Is this running too hot?

SpywareShooterSpywareShooter 127.0.0.1
edited January 2005 in Hardware
I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum... I am completely illiterate about computer hardware. I don't even know which part of the computer the BIOS is telling me the temperature of.

I just hit F1 to boot into setup, and it said my computer was running at 53-54ºC (127-129ºF). This seems to hot for me. I think that my other computer was running at 46ºC the last time I checked. Both of these computers are brand new. This one is an HP Pavillion a706n (AMD Athlon 3000+, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 160GB HD. Is this temperature too hot? What can I do to cool it down?

It's only been about 2 weeks since this computer has been out of the package. When should I be cleaning it?

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    It's hot for an Athlon, but it won't damage anything.
  • SpywareShooterSpywareShooter 127.0.0.1
    edited January 2005
    What should it be running at? And should I monitor this temperature like once a day to make sure it doesn't rise?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    It <i>should</i> be running around 105-120*F depending on the temperature of the room and home. But seeing as it's an OEM computer, the heatsink has got to be complete crap; which is probably why the temperature is horrible.

    You won't have to watch the temperature, either. The computer will crash repeatedly if it gets hot enough, and this is long before the damage point of the cpu.
  • SpywareShooterSpywareShooter 127.0.0.1
    edited January 2005
    Okay, thanks. It hasn't started crashing yet or anything. What should I do if it does?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    Start counting pennies for a new heatsink or a can of compressed air.
  • SpywareShooterSpywareShooter 127.0.0.1
    edited January 2005
    Sorry for asking so many questions, but what is the compressed air for? To clean it?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    Yep.
  • SpywareShooterSpywareShooter 127.0.0.1
    edited January 2005
    But it's only 2 weeks old, it shouldn't be dirty already, right?

    I just went into setup again, and the temp is up to 133ºF. I think I may know the problem. There is a shelf about 1/16 of an inch above the desktop, just enough so that the computer will fit in. I think that this may be restricting air flow in/out of the desktop. Tomorrow I am going to try to move it up and see if that helps.

    Also I checked the other computer and it's running around 111ºF (Athlon 3200+). I think that's about normal. It's about 2 months old and has never been cleaned.
  • MadballMadball Fort Benton, MT
    edited January 2005
    I don't think you have to worry about anything. I've seen Athlons that have been running for years and are hotter than yours with no ill effects. Those OEM heatsinks are crap. My Athlon 3200+ is running at 96F on a good quality heatsink. Don't worry about yours, it'll be fine.
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited January 2005
    Yeah giving it more airflow will help the temps out some.
  • SpywareShooterSpywareShooter 127.0.0.1
    edited January 2005
    Last night I checked the temp again and it was about 132ºF before removing the shelf. I just checked it again bout an hour ago, and it went down to 131ºF, one degree less without the shelf. Not much of a difference.

    I also compared the fan speeds to those on the other new computer. The other one, which is running at a lower temperature of around 110ºF, has fans spinning at about 500RPM less than this computer. This seemed very strange to me, a computer that is older by a few months (more time to collect dust and stuff), with fans spinning at a slower rate, keeps the CPU Temperature cooler. However, I just found out why that was happening. This computer has two VERY small air vents on each side (about 2in² each), and two circular round vents in the back, with a diameter of about 1½ inches each.

    The other computer has one small air vent the same as those on this computer, and the two circular ones at the back. However, on the right side of the desktop, there is a very large one, all the way around the HP logo (those who have an HP desktop should know what I mean).

    This being a much cheaper computer than the other one, should the air vents differ so much in size?
  • MadballMadball Fort Benton, MT
    edited January 2005
    Is there anyway to install a fan in the case? There should be a place to mount one in the back or front of the case. Use a fan in back to pull air out or a fan in front to push air in.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited January 2005
    betcha if you take the side panel off the computer running at 130*F+ it'll cool down substantially
  • SpywareShooterSpywareShooter 127.0.0.1
    edited January 2005
    But if I take the side panel off, wouldn't that expose all of the inside to potential damange and dust? Also isn't the case all one piece?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    A closed case has dozens of cubic inches of exposed space just through the various gaps between case pieces; it's already exposed to dust, and nothing can damage it unless something crawls in there, gets thrown in there, or falls in there. The case is not one piece.. They don't just seal up a computer in a welded metal box, never to receive maintenance again. As a matter of fact, depending on the quality of the case it can be stripped down nearly to its constituent pieces: chassis, panelling, etc.
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