Guys,
We have a Guide for this topic. It's a "Sticky" located at the top of the CPUs Forum, where
Core_Aurora posted his Thread. If you just glance up there you can't miss it;
Intel CPU Temperature Guide 2021. The answers are already there, so you might want to give it a read.
Core_Aurora,
Intel Desktop CPUs have not just one, but
two Thermal Specifications, which are called "Tcase" and "Tjunction". Here's the two specifications for your 3rd Generation i5-3330:
Tcase 67°C
Tjunction 105°C
Both specifications are shown on Intel's "
Datasheets", which are detailed technical documents that very few users ever look at. However, some users are aware of Intel's "
Product Specifications" website, which is a quick reference that shows
only Tcase for 6th Generation and earlier, or
only Tjunction for 7th Generation and later.
The first specification, Tcase, is what
iPeekYou was referring to, and he's correct, in that this specification is highly misleading, and has been confusing users since 2006.
For users of 6th Generation and earlier processors, such as you i5-3330, here's the source of the confusion; since processor temperatures are measured by "Core" temperatures, and there are numerous utilities for doing so, users simply "
assume" that Tcase must be maximum Core temperature.
Tcase is NOT Core temperature; it's IHS temperature.
Tcase is a "factory only" temperature that's measured on the external surface of the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) using a "thermocouple" sensor which is embedded in "engineering samples"
only. Retail CPUs do not have this sensor, so users have no way to monitor Tcase, nor are there any utilities to do so. Intel's intended purpose for this specification is for developers of aftermarket cooling solutions. This means that for end users,
Tcase is an irrelevant specification.
Tjunction is maximum Core temperature, which is also called "Tj Max" or "Throttle" temperature.
This is the Thermal Specification that defines the Core temperature
limit at which the processor will automatically "Throttle" (reduce Core speed and voltage) to safeguard against thermal damage. Processors that reach Throttle temperature can cause momentary hesitations in applications and frame stuttering in games.
Although Throttle temperature for your i5-3330 is 105°C, it's not OK for users to run their processors near Throttle temperature. The consensus among well informed and highly experienced reviewers, system builders and expert overclockers, is that it's prudent to observe a reasonable thermal margin below Throttle temperature for ultimate stability, performance and longevity. So regardless of environmental conditions, hardware configurations, software workloads or any other variables,
Core temperatures above 85°C are not recommended.
Here's the nominal operating range for Core temperature:
Core temperatures below 80°C are ideal.
If your load temperatures are under 80°C, then idle temperatures are of little interest. So even though your ambient temperature is
extremely high at 38°C which is about 100°F (the International Standard for "normal" room temperature is 22°C or 72°F), your Core temperatures are still safe.
There's nothing for you to be concerned about, so relax and enjoy your rig.
CT