AMD FX 8350 Temperatures - Questions

[OneHaplessGamer]

Okay, I'll try to keep things simple because I've become a bit concerned about this now.

I have a new processor - AMD FX 8350 from an FX 4130, and a new heatsink from a rather odd one I had in my computer when I first got it with the 4130. I also have a new cooler, used, from a friend of my brother's with a new fan - an Insignia fan, 4-pin 120 mm. The cooler/heatsink is a Cooler Master GeminII S524 Ver. 2. My brother helped with adding the new processor in and the 'new' cooler - the previous owner had the same processor I have now I should add, and the Cooler Master thermal paste from the cooler was used. Sounds okay so far, right?

Well... I noticed when I first booted the computer up yesterday after the installation process I had idle temperatures that would go from around 18C if I was absolutely idle, but even if I move the mouse it would shoot up to around something like 28C to even 30C - still the same case. Watching a video or looking around online brings it to 30-40C, sometimes 50C is I open up a number of tabs on Chrome or have a YouTube video playing with a few extra tabs or a program up as well. After trying out a little bit of Overwatch 1v1 duels, max graphic settings as well, I'd say this was about 10 to 15 minutes, my max temp went to about 60-61C according to Open Hardware Monitor. This seemed a bit odd and worrying to me (although i seem to worry about every tiny detail, but enough about my personal problems ).

Earlier tonight I decided to do a few other tests - I had Avast do a full system scan and Malwarebytes do a scan at the same time and left them to do their business - when i returned after awhile, OpenHardwareMonitor said my max. temperature reached was 64C. This was even weirder... Then earlier, before I came onto this site to start typing this thread, I tested ESO and used Core Temp and CPUID HWMonitor check my temperatures. Around five to ten minutes, give or take, and I saw both programs listed max temperatures reached for the CPU was 66C (Core Temp) and 65C (CPUID HWMonitor). Is this alright? I know the AMD website states the 'maximum safe temperature' for this processor is 62C - and no, I'm NOT overclocking, it's all stock - but is it still safe if it goes a few degrees higher? Is there something I've got wrong?

Would it degrade the CPU's 'health' at all for those brief moments of 64-66C temps?

Is there anything that I can do to reduce the temps? There were some brief movements as I attempted to keep the heatsink still when the backplate was being added - up and down motions as I tried to have the heatsink fully secured so my brother could fit the backplate on, I should mention.

Also, current setup:

AMD FX 8350 Processor with Cooler Master GeminII S524 Ver. 2 heatsink
Gigabyte GA 990FXA-UD3 R5 Motherboard
EVGA Bronze 600 watt PSU
Radeon RX 480 GPU, 8 GB
x2 Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB sticks (16GB RAM total)

 

[ingtar33]

FX piledriver CPUs are known for this issue; they don't reliably report their temps, and suffer from wild temp swings.

-I know this is happening because unless you live in an icebox the 18C isn't a legit temp. <35C or so typically piledrivers report false temps, yours looks like it is one of them.

50C is a pretty normal range of temp for a piledriver to work in.

Now we don't know your cpu is reporting any of it's temps right. A good way to check, is when it's under load check and see what the motherboard "socket" temp is. The socket temp lags a bit behind the cpu temp, so you won't really see spikes in temp with it. However, if you have a steady consistent cpu temp, check the motherboard socket temp, it should be the hottest part of the motherboard, and it should be +10C over the reported CPU temp. So if the socket temp is 70C you can assume a proper reported cpu temp to be around 60C.

now assuming the cpu temps are being reported right~

Your GeminII is a bad cpu cooler. And probably is the source of the problem. You'll need to get a real cooler to handle the FX 8 core.

 

[OneHaplessGamer]

FX piledriver CPUs are known for this issue; they don't reliably report their temps, and suffer from wild temp swings.

-I know this is happening because unless you live in an icebox the 18C isn't a legit temp. <35C or so typically piledrivers report false temps, yours looks like it is one of them.

50C is a pretty normal range of temp for a piledriver to work in.

Now we don't know your cpu is reporting any of it's temps right. A good way to check, is when it's under load check and see what the motherboard "socket" temp is. The socket temp lags a bit behind the cpu temp, so you won't really see spikes in temp with it. However, if you have a steady consistent cpu temp, check the motherboard socket temp, it should be the hottest part of the motherboard, and it should be +10C over the reported CPU temp. So if the socket temp is 70C you can assume a proper reported cpu temp to be around 60C.

now assuming the cpu temps are being reported right~

Your GeminII is a bad cpu cooler. And probably is the source of the problem. You'll need to get a real cooler to handle the FX 8 core.

