My CPU is average 55-60C

[Foebane]

This is too hot, isn't it?

I can't use compressed air against the fan itself, so what's the best way of safely cleaning a CPU fan, and using the compressed air for other areas?

[solidamber]

I use a a small brush in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner with the crevice nozzle attached,

[Singh400]

Average idle or average load? And what CPU is it specifically? Also, are you using the stock fan or a 3rd party one?

[branny]

Originally Posted by Foebane

This is too hot, isn't it?

I can't use compressed air against the fan itself, so what's the best way of safely cleaning a CPU fan, and using the compressed air for other areas?

Originally Posted by solidamber

I use a a small brush in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner with the crevice nozzle attached,

You are referring to the CPU fan itself? I use compressed air on mine, always have done, never caused a problem yet.

My understanding is that using a vacuum anywhere near the innards of a PC is not advised as it produces potentially harmful static.

[Foebane]

Originally Posted by Singh400

Average idle or average load? And what CPU is it specifically? Also, are you using the stock fan or a 3rd party one?

Well, after playing games last night it hit around 60C, so I guess the load was 100%.

It's an AMD Athlon 64 3500+, and I guess it came with the original "stock" fan, as I didn't build the PC.

My housemate has commented that his AMD (dual-core, not sure) runs just as hot, but suggested I ought to clean out the fan which is fairly dusty.

But I put this temperature down to the hot weather, as it's normally in the 40s and hitting the 50s when load is being put on it.

I'm getting my temperatures from Core Temp 0.99.3, btw.

[wormvortex]

my old CPU far surpassed those temps when it was under load. But it does depend on the chip and if it's a stock cooler or what

[johntheexpat]

I'm surprised no-one has suggested water cooling. There is a very informative thread about the topic here

Good luck.

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by johntheexpat

I'm surprised no-one has suggested water cooling. There is a very informative thread about the topic here

Good luck.

Yes, but... he would have to invest in a whole water cooling setup. Basically re-build his entire rig, and test for leaks etc etc. That is alot of hassle to get some temps down. It's much easier for him to fit a new 3rd party cooler. Or just find out the maximum temp his CPU can handle and work around that. Pretty sure the CPUs nowadays can handle anything up to 70-75C (max).

So if his CPU is averaging (on load) 55-60C. I wouldn't say he has that much of a problem.

If the OP finds his chip on this page, he will find the recommended max temp.

[DJames]

As long as are keeping the hs/f clean and it doesnt go above 75C (My personal limit..) you don't need to worry.. And if it does get too hot the BIOS will kick in and force a shut down, usually happens at around 100C.

But yeah, 60C is nothing compared to my GPU (ATI 4850), it idles at 70 and maxes out at around 100C. I should really get a nice HS/F for it.

[damo_in_sale]

Originally Posted by Foebane

Well, after playing games last night it hit around 60C, so I guess the load was 100%.

It's an AMD Athlon 64 3500+, and I guess it came with the original "stock" fan, as I didn't build the PC.

My housemate has commented that his AMD (dual-core, not sure) runs just as hot, but suggested I ought to clean out the fan which is fairly dusty.

But I put this temperature down to the hot weather, as it's normally in the 40s and hitting the 50s when load is being put on it.

I'm getting my temperatures from Core Temp 0.99.3, btw.

60 degrees sounds ok to me mate.

[dan1979]

I have an old AMD Athlon that's been in heavy use for the last 5 years, rarely dropped below 50 even when idle.

Default setting on my motherboard software switches off at 75 so 60 is fine

[neilios]

I completly clean my pc inside and out every 12 months ,i remove the fan/hs and clean it manually and reapply some artic silve compound ,idles away nicely at 30 c ,even in the heat at the mo .

[Ethics Gradient]

Originally Posted by Foebane

Well, after playing games last night it hit around 60C, so I guess the load was 100%.

It's an AMD Athlon 64 3500+, and I guess it came with the original "stock" fan, as I didn't build the PC.

My housemate has commented that his AMD (dual-core, not sure) runs just as hot, but suggested I ought to clean out the fan which is fairly dusty.

But I put this temperature down to the hot weather, as it's normally in the 40s and hitting the 50s when load is being put on it.

I'm getting my temperatures from Core Temp 0.99.3, btw.

As others have said, that's a perfectly normal running temp with load, especially in this weather.
I should run okay up to and over 80 degrees althought the cooler you can keep it the better.

Check the fan - you may well be able to unclip it and clean it outside the machine itself.
If it's been in a long time, you can often find that the heat sinks themselves get furred up, my gfx card suffered from this a month ago and needed an overhaul.
If you do want to clean them up, cotton buds, cleaning fluid and compressed air.

[Iccz]

This time of year, the best thing to keep an eye on temperature wise is your PSU, the number of PSUs that i've lost to heatwaves is a joke, havn't had any pop this year, but in previous years they've managed to die in the middle of heatwaves

As said by others the CPU temperature isn't anything major to worry about but you could check for dust in your airflow and check how your thermal compound on the processor is doing and if you need to apply a new lot.