Athlon Temperature too high

[l3xus]

I am currently running an Athlon x2 @2.7ghz. I want to overclock it but my temperature is way to high. Its 45c on idle and 68c on 100% load. What should I do and what temperature is safe for this processor.

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Your first call should be an aftermarket heatsink and fan, depending on what case you have, you might want a
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2206
or you could go down the fisherprice water route and take a http://www.guru3d.com/article/corsair-h50-cpu-cooler-review/
Those temps arent majorly worrisome, but as your system ages they will get higher, and as you want to overclock, you'll be needing to sort cooling out first, as a guideline keep idle in the thirties and worry if loads at 60
Moto

 

[l3xus]

If I upgrade the processor, what would be the best bang for my buck. I am on a tight budget. I was looking into the Phenom II X3 740: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681910369

 

[l3xus]

This is the right link. The one before doesn't work
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103699

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Post your Mobo model number for us,
depends on what use you intend for it as well,
if your gaming then an X3 440 would also be fine at the moment
Moto

 

[l3xus]

I am running it on a ASUS M3A78-EM. I know its a cheap board but it does the job. I can support Phenom.

Post your Mobo model number for us,
depends on what use you intend for it as well,
if your gaming then an X3 440 would also be fine at the moment
Moto

 

[Motopsychojdn]

As your working on a tight budget I recommended the 440, or 445, its more than sufficient for most needs,
without going ott on cost, you can go for something higher but it would be costing you unnecessarily imo.
Moto

 

[l3xus]

Ya that sound just right. Most likely I will wait and get a Phenom later on. A friend gave me a Stock Phenom CPU Cooler (with heatpipes). My Temperature went down to 39c idle and 59c 100% load. And on top of that I was able to overclock it from 2.7ghz to 3.0ghz stable on that cooler. That will do the job for a while. =)

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Cool, Im glad you got sorted man,
Moto

 

[l3xus]

Thanks.

 

[l3xus]

Best answer selected by l3xus.