I see.... part of me has been wondering if something like this would be good for keeping things as cool as possible - a Corsair, or any brand, water cooling system for around $100 or so off Newegg or from Best Buy. Speaking of which, would something like this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/corsair-hydro-series-240mm-liquid-cpu-cooler-black-gray/7313029.p?skuId=7313029 fit on an AM3+ socket if it can fit on an AM3?

 

[Ecky]

My 2 cents: Don't buy an AiO cooler, and don't spend $100 on cooling for an FX.

Air coolers perform better at the same price, and it's not necessary to spend maybe $25-35 to get good temps. Take a look at the Cryorig H7.

 

[ingtar33]

FX piledriver CPUs are known for this issue; they don't reliably report their temps, and suffer from wild temp swings.

-I know this is happening because unless you live in an icebox the 18C isn't a legit temp. <35C or so typically piledrivers report false temps, yours looks like it is one of them.

50C is a pretty normal range of temp for a piledriver to work in.

Now we don't know your cpu is reporting any of it's temps right. A good way to check, is when it's under load check and see what the motherboard "socket" temp is. The socket temp lags a bit behind the cpu temp, so you won't really see spikes in temp with it. However, if you have a steady consistent cpu temp, check the motherboard socket temp, it should be the hottest part of the motherboard, and it should be +10C over the reported CPU temp. So if the socket temp is 70C you can assume a proper reported cpu temp to be around 60C.

now assuming the cpu temps are being reported right~

Your GeminII is a bad cpu cooler. And probably is the source of the problem. You'll need to get a real cooler to handle the FX 8 core.

I see.... part of me has been wondering if something like this would be good for keeping things as cool as possible - a Corsair, or any brand, water cooling system for around $100 or so off Newegg or from Best Buy. Speaking of which, would something like this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/corsair-hydro-series-240mm-liquid-cpu-cooler-black-gray/7313029.p?skuId=7313029 fit on an AM3+ socket if it can fit on an AM3?

Ecky has a point; sorta.

Listen, if you ever plan to overclock that 8core you'll need a real water system, be it an AIO or a custom loop, air coolers can't handle the wild temp swings like a liquid system can; so while the overall/average temp of an air cooler will be competitive with a AIO when cooling an FX, the temp spikes will threaten your system's stability in an overclocking/stressing scenario, and an air cooler will not be up to it.

If you have no plans to ever overclock that FX cpu, then a good air tower should do the job. You can probably even get away with something cheap like a Hyper 212 Evo. While the evo isn't really up to the job of cooling an overclocked FX 8core, it should be able to handle one at stock.

 

[Ecky]

The vast majority of people overclocking FX CPUs use air coolers. It can be done, as is evidenced by the people doing it. Certainly OP is not likely to hit 5.3ghz on air (if they had the intent of overclocking), but I also don't think it makes sense to sink $100+ into cooling a CPU that's often still outperformed in games by a $100 CPU. A decent air cooler will get most of the way there, providing 95% of the performance, at a fraction of the cost.

 

[ingtar33]

The vast majority of people overclocking FX CPUs use air coolers. It can be done, as is evidenced by the people doing it. Certainly OP is not likely to hit 5.3ghz on air (if they had the intent of overclocking), but I also don't think it makes sense to sink $100+ into cooling a CPU that's often still outperformed in games by a $100 CPU. A decent air cooler will get most of the way there, providing 95% of the performance, at a fraction of the cost.

not disagreeing, though generally the ceiling for top end air aircooled FX is around 4.7GHz. (+ or - 0.1) Usually a 240mm rad water cooler can get the FX into the 4.8-5.1 GHz range; depending on the chip.

 

[sla70r]

Your Temps are completely fine , and actually lower than average for that processor. 61 c max is actually impressive. You don't need to purchase anything.

 

[OneHaplessGamer]

Your Temps are completely fine , and actually lower than average for that processor. 61 c max is actually impressive. You don't need to purchase anything.

Even though the temps have spiked to around 63-66C according to OpenHardwareMonitor, CPUID HWMonitor, and Core Temp and their listed highest temps when monitoring and testing the heatsink I have?

 

[Ecky]

It's warm, but I'm inclined to believe that if you're not seeing throttling or instability, it's probably fine to leave it alone.

 

[OneHaplessGamer]

It's warm, but I'm inclined to believe that if you're not seeing throttling or instability, it's probably fine to leave it alone.

