust, if you want you could buy a cheap cpu cooler (something compatible with multiple socket, so if you change hw you could keep it) but there is nothing to worry about.

9 years ago
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0-60 is the operating temp range for spinpoint f3, but 30-45 is the aim to keep them alive as much as possible
for cpu 70 celsius is too much, and for gpu 90 celsius is too much. You are at the limit.

9 years ago
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They seem like they're on the slightly higher side to me. Room temp can make a hell of a difference though.

What's using up your CPU like that? I have an i5-3450 myself and it hovers between 0% and 3% whilst idle. Also, if you're still using the stock Intel cooler, a great investment (imo) would be an aftermarket cooler such as the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - have one myself using a push-pull config (added an extra fan), and can vouch for its awesomeness - funds permitting, of course. I forget what it used to idle at with the stock cooler, but now it idles at 35°C.

Regarding the GPU, is it a reference one? Or perhaps an ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE one? Reference GPUs don't usually have the best cooling solutions. You could also set a custom fan profile using a program such as MSI Afterburner. My GPU used to idle at around 55°C - 60°C until I set one, and now it idles at 34°C.

As mentioned above, you could ensure it's as dust-free as possible, and ensure your cable management is as neat as you can get it - the latter making a tiny bit of difference, but helpful nonetheless. If your case has any free fan slots available, you could utilize those (again, funds permitting).

Lastly, if your case doesn't already have dust filters covering the intake vents/grills, I recommend those too - they really do work, but you still have to clean them every now and again.

I forgot to point out, overall though, I wouldn't worry about those temps.

Edit: You answered some of my questions already. :)

9 years ago*
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I have a lot of tabs open, I guess that's what is using the CPU.

I don't really know what you mean by reference GPU. It's a SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870

9 years ago
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Ahh, I see. If you haven't in a while, and to be on the safe side, you could also do a virus and/or malware scan - such things can eat up processing power too.

A reference GPU is just one with AMD's (or Nvidia's) own cooling solution attached:

View attached image.
9 years ago
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This is by my opinion way too high. I have cooler master HAF922, and Phenom x4 with GTX770 asus dcu2 gpu.
I have 18c temperature of cpu when idle, and 35 of gpu when idle.
On full load i have 45-50 of cpu and MAX 72 of gpu.
This is also high for me so im planing to add 1x 200 mm fan on side of the case.
I think you should replace termal paste on cpu/gpu, change computer case, and make air flow through case, and its really important!

9 years ago
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18c sounds way too low to be real. (assuming normal temperature room).

9 years ago
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They're serviceable, but the lifespan of your CPU and GPU will be lowered. Consider opening up your case and de-dusting, and giving your heatsink and GPU fans a blow-through. If you're cool with removing your motherboard (or if you have a modern case that allows you access to the underside of the motherboard), I would really suggest investing in a Hyper 212 heatsink. They're cheap and far more effective than a stock heatsink, but require you to attach a small panel to the underside of the mobo. Also, some good ceramic (non conductive) thermal paste applied in the correct 'pea style' method on a cleaned CPU top can make all the difference.

I mean, ambient temperatures play a big part. In the middle of summer when the air is humid as hell, the computer can only cool itself with that air, but a non-stock thermal paste and heatsink makes all the difference. That, and making sure you haven't accumulated any dust bunnies in your case, heh~

9 years ago
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I have the same CPU and temps @idle are ~29C

9 years ago
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That would have been a great place to hide a giveaway! Add a five letter code under 3Vsb and hardly anyone would notice :D

Like many have already said, your temperatures are OK, but not optimal. You haven't said anything about what CPU cooler you are using (the stock one that came with the CPU I presume?) or anything about your computer case. There's perhaps a lot you can do to improve on the cooling, but I wouldn't panic over those numbers.

View attached image.
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9 years ago
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cpu:
Max Temp inside your Case for the i5 2500k CPU is according to intel 72°C ... which means the temp of the CPU can easily reach
80 to 90°C which is still fine (except for the unbearable noise i'd imagine with stock coolers).

gpu:
AMD GPUs are quite the hotheads ... anything below 90°C is fine. You could further reduce your temp (increase the FAN RPM) with this:
Totally safe and easy to use with almost any AMD Card: https://www.sapphireselectclub.com/ssc/TriXX_de/
^ Used it a while ago myself to reduce the RPM and have the fans more silent ...

Oh and btw. if the temp of the CPU / GPU ever reaches its limits, it throttles automatically and if its unable to reduce the temp >
it shuts down the system before it even gets a chance to be fried ...

9 years ago*
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maybe for the cpu while playing but the gpu can handle 90 easily

9 years ago
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That is rather Cause for Concern, Those Temps are above normal. Everyone obviously has there own opinion. but Operating at that temperatures is not good. I see you mentioned Stock Cooler. I would personally try to invest in a better aftermarket cooler for both the CPU and GPU.

if you saw my CPU cooler which weighs 1 kilo by it self. with Idle Temps 7c, Max Load, 22c. and my GPU is Artic Cooler. Idle. 29c Max load 45-50c, Never ever gone above 50c in hardcore games.

recommend trying to at least do something to fix that high temps. anything close to 60c, whether its CPU or GPU is my book is the max it should ever go, higher is cause for major concern.

Edit: If you really can't invest in anything, id suggest putting those fans on max during gaming. Had a look at the case, it's decent, hope the airflow in there is good. i have a custom built pc case made from pine wood which i used a blow torch on to make the texture abstract and contour lines stand out, then used wood varnish to add the finishing touch, it looks like a dragon breathed fire over my case. and nope. no heat issue. you must be a newbie pc builder if you think wood causes heat issues.

9 years ago*
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