Hello, I am new here so please forgive me if this isn't posted in the correct spot.
Back in July I decided it was time to get a better PC and build one myself. I talked to some friends and got a part list together. Here are the parts:
Case
Power Supply (430 Watt)
RAM (8 GB. 2 x 4GB)
Video Card
Motherboard
CPU
Optical Drive
Operating System
HDD
I've had it for a little while now and while I did have some issues with the video card drivers and the PC freezing randomly for no reason, I think everything is okay now.
The only problem I'm having at the moment is the temperatures.
From my understanding there are two different temperatures: CPU Core and CPU Socket.
Apparently CPU Core is a lot more important than the CPU Socket temperature. My case has 4 different fans in it: the CPU fan that came with the CPU, a fan on the rear of the case blowing air out of the case (came with the case), and two fans on the front of the case blowing air into the case (one was built into the case and one I put there myself).
Whenever the computer is idle I'd say the Socket temperature stays around 37-39C and if I remember correctly the Core temperature is around 16-25C. When I do simple things like browse the web with Firefox the Socket temperature rises to anywhere between 40-50C depending on how resource-heavy the websites are. I don't usually pay that much attention to the Core temps because it's just browsing the web but I think the Core temperatures (according to the program I use called CoreTemp) are around 30-50C. The program I use to check the Socket temperature is called "F-Stream Tuning" and it was on the CD that the motherboard came with. Nowhere on the program does it specifically say that it's the Socket temperature, but comparing it with the temps on CoreTemp I assume that's what it is. I haven't really messed with any of the settings in CoreTemp so I'm hoping that it's giving me accurate readings. Anyway, here's a screenshot of what the F-Stream Tuning program looks like while I type this (note: I have 1 side of the case off just for today and I'd say that if I would have it on the CPU Socket temp would probably be at 40C. All the previous info I've given earlier is from when I do have my case sides on. Also the temperature of my room is 75F): http://i.imgur.com/onH34eU.png
In the image "Chassis Fan2 Speed" is the fan I put in myself. Chassis Fan1 and 3 are the fans that came with the case in the front and back (don't remember which is which), but for some reason they don't give a reading. However every once in awhile Fan3 gives a reading for a split second and it's usually like a little over 1000 RPM. Here's the fan settings I set in bios:
CPU Fan 1 & 2 (even though I only have 1 CPU Fan): Automatic Mode
- Target CPU Temperature: 57C/134F
- Target Fan Speed: Level 3
---
Chassis Fan 1: Full on
---
Chassis Fan 2: Manual
- Target Fan Speed: Level 8
---
Chassis Fan 3: Full on
---
The reason the CPU Fan is set the way it is is because I talked to a friend and they said that it's okay for the Socket temp to get a little over 60C, but I'm not too sure about that now. Chassis fan 2 (the one I put in myself) is set to level 8 because if I put it any higher it's waaay too noisy. Also, besides the fan settings and a few other minor things that I can't remember, I haven't really changed any of the settings in bios. I don't really understand what overclocking is but am I doing it based on the CPU readings in the F-Stream Tuning image? If so I'd like to know how to get my CPU back to a safe clocking reading because I don't want to overclock. I really don't want to fry anything either.
So some things I need to know are:
- What is a safe temperature range for my CPU Core?
- What is a safe temperature range for my CPU Socket?
- What is a safe RPM range for my CPU fan? It's gotten to 6000 RPM before and honestly it really scares me because of how loud it gets at that speed.
- Are my temperatures actually okay after all?
- Is it better to leave a case side off? Does it make better temperatures?
- Should I get a better CPU fan? And if so, what do you recommend from Amazon.com (no water cooling - too scared to try it haha)
Thank you guys so much in advance,
- Jacob
EDIT: Forgot to mention that when I was checking the settings in bios for making this post, the CPU Socket temp was at like 50C?? I have no idea why.
Back in July I decided it was time to get a better PC and build one myself. I talked to some friends and got a part list together. Here are the parts:
Case
Power Supply (430 Watt)
RAM (8 GB. 2 x 4GB)
Video Card
Motherboard
CPU
Optical Drive
Operating System
HDD
I've had it for a little while now and while I did have some issues with the video card drivers and the PC freezing randomly for no reason, I think everything is okay now.
The only problem I'm having at the moment is the temperatures.
From my understanding there are two different temperatures: CPU Core and CPU Socket.
Apparently CPU Core is a lot more important than the CPU Socket temperature. My case has 4 different fans in it: the CPU fan that came with the CPU, a fan on the rear of the case blowing air out of the case (came with the case), and two fans on the front of the case blowing air into the case (one was built into the case and one I put there myself).
Whenever the computer is idle I'd say the Socket temperature stays around 37-39C and if I remember correctly the Core temperature is around 16-25C. When I do simple things like browse the web with Firefox the Socket temperature rises to anywhere between 40-50C depending on how resource-heavy the websites are. I don't usually pay that much attention to the Core temps because it's just browsing the web but I think the Core temperatures (according to the program I use called CoreTemp) are around 30-50C. The program I use to check the Socket temperature is called "F-Stream Tuning" and it was on the CD that the motherboard came with. Nowhere on the program does it specifically say that it's the Socket temperature, but comparing it with the temps on CoreTemp I assume that's what it is. I haven't really messed with any of the settings in CoreTemp so I'm hoping that it's giving me accurate readings. Anyway, here's a screenshot of what the F-Stream Tuning program looks like while I type this (note: I have 1 side of the case off just for today and I'd say that if I would have it on the CPU Socket temp would probably be at 40C. All the previous info I've given earlier is from when I do have my case sides on. Also the temperature of my room is 75F): http://i.imgur.com/onH34eU.png
In the image "Chassis Fan2 Speed" is the fan I put in myself. Chassis Fan1 and 3 are the fans that came with the case in the front and back (don't remember which is which), but for some reason they don't give a reading. However every once in awhile Fan3 gives a reading for a split second and it's usually like a little over 1000 RPM. Here's the fan settings I set in bios:
CPU Fan 1 & 2 (even though I only have 1 CPU Fan): Automatic Mode
- Target CPU Temperature: 57C/134F
- Target Fan Speed: Level 3
---
Chassis Fan 1: Full on
---
Chassis Fan 2: Manual
- Target Fan Speed: Level 8
---
Chassis Fan 3: Full on
---
The reason the CPU Fan is set the way it is is because I talked to a friend and they said that it's okay for the Socket temp to get a little over 60C, but I'm not too sure about that now. Chassis fan 2 (the one I put in myself) is set to level 8 because if I put it any higher it's waaay too noisy. Also, besides the fan settings and a few other minor things that I can't remember, I haven't really changed any of the settings in bios. I don't really understand what overclocking is but am I doing it based on the CPU readings in the F-Stream Tuning image? If so I'd like to know how to get my CPU back to a safe clocking reading because I don't want to overclock. I really don't want to fry anything either.
So some things I need to know are:
- What is a safe temperature range for my CPU Core?
- What is a safe temperature range for my CPU Socket?
- What is a safe RPM range for my CPU fan? It's gotten to 6000 RPM before and honestly it really scares me because of how loud it gets at that speed.
- Are my temperatures actually okay after all?
- Is it better to leave a case side off? Does it make better temperatures?
- Should I get a better CPU fan? And if so, what do you recommend from Amazon.com (no water cooling - too scared to try it haha)
Thank you guys so much in advance,
- Jacob
EDIT: Forgot to mention that when I was checking the settings in bios for making this post, the CPU Socket temp was at like 50C?? I have no idea why.