Hmm... I'm still thinking about getting a liquid cooling system as a precaution though - that, and it should have a better performance than the GeminII I have in my tower right now. It could be the size of the heatsink restricting some of the air flow in my tower that's adding to the heat, and even if the brief surges where it hits past the 62C 'official max temp' listed by AMD are safe, I'd rather not take a chance.

Also, Ecky, if I may ask, is there some sort of bias against AiO liquid coolers? Or would a closed-loop, AiO liquid cooling kit be alright for keeping a CPU like the 8350 cool(er)? I know you said in your first post here to not by one - assuming you meant in this case though - but I wouldn't mind learning more about AiO liquid coolers and more about liquid cooling (anyone who knows about this stuff and gives this threat a read, please feel free to share what you can about this stuff - the more I have to learn, the better).

 

[8350rocks]

FX piledriver CPUs are known for this issue; they don't reliably report their temps, and suffer from wild temp swings.

-I know this is happening because unless you live in an icebox the 18C isn't a legit temp. <35C or so typically piledrivers report false temps, yours looks like it is one of them.

50C is a pretty normal range of temp for a piledriver to work in.

Now we don't know your cpu is reporting any of it's temps right. A good way to check, is when it's under load check and see what the motherboard "socket" temp is. The socket temp lags a bit behind the cpu temp, so you won't really see spikes in temp with it. However, if you have a steady consistent cpu temp, check the motherboard socket temp, it should be the hottest part of the motherboard, and it should be +10C over the reported CPU temp. So if the socket temp is 70C you can assume a proper reported cpu temp to be around 60C.

now assuming the cpu temps are being reported right~

Your GeminII is a bad cpu cooler. And probably is the source of the problem. You'll need to get a real cooler to handle the FX 8 core.

I see.... part of me has been wondering if something like this would be good for keeping things as cool as possible - a Corsair, or any brand, water cooling system for around $100 or so off Newegg or from Best Buy. Speaking of which, would something like this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/corsair-hydro-series-240mm-liquid-cpu-cooler-black-gray/7313029.p?skuId=7313029 fit on an AM3+ socket if it can fit on an AM3?

Cooler Master 212 EVO is about as good as you can get...just get 2 solid aftermarket fans setup in push/pull config and temp issues should go away.

 

[8350rocks]

It's warm, but I'm inclined to believe that if you're not seeing throttling or instability, it's probably fine to leave it alone.

Hmm... I'm still thinking about getting a liquid cooling system as a precaution though - that, and it should have a better performance than the GeminII I have in my tower right now. It could be the size of the heatsink restricting some of the air flow in my tower that's adding to the heat, and even if the brief surges where it hits past the 62C 'official max temp' listed by AMD are safe, I'd rather not take a chance.

Also, Ecky, if I may ask, is there some sort of bias against AiO liquid coolers? Or would a closed-loop, AiO liquid cooling kit be alright for keeping a CPU like the 8350 cool(er)? I know you said in your first post here to not by one - assuming you meant in this case though - but I wouldn't mind learning more about AiO liquid coolers and more about liquid cooling (anyone who knows about this stuff and gives this threat a read, please feel free to share what you can about this stuff - the more I have to learn, the better).

Because you spend significantly more for not significantly better cooling.

Unless you go something like kraken x60 or H110i you are wasting your money...and even then a custom solution is often far better for similar price if you know what you are doing.

EDIT: I run a 9590 @ 5 GHz with turbo disabled and run a custom cooling solution using a radiator...but, doing things over again, a Noctua solution would have been less work, and cost less for roughly the same dissipation. My temp might rise a degree or two using one of those over what I have, but unless you are going for some crazy OC and using a 240 or 360 radiator to cool things down, air cooling is sufficient for your chip. My alternate rig runs an 8350 @ 4.7 GHz with CM 212 EVO in push/pull with 2 aftermarket JetFlo fans and I never have issues, even in South Texas summers while compiling/rendering, etc. Temps never break 52C on that rig.

 

[Ecky]

With cooling, surface area is the name of the game. AiO liquid coolers necessarily perform worse than similarly priced air coolers because you also have to pay for a waterblock, pump, tubing and coolant, meaning you're definitely going to get less cooling surface for the same price. To add insult to injury, pumps use power and dump sometimes significant amounts of heat into the coolant, which must also be dissipated by the radiator. They're often also noisy.

There's nothing inherent about water cooling that makes it good. It's just unnecessary cost and complication, when what you really need is a huge hunk of metal with fans on it.