P4 3.0 Ghz S478 - How hot should it run?

[Fred Finisterre]

And what temp should be considered a problem (I'm using Mother Board Monitor
software to monitor).

It's on a Gigabyte GA-8S655FX-L mobo with the standard Intel fan.

Thanks,

Fred.

 

[Gregory]

And what temp should be considered a problem (I'm using Mother Board
Monitor
software to monitor).

It's on a Gigabyte GA-8S655FX-L mobo with the standard Intel fan.

Thanks,

Fred.

I am having similar problems with a 3.2ghz S478 prescott. With only the cpu
cooler, it idles around 55C and reaches 75C under load, although I have a
suspicion that the motherboard readings are maybe 8C too high (using an Abit
IS7) because the CPU doesn't throttle until 78C.

Adding a massive and deafening case fan right above the CPU (80mm, 4500rpm),
the temperatures drop to 40C idle, 65C under load (again maybe 8C higher
than reality). Ambient room temperature is around 30C.

It's true that these CPUs are very power hungry and are difficult to cool
adequately. While anything below 70C is considered "within spec", most
people want to keep the temperature below 50C to ensure a longer life for
their processor.

I'm currently working on trying lower the temperature at lower noise levels.
I've noticed a lot of air warms up gets trapped around the heatsink,
well-positioned case fans (and keeping your case relatively clutter-free)
can make a difference.

Gregory

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

I am having similar problems with a 3.2ghz S478 prescott. With only the cpu
cooler, it idles around 55C and reaches 75C under load, although I have a
suspicion that the motherboard readings are maybe 8C too high (using an Abit
IS7) because the CPU doesn't throttle until 78C.

Adding a massive and deafening case fan right above the CPU (80mm, 4500rpm),
the temperatures drop to 40C idle, 65C under load (again maybe 8C higher
than reality). Ambient room temperature is around 30C.

It's true that these CPUs are very power hungry and are difficult to cool
adequately. While anything below 70C is considered "within spec", most
people want to keep the temperature below 50C to ensure a longer life for
their processor.

Why? The sooner the processor gets put out of its misery the better (and
the damn things are specified/designed to last for 2x the warranty
period at the MAXIMUM operating temperature). I mean who is really going
to want a S478 Prescott in 2106 .. who =really= wanted one in 2006??

For the benefit of the OP - the things thermally throttle, so don't
worry about it. And if ambient is up at 30c Gregory, it's time you
invested in some aircon, not bigger fans!! (Says he, sitting here smugly
at 25c, watching the electricity meter spin like a top).

 

[Gregory]

Why?
Dunno, I haven't managed to get mine below 65C under load. Fear of
malfunction no doubt; this will be greater at 70 than at 40...

The sooner the processor gets put out of its misery the better (and the
damn things are specified/designed to last for 2x the warranty period at
the MAXIMUM operating temperature). I mean who is really going to want a
S478 Prescott in 2106 .. who =really= wanted one in 2006??

Well, I for one am quite happy with my 3.2ghz processor, and upgrading to
another socket (whether intel or amd) will not provide a *major* performance
advantage. Sure there's dual core, but these are not yet useful for the
majority of users. I'm sure it will be garbage in 5 years time (let alone
2106), but right now it's certainly enough for most.

For the benefit of the OP - the things thermally throttle, so don't worry
about it. And if ambient is up at 30c Gregory, it's time you invested in
some aircon, not bigger fans!! (Says he, sitting here smugly at 25c,
watching the electricity meter spin like a top).

Thanks for the advice, but I'm moving out of the country in 2 months, so I'm
not investing in aircon (which I do have in some rooms, just not where this
particular prescott is located).

Gregory

 

[Mike T.]

And what temp should be considered a problem (I'm using Mother Board
Monitor software to monitor).

It's on a Gigabyte GA-8S655FX-L mobo with the standard Intel fan.

Thanks,

Fred.

Per official specs, it's OK up to 70C. You should worry if you see it hit
55C regularly, though. -Dave

 

[John Jordan]

I am having similar problems with a 3.2ghz S478 prescott. With only the cpu
cooler, it idles around 55C and reaches 75C under load, although I have a
suspicion that the motherboard readings are maybe 8C too high (using an Abit
IS7) because the CPU doesn't throttle until 78C.

78C is the standard throttle temp for Prescotts, so your board's
readings are probably spot on. For Northwoods the throttle temp was 70-72C.

As far as long term damage is concerned, the temperature of the VRM
components is more likely to be the limiting factor.

 

[Gregory]

78C is the standard throttle temp for Prescotts, so your board's readings
are probably spot on. For Northwoods the throttle temp was 70-72C.

As far as long term damage is concerned, the temperature of the VRM
components is more likely to be the limiting factor.

Oh, OK. I assumed it was around 70C as intel's thermal spec for my processor
(http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL7E5) is 69.1C. Seems
a bit odd to throttle much higher than this. I can go back to worrying about
my processor then.

 

[Kent_Diego]

....

I'm currently working on trying lower the temperature at lower noise
levels. I've noticed a lot of air warms up gets trapped around the
heatsink, ....

Be sure that the power supply fan is blowing lots of hot air out of the
case. I once had a PS with bottom mounted fan that blew the hot air at the
processor. When I reversed the fan and blocked off holes at inside end of PS
the case temperatures dropped 11C.

 

[Gregory]

Be sure that the power supply fan is blowing lots of hot air out of the
case. I once had a PS with bottom mounted fan that blew the hot air at the
processor. When I reversed the fan and blocked off holes at inside end of
PS the case temperatures dropped 11C.

Prepare to laugh. The rear exhaust fan on my PSU does indeed blow lots of
hot air out, but... it has no intake fan on the bottom. I'm changing it for
a modular one (with an intake fan) soon, and I hope it will make a
difference.

 

[Spajky]

the temps are correct taken from Cpu on board temp.diode !!!
Normal for PrescHot-s ...

Oh, OK. I assumed it was around 70C as intel's thermal spec for my processor
(http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL7E5) is 69.1C. Seems
a bit odd to throttle much higher than this. I can go back to worrying about
my processor then.

no you don´t, those max. temps are substrate (package or IHS !)
max. temps long term full load; that means that short term ones can
be higher!!!

That means that real inside die temps (cpu_onDie_diode) can be about
20°C higher or even more (so 90°C!). Thermal throttling starts approx.
at 100°C in_die temp., while thermal shutdown at about 130°C internal
to prevent so called "thermal runaway!

That example is is tipical when the Cpu fan dies! On bottom od HSF you
have almost 70°C, While inside die is over 100°C !!! (with PrescHot!)
& (Cpu!) throttling is on to prevent overheating! The other case is
similar in very poorly ventilated case setup or if the plastic HSF
holder on MoBo breaks.

So do not worry, but keepin´it low temps helps stability & speed few %
degradation in performance if not so hot. Also lower CPU temps helps
keeping MoBo caps living longer, since mostly warm air is blowing from
Cpu HSF onto them usually.

Also in Bios under power managment, you have an option of power
management, set them properly /time & mode/ & throttling max.(12,5%)
at max temps on-Die your MoBo ever told you in hottest summer (80°C
should be Ok for warning) so at that temps your MoBo will be
throttlin´ down your system a bit before CPU throttling should kick
in!

Don´t worry too much about temps ...