I think my temps are too high at idle - i5 2500K

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Michael_123

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Hi there. I have the i5-2500K processor and it's at stock speeds. I've been reading around online that people get much lower idle temps than I do. I usually get anywhere in the low to high 30's when I have nothing open and the computer left on for over an hour. Currently my cores are as follows (using Real Temp): 40, 40, 36, 34. That's with 5 Firefox tabs open (Facebook, Google, two Tomshardware pages & Techpowerup page) and Real Temp as well. My temps will occasionally go up and down, but it's not by much. Compared to those with the same processor, my temps are quite high for idle. I'm currently using the Cooler Master 212 EVO and it's at low to medium speed right now. I try to keep my system as quiet as possible, but maybe I'm supposed to have it on max speeds? I have two 140mm fans in the front, one 120mm on top, one 120mm at the rear and one 120mm on my 212 EVO. They're all running at low to medium-high speeds. I don't know the exact ambient temperature of my room, but it's below 30 C degrees. It's winter time here in Canada so it's not hot. It's cool enough in my room that I'm still fully clothed and sitting comfortably at my computer desk. My CPU clock speeds vary between 1600Ghz and 3500GHz because of the Turbo Boost Technology in it. The voltage is set to auto. Should I give that a permanent setting? Or leave it at auto? For the thermal paste, I had to use the stuff that came with my 212 EVO. The placement of my PC is located under my computer desk with the rear almost against the wall. Ummm I'm not sure what else to provide as to get help on this. I'll list my current build down below. If anyone has any solutions as to why I'm getting high temps, then please let me know. Thanks in advance! :)

***Build***
Case: NZXT S340 (will be delivered in the next couple days!!!)
Mobo: ASRock Z75 Pro3
CPU: i5-2500K @3.3Ghz (not OC)
Cooler: CM 212 EVO (will be replaced with the Kraken X61 in the near future)
GPU: MSI GTX 560 Ti Hawk @1GB @950Mhz (will be replaced with the GTX 960 in the future)
Ram: G.Skill NS 8GB @1333Mhz (dual-channel setup)
HDD: Western Digital Blue 1TB @7200 RPM
PSU: Antec EarthWatt 650W (will be replaced with the EVGA G2 750W fully-modular)
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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I don't see any problems.

Other people's temperatures will vary by many factors including the CPU cooler. Plus, having Firefox open is not "idle" and can add several degrees.

(34 to 40degC is quite reasonable, so I highly doubt anybody with a similar cooler would be much lower... keep in mind the optimal max according to Intel is probably in the 75degC area and throttling would be closer to 100degC though I forget the exact value. You are always going to be several degrees warmer than room temperature in idle for starters so... it's a non-issue.)

It's really a non-issue since you aren't even close to overheating likely under full load.

Other:
Should you make voltage a permanent setting?

NO. absolutely not. varying the frequency and voltage automatically keeps the temperature down. It's like revving your car engine constantly when barely moving. There's no point.
 
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ST0RM91

ST0RM91

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I would firstly get a second reading of your temperature just to compare, try MSIAfterburner or coretemps.

I've probably misinterpreted what you've said but just to be sure, you didn't reuse old thermal paste?
 
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Michael_123

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Sorry about that. I should have also mentioned that even with nothing open, they're anywhere in the low to high 30's. Sometimes it might hit 40 degrees. I chose my words wrong when I said "idle, when I had Firefox open. lol!!! XD Sorry! So is there any need for me to worry? I've seen people with temps as low as mid to high 20's with the cooler I have. =/ I'm just OCD when it comes to noise and temps. XD Should I have my fans on high speeds? At the moment they're on low to medium-high because I can't stand having too much noise UNLESS it becomes necessary, know what I mean?
 
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Michael_123

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No of course I didn't reuse old thermal paste. XD Sorry if it wasn't clear in my initial post. I used the thermal paste that came with my Cooler Master 212 EVO. Meaning that I used the tube included with my cooler.

I use Real Temp to monitor my core temps, but I just installed and took a screenshot of Core Temp and will link it here. This is without anything EXCEPT Core Temp: http://img.techpowerup.org/151221/coretemp-scr.png

Also, I have all my fans (two front 140mm, one 120mm rear, one 120mm top & one 120mm on my 212 EVO) on low to medium-high speeds. Just letting you know. I try not to have my system too noisy. Unless I really have to. XD lol!
 
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ST0RM91

ST0RM91

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Haha I just had to check after cringing at my brother attempting to upgrade the pc I built him!

The temps don't seem too bad, what are they like gaming etc? since your case is air cooled and 50% of your exhaust ports are up against a wall / directly under a desk, have you thought about changing that? Be that adding an extra one up top or simply moving the case.
 
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Michael_123

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Haha! XD How did that go with your brother? I used to have two monitors so I could game on my main screen and have other stuff on the second one, such as temp monitoring programs, etc etc. I suppose they're not too high. I don't think I've ever seen my temps above 60 C degrees. Unfortunately, my room is incredibly small so there's not many places I can place my PC at. Plus the case itself is somewhat large, even though it's a Enermax Ostrog GT mid-tower case... it's still kinda big.

However, I'm supposed to have my NZXT S340 case delivered either tomorrow or Wednesday so it'll be much smaller and I'll be able to place it on top of the TV stand where my second monitor used to be. That should help a little, I suppose, right? I'm also gonna be grabbing the Kraken X61 AIO cooler sometime in the near future to replace my CM 212 EVO. Even so, would it help maybe speeding up my fans a little more? I want to avoid ramping up my speeds because it'll get loud. Unless it's necessary, then of course I'd have to. lol! XD

Maybe I'm just worrying too much about my temps and noise levels, but I'm OCD when it comes to things like that.
 
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Michael_123

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Are you basing that off of Intel's website? If so, then I guess there's nothing to worry about. Even so, I guess once I get my new NZXT S340 and later, the Kraken X61, my temps will be much lower than almost 40 C degrees at idle. I just want me temps lower. XD OCD alert.
 
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ST0RM91

ST0RM91

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He tried to add a water cooler (I'm not sure why). I walked in on him touching the pins on the underside on the cpu...


So long as you have proper airflow in the case, ie fans pointing in the right direction and a good configuration then you'll be fine :) With water cooling (H100) I'm browsing the internet etc at around room temperature (23c)
 
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Michael_123

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XD That would have been horrible if he shorted the computer or damaged something. lol! And thanks for the help! If I run into any future problems I'll give you a shout. :p
 
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