CPU Idle Temps at 60C, is this too high?

Jenkins453 · Dec 8, 2014

I feel like these are very high for temps on a CPU. I have the AMD FX-4170 and everything is stock, so I'm unsure of why the temps would be this high. Also I'm getting the temps from BIOS. Lastly I cant seem to find any specs or temp limits for this CPU anywhere... so I'm not sure what the safe operating range is.

Vexillarius · Dec 8, 2014

That's way to high for an idle temp. At full load that CPU shouldn't exceed 61 degrees Celsius.

Have you cleaned your system recently? How's your airflow?

menetlaus · Dec 8, 2014

60C at idle is insanely high.

Only way I know of for a CPU to get that hot is if the cooler is not making good thermal contact with the CPU.

I'd suggest getting some decent (easily found for <$10) thermal compound, remove the cooler, clean the stock junk off it and the CPU (I use rubbing alcohol and kleenex/q-tips), put a small dot bout the size of a small pea of new compound on the CPU, and re-install the cooler.

You could also look at a cheap (<$30) after market cooler and go for a bit of an upgrade at the same time.

menetlaus · Dec 8, 2014

Oops, Vex makes a very good point - quick look at the fins on the heatsink will let you know if so clogged and full of c**p that it isn't working properly.

Jenkins453 · Dec 8, 2014

I actually cleaned out my system today when I installed a new PSU. As for airflow right now I have it running with the side panel off, and 2 120mm fans with push-pull. I dont remember having a heat issue in the last few months, but then again I also havent been monitoring it super closely either

DonQuixoteMC · Dec 8, 2014

Aside from what everyone else has been saying, download and install Malwarebytes and scan your computer. All too often these problems are caused by a boatload of malware running up the CPU cycles. It's worth a check.

Jenkins453 · Dec 8, 2014

Another side note: I use HWMonitor to monitor most of my temps, which currently is showing the CPU at 34C, yet BIOS says 60C

DonQuixoteMC · Dec 8, 2014

If this is a computer you've had for a while, are you getting worse FPS than what you used to? If not, BIOS might be reporting the temperature incorrectly. 34C sounds MUCH more reasonable.

Jenkins453 · Dec 8, 2014

I have had the case, and CPU for a while, other than that the PSU, SSHD, GPU, RAM, and Motherboard have all been replaced within the last year at most. The BIOS is that ASUS utility that comes with the M5A97 LE R2.0. I will be getting a new full tower this christmas as well, that has 6 fans on it instead of my current 3. FPS wise, I havent noticed any big issues, other than the very occasional Frame drop in LoL. In Payday 2 I dont notice any issues.

EDIT: I have never gotten any alerts either saying that my CPU is getting too hot either and I have had some Prolonged (4+ hour) gaming sessions in things like Far Cry 3 and Total War games

DonQuixoteMC · Dec 8, 2014

I think you're just getting a bad temp reading then. You would definitely notice if your CPU was running at 60C idle. Your games would practically be unplayable/your computer would shut down as soon as you launched a game.

Jenkins453 · Dec 8, 2014

Alright great, makes my worriedness go away. As for the heatsink, I will clean it out also just to be on the safe side. In case I do run into it and know what it looks like if it does occur, what exactly are the "symptoms" of a CPU that is running incredibly hot?

Vexillarius · Dec 9, 2014

Slowdowns because of throttling, shutdowns in the worst case.

DonQuixoteMC · Dec 9, 2014

Yeah, sorry I didn't specify.

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