I apparently have a CPU temperature problem. Help?

sixxone8

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Feb 10, 2013
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Alright, SO, be ready to read a good chunk of writing most likely, I am a blabber mouth when I start explaining things. Here goes:

In February of this year, I built my first system. Without going over all the specs, the parts that pertain to this problem are:
CPU- Intel i5 3570K (3.4GHz, so stock speed) (I use the integrated GPU on this CPU)
MOBO-MSI B75MA
Case- MSI s-6812
RAM- 8gb (2x4gb) 1333
Stock Heatsink, with the pre-applied thermal paste. Along with 2 case fans: a 120mm and an 80mm (I think 80, I know its smaller)


For a while I never really monitored the temperature, but I never really did a ton on it. Lately, I've been multi-tasking more and just monitoring the CPU temps with HWMonitor, and they seem kinda high. Idling around maybe 40C, which as far as I can tell is fine, but once it gets going it runs kinda hot. Maybe around 80C for a long session playing Team Fortress 2, and about the same if I watch youtube and play a DS emulator at the same time. (I've been saving money for a badass GPU for gaming, things just keep coming up) I don't watch CPU usage nearly as much as the temp, but I think at most it would be at 75%, but most likely 50% usage.

So I bought the humble bundle and started playing Batman Arkham City, a game from 2009. It runs fine and all, but I stopped playing when I saw my CPU temp hovering around 90C. According to intel the CPU will throttle at 105C, and I realllly didn't like being that close to it. So I went into the bios and set the smart fan control to sit around 65C, hoping that would do it. Well today I did a bit of video editing to trim down a long video, and while it was rendering I watched some youtube. My CPU temp hit 100C! I stopped the render immediately and closed out of everything until the temp went back down to around 70C, then started writing this.

Last night, I looked into a few aftermarket heatsinks, but I don't have a ton to spend on them, and honestly from everything I read the stock should be fine if I keep it at stock speed. I live in Ohio, so winter is coming and the furnace is on now, but no vents are really by the computer. My tower is elevated off the ground and has plenty of room for circulation.

So here are my thoughts on what it could be:
Case circulation is just poor and I need a better case
I need more fans, (I have one spot open on the MOBO for a fan but no room in the case)
I need an aftermarket heatsink
Or most likely, I should just re-apply thermal paste of my own.

Am I on the right track here? What do you guys suggest I should do? Until I get it more under control I'm not going to do much gaming or anything on it. I did use the intel CPU benchmark test and my CPU isn't damaged or anything, which is a giant relief to me. (obviously)

Any help or insight you give is greatly appreciated, thanks for your time.
 
Solution
From what you're saying, my guess is that several factors are to blame here. Your case doesn't allow for much airflow, so you may need a larger case with more fans available to keep the cool air moving through. Also, the stock thermal paste and heatsink may not be enough, especially if the airflow in your case is poor. Your best bet for a cheap solution which will undoubtedly bring your temps down to a reasonable range, would be to purchase a decent aftermarket cooler and some good quality thermal paste. Just replacing those should be enough to keep your temps in a good range, and will be much less expensive than a new case.

THIS LINK is a list of coolers that are compatible with your CPU, although I suggest finding some in...

Skeefers

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Aug 7, 2013
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From what you're saying, my guess is that several factors are to blame here. Your case doesn't allow for much airflow, so you may need a larger case with more fans available to keep the cool air moving through. Also, the stock thermal paste and heatsink may not be enough, especially if the airflow in your case is poor. Your best bet for a cheap solution which will undoubtedly bring your temps down to a reasonable range, would be to purchase a decent aftermarket cooler and some good quality thermal paste. Just replacing those should be enough to keep your temps in a good range, and will be much less expensive than a new case.

THIS LINK is a list of coolers that are compatible with your CPU, although I suggest finding some in your price range and linking them here so I can make a recommendation as there are some that are better than others.

THIS LINK is for thermal pastes; again, find some in your price range and I can make a recommendation as to which will be best.

If you opt to replace your case, I suggest going with a mid-tower vice your current micro-tower which will give you more room for some extra fans. I will also be happy to assist with that, if you choose to purchase one.
 
Solution

sixxone8

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Feb 10, 2013
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Dang thanks! Preferably I'd like to keep it under $25, but if more is needed I can just wait for a little bit until I get more. I don't really ever intend on overclocking, just adding a GPU in the future, so I don't think I need a really giant fan. I've heard all good things about Arctic Silver, so I think I'd prefer them!

I was thinking: This for paste, although I will admit I don't know much about paste lol. And something like this or this as a fan, although again i don't really know what I should be looking for, but what little I do know those seem like decent fans. Another quick question. Would I be better off with getting a fan that attaches to the back of the MOBO or are the push pins fine?
 

Skeefers

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Aug 7, 2013
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The Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste is what I use on my CPU, and have been using for years; I highly recommend it.

As for the fans, I'm not sure that the 2 you selected will be quite enough to cool your CPU properly, and I don't know that brand so I can't say whether or not they make reliable products. Based on the reviews, they look ok, but you'll notice that they also don't have very many. [url="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118128]THIS COOLER[/url] comes from a reputable manufacturer, and has almost 200 reviews with a great overall rating. I'd suggest you go with it, but make sure to look at the dimensions first to ensure that it will fit in your case.
 

sixxone8

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Feb 10, 2013
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Thanks for all your help! What I did for now since I'm a tad short is just buy the thermal paste, then I'm gonna reapply that and make sure the heatsink is on properly. Hopefully that will hold it over until I can get a bit more funds to buy a fan, especially with me not doing a ton on it. I built it for college and gaming and it isn't getting much use from that in almost a year now :p
 

sixxone8

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Feb 10, 2013
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So I ordered the paste, and it came today. I took apart my computer, put it on, and long story short it works great now. My heatsink had a layer of dust on it that could have been preventing air from getting through, however I think that after the bit of trouble I had installing the fan today that I might never have had it in perfectly. Ran a stress test and it didn't even hit 60C, so its perfect. Thanks again for your help, I'll be sure to pass it forward if I'm ever given the chance!