ambient temperature vs component temperature relationship

[Sul]

Hi,

I've been searching the net and can't find the relationship between ambient temperature and the temperature of something inside your case - say the CPU temperature. Is it approximately linear or is the relationship a little more complex?

Thanks,

Sul

 

[MikeTimbers]

Do you mean "if the ambient goes up by 5C will the cpu go up by the same amount"? If so, the answer is "yeah, pretty much".

 

[w3bbo]

Its really too hard to guage tbh as there are simply too many factors involved :

Type of cooling used
No# of fans
CFM of fans
Size of fans
Position of fans
Orientation of fans
Case vents
PSU fans (and all above again)
...and thats before we consider components in any given setup aswell as overclock on the cpu/gpu/chipset and therefore heatdump into the case. I would therefore say its safe to assume that it is not linear much the same as adding an ice cube to a boiling hot bath isn't.

One thing is sure though and that is the cooler the air entering your case along with the amount the better your system temp will most likely be.

In winter my cpu temp 100% load is 55c its now approaching summer and my temp is only a couple of degrees higher (this is on water). On air I would say its a little more linear but not 'exact'.