Computer temperatures above normal?

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MC_K7
Yes this seems too high.

I know first generation of i7s runs hotter compared to 2nd generation and forth, but still for idle this number is too high.

And the video card seems even more alarming, these are the kind of temps you should see under load. You sure you don't have something running in the background? Your CPU is idle or less than 10%?

All this could as well be poor airflow in your case. What kind of case do you have? What's your room temperature like?

I'd be surprised both components would need to re-apply thermal paste or change heatsinks at the same time, but you never know.
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MC_K7

MC_K7

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Yes this seems too high.

I know first generation of i7s runs hotter compared to 2nd generation and forth, but still for idle this number is too high.

And the video card seems even more alarming, these are the kind of temps you should see under load. You sure you don't have something running in the background? Your CPU is idle or less than 10%?

All this could as well be poor airflow in your case. What kind of case do you have? What's your room temperature like?

I'd be surprised both components would need to re-apply thermal paste or change heatsinks at the same time, but you never know.
 
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alanme123

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my cpu is at 7-10% right now and it is showing around the same temperatures. I have just tried playing a game and the GPU spiked at 88 celcius. I have the cooler master haf X full tower case with a noctua cooling fan.. Is this because the GPU is getting a bit too old now? I have gotten this system since 2010 and It was fine before, it is just now that I get a bunch of hot air going out of the side of the case. It is worrying me..
 
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inzone

inzone

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The temps are too high for idle and you also could download Real Temp because HW monitor is not a very good program and you'll get better results from Real Temp.
If you built the computer yourself I would say to reapply the thermal compound because you may have put too much, thermal compound is just to fill in the imperfections of the heat sink base and the cpu top so that it makes a smooth solid contact.
You may want to add a fan or two to the case depending on how many you currently have.
 
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alanme123

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These are my specs:

Sapphire Radeon HD5970 725MHZ 2GB 4.0GHZ DDR5 PCIe 2XDVI 1XMINI DisplayPort CrossFireX Video Card

Intel Core i7 930 Quad Core Processor LGA1366 2.8GHZ 8MB L3 Cache 130W 45NM Retail Box

ASUS P6X58D-E X58 ATX LGA1366 3PCI-E16 PCI-E1 2PCI CrossFire SLI USB3.0 SATA 6GB/S Motherboard

Noctua NH-D14 LGA775/1156/1366/AM3 I7/I5/PHENOM Heatpipe Cooler W/ NF-P14 140MM & NF-P12 120MM Fan


Thanks for the help guys.
 
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alanme123

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My case was actually not built my me but some expert from NCIX. I added the fans when I first purchased the case and I cannot add anymore. Is this a sign that I need a new major system upgrade? Or is this simply just applying thermal paste, which I am not familiar with..
 
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inzone

inzone

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Can you explain a little more about the hot air coming out of the side of the case ? The side panel fan should be blowing air into the case along with the front fan with the rear and top fans blowing out.
 
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inzone

inzone

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I think it's the fan circulation that's causing some of your issue.
 
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alanme123

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Sorry I mean that I sit on the left side of the case, and I always feel this "aura" of hot air. This mainly comes out from the two fans on the top, which should be how it is. Sorry for the confusion. Also, my room is at 78 degrees celsius and when my computer is on the room temperature can go up to 85 sometimes....
 
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alanme123

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How would I solve the fan circulation problem? Also is applying thermal paste hard and expensive? I am just worrying that this is a problem that I cannot fix and need a new system..
 
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MC_K7

MC_K7

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^ +1

Or the fans and heatsink could just be clogged with dust. Did you ever clean them with compressed air?
 
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MC_K7

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Your hardware is still good and temperature problems can be fixed.

Worst case scenario you can bring it to a shop and they'll repair it if you don't want to do it. But first there are a couple of more easy thing to try (like in my previous post).
 
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alanme123

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My case is : COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

I will use compressed air and clean it again. Thanks for the help guys. I will try and fix this and get an update on it.
 
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inzone

inzone

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A tube of thermal paste usually costs under $20 and a lot of them under $10 depending on the brand.
Artic Silver 5 is a very good thermal paste and you can apply it your self or have your local repair shop do it and they could do a thorough cleaning of the fan filters also unless you do it. If you have never cleaned the fans then it's a sure bet that there is some blockage there.
 
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MC_K7

MC_K7

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Don't forget to clean the video card too if you never did it before. Clean the PSU, and all the fans in the case also.
 
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alanme123

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I have cleaned my fans and took apart my gpu and cleaned it. I also applied new thermal paste to both the cpu and gpu. The temps are now this:

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o800/alanme123/temp2_zpsb31e05b5.png

Please let me know if this is still abnormal.. Thanks in advance!

After running for a longer time, the gpu temp idled at 70 celcius and 63.. It's a little bit better but not much.

Also, I forgot to mention that I'm running three monitors on the GPU.. which may be the reason why the temps are so abnormally high?? I just realized this now.
 
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inzone

inzone

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Your CPU temps are better but still a bit high and the GPU is higher and that may be as you say because of the triple monitor set up. The GPU does have a higher TDP then a CPU so the temps are allowed to go higher before shut down.
I would still suggest downloading Real Temp as it will read the CPU temps much better.
 
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MC_K7

MC_K7

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Still seems a bit too high for me.

How did you re-apply thermal paste? Did you remove old paste correctly? Usually the best way to remove the old paste is with Isopropyl alcohol or with the following product:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm

And as inzone mentioned earlier do not apply too much paste, if you put too much it will have the reversal effect and your temps will get higher. You just need to put a grain of rice.
 
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MC_K7

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OK these look like more normal temps for a i7-930. For instance, I have a i5-2500K with stock cooler and my temps are around 35C. But as I said first generation of i7s like yours ran a little hotter so I guess your temps are normal now. Anyways, around 40C is far from being critical because this CPU can go close up to 100C before being damaged. Yeah, forgot to mention that it might take some time for the temps to adjust after you re-apply some paste. Usually temps become better after a few hours or few days or usage as the paste settles.

And about the GPU I don't know what to say, I never used 3 monitors so I don't know if it's normal that it runs hotter even on idle. But it sure has a lot more pixels to deal with.
 
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inzone

inzone

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You haven't overclocked or changed any voltage settings in the bios have you ? Maybe running three monitors is affecting the CPU along with the GPU. The only way to test is run a single monitor setup and see what your temps are then.

When you did your clean out did you also do the heat sink fans and fins ?
 
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alanme123

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I will wait for a day or two and see if the temps go down then. Also, I did not overclock or changed any voltage at all. I also cleaned out the heat sink fans and everything else in my computer. The three monitors might be affecting the temps. I will try with only a one monitor setup. Thanks for the help guys.
 
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