CPU Heats up when idle...

[silverknight1311]

Somehow when I leave my computer, it manages to heat up. When I first sit down ghost monitor shows a CPU temp of 52C...then as I use the computer, I can watch the CPU temp drop a degree about every three seconds until about 40C plus or minus a few. This drop happens in under a minute so I haven't a clue what cools it down so fast or why its heating up when not in use.

Any ideas?

It's an Athlon 64 X2 4600+. I have an 80mm fan in the front, back, and side of the case. The power supply has a 140mm fan. Could these or the CPU fan be the culprit?

 

[aziraphale]

Have you got q-fan control or something enabled? Could be it powers down the fan when nothing happens. Or you have some process running in the background that waits for idle CPU to run and do its deeds?

 

[silverknight1311]

Hmm, well I did install one of those animated fish screensavers way back so maybe that has the computer going even though the monitor is off. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll turn it off and see.