AMD Athlon X4 860K CPU vs Package heat

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Pentarctagon

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Aug 8, 2015
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Hi,

I have a AMD Athlon X4 860K CPU that was just installed, with no overclocking etc. and I'm a bit confused as to I'm seeing from tools that report the heat of the CPU.

Speccy reports that the CPU, which is sitting at a constant ~30% usage (which is almost entirely from "WMI Provider Host" and next on my list to figure out what's going on), is constantly at least 70C+:

6a8pzar.png


Using HWMonitor, it reports the CPU/Mainboard to be in the mid 30C range but the package to be in the 70C+ range:

4onlQgm.png


AMD Overdrive supports that the CPU is not that hot directly, since it reports the thermal margin is in the upper 40C range:

fXBrtVl.png


which definitely seems good, or better at least. The back of the motherboard is hot to the touch, so I'm pretty sure this isn't just the temperature being misreported, and any part of the PC being 70C+ when not under heavy load seems to me like a fairly serious problem, but what I haven't been able to find a clear answer to is whether or not that Package heat is actually a problem or it's expected and fine.
 
Solution
Z
You put thermal paste on a stock fan ??

stock fan comes pre-applied with thermal paste so you just put it on the processor , applying more paste makes it too much for a good heat transfer

So if you did , get the fan out and clean the base with thermal paste cleaner , also clean the thermal on the processor with thermal paste cleaner , then apply pea sized new paste in the middle of the processor and put in the stock fan
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Pentarctagon

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Aug 8, 2015
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The fans are on for the CPU, GPU, and the back of the case. Both sides of the case are also off, and it's in my basement which stays between 65F and 70F.

The CPU fan is, as far as I can tell, seated properly. I put thermal paste on before placing it and it doesn't move or wiggle at all if I try to shift it.
 
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ZENprime

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Jul 2, 2015
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You put thermal paste on a stock fan ??

stock fan comes pre-applied with thermal paste so you just put it on the processor , applying more paste makes it too much for a good heat transfer

So if you did , get the fan out and clean the base with thermal paste cleaner , also clean the thermal on the processor with thermal paste cleaner , then apply pea sized new paste in the middle of the processor and put in the stock fan
 
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Solution
Barty1884

Barty1884

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Apr 16, 2015
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For AMD, download Overdrive and monitor from there. You're looking more at the thermal margin, than the reported temp!

I had the same situation about a month ago (first AMD CPU) and thermal margin explanations & overdrive cleared everything up for me.
 
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Pentarctagon

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Aug 8, 2015
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Yeah, that was part of the problem. What also ended up helping was just pointing a room fan at the back of the motherboard, so airflow was apparently an issue as well.
 
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