My temps are low, should I go ahead and overclock on stock heatsink?

[andythegeek]

Just installed HWMonitor and it's showing my CPU temp at idle at around 13 degrees c. I thought this was crazy low as most things I've read people say their normal idle is around 20-25 and a lot of people criticise the stock heatsink. But then when I think about it, it's middle of December, heating isn't on so cold room (rarely is, jumpers being worn, lower gas bills 😀) case is fairly well ventilated, there being a huge opening in the front where there used to be a separate DVD writer and the covering has since vanished and I have one case fan on the rear directing air outwards. I've just had an hour long play on Far Cry 4 with graphics all set at max and the hottest it got up to was 42 degrees.

I was planning on waiting until I get a new heat sink when pay day comes around before overclocking but wondered whether, with temps as low as they are at the mo, it would be wise to give it an overclock now? I will still replace the heatsink, but should I wait the extra two weeks until I do?

My rig

Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 MoBo
Xenta 600W 12cm Fan PSU
AMD FX 6300 CPU 3.5Ghz
8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz HyperX Genesis XMP Memory
GALAX GeForce GTX 970 EX OC 4096MB GDDR5

 

[lewisaro1]

youve got nothing to lose, as long as y ou do it properly and efficiently within a safety temperature margin youll be fine, youll want to take the overclock off when you get a new heatsink though so the thermal paste can properly set then overclock after a few days / weeks

 

[iron8orn]

nah dont oc on the stock heatsink man

what are you using to get temps?

 

[iron8orn]

youve got nothing to lose, as long as y ou do it properly and efficiently within a safety temperature margin youll be fine, youll want to take the overclock off when you get a new heatsink though so the thermal paste can properly set then overclock after a few days / weeks

need to find out if the temps are even reporting right before you can say that