x2 3800 max core temp?

catbeef · 17 Sep 2006 at 01:35

Core Temp Beta 0.9.0.92 is reporting that my cores idle at 36, when i apply stress to the cpu they jump up to 48-50, is this normal?

It doesn't seem much but I'd rather ask, as some quick googling isn't giving me any answear to this. thanks.

I have an a8n-sli 939 motherboard and a zalman cnps9500 am2 cooler, using stock voltage i have currently clocked it to 2.2ghz and the temps are the same now as at 2ghz.

http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=122151

ernysmuntz · 17 Sep 2006 at 04:50

Those temps are fine especially considering its a dual core cpu, The reason the temps won't be much higher at 2.2Ghz over 2Ghz is primarily because you haven't raised the core voltage at all.

Also that not a very high overclock and it seems your cooler is easily capable of keeping it well in check.

You should be able to get an absolute minimum of 2.4ghz on any 3800+

jpe20 · 17 Sep 2006 at 09:31

My core temps hit 62C under full load (Dual Prime95 small FFT). So I should worry b4 you. Your temps look fine provided they are dual core load temps!

I am after a new cooler (Titan Amanda looks good) to replace the stock. The reason I am a little gung ho is that I have a Barton 3000+ (old system) which ran at more or less 60C for years no prob. Also the 3800x2 cpus are relatively cheap nowadays so if it did blow its top it does not cost a fortune to replace and anyway the new 65nm (AM2) chips will be rolled out in the new year. The only things that are not so cheap are my graphics cards so I look after them temp. wise!
Jules

oopps ... just realised that you have a 939 not an AM2 .. well makes the above partly irrelevant as replacement 939s will get harder to source next year (and price will stay high). My old Barton chip is still 70quid plus to replace last time I looked!!!! Anyhow temps still ok imo. What voltage are u running??? high voltages also effect cpu lifetime.

A.N.Other · 17 Sep 2006 at 10:40

I'd say that 48-50C is fine for load temps (nothing to worry about) - certainly could be lower, though. I've got a Zalman CNPS9500 and fully loaded my X2 3800+ @ 2500 MHz does 40C.

jpe20 said:
I am after a new cooler (Titan Amanda looks good) to replace the stock. The reason I am a little gung ho is that I have a Barton 3000+ (old system) which ran at more or less 60C for years no prob. Also the 3800x2 cpus are relatively cheap nowadays so if it did blow its top it does not cost a fortune to replace and anyway the new 65nm (AM2) chips will be rolled out in the new year. The only things that are not so cheap are my graphics cards so I look after them temp. wise!

The althon XPs should not be compared to A64 processors - the max core temps for those were 85C according to AMD. The X2 3800+ has a max core temp of 60C.

jpe20 · 17 Sep 2006 at 11:50

Guess I am wrong to make assumptions. I never questioned my A64 temps!! So why are the temp limits higher on the older A64 chips??? Was there a material change or simply something like going from 120nm - 90nm???

The maximum people in these forums feel ok running has been around 55C so my running at 62C is probably too high for everyday use hence the hunt for a decent new cooler.

Thanks for correcting me, I don't mind, I'd rather learn something right than end up preaching rubbish!

Jules

markyb · 17 Sep 2006 at 11:59

As said above, Those temps are perfectly fine.

My x2 3800 @ 2.8Ghz reaches around the 50c mark. Thats with a Zalman 9500 at mid speed.

El Jimben · 17 Sep 2006 at 12:33

jpe20 said:
Guess I am wrong to make assumptions. I never questioned my A64 temps!! So why are the temp limits higher on the older A64 chips??? Was there a material change or simply something like going from 120nm - 90nm???

Partly due to the above & also the XP chips took a lot more volts than say the x2 A64. My Palamino 1900+ has a stock voltage of 1.75v!

A.N.Other · 17 Sep 2006 at 12:49

jpe20 said:
Guess I am wrong to make assumptions. I never questioned my A64 temps!! So why are the temp limits higher on the older A64 chips??? Was there a material change or simply something like going from 120nm - 90nm???

The maximum people in these forums feel ok running has been around 55C so my running at 62C is probably too high for everyday use hence the hunt for a decent new cooler.

Thanks for correcting me, I don't mind, I'd rather learn something right than end up preaching rubbish!

Jules

No problem - nobody knows everything. I'm not sure about the material change (don't think there has been one), but I think the voltage drop has been the main reason max temps have dropped. Simply, a smaller manufacturing process means that less 'juice' is needed to push a current around the CPU - this means that VCore can fall and temps are naturally lower.

You should be careful with a loaded temp of 62C - it doesn't want to be going much higher than that! What VCore and clock are you running and what case cooling?

jpe20 · 17 Sep 2006 at 13:28

Yeah shrinking transistor sizes I guess will lower the voltages and in turn the temps. I think I was wrong stating 120nm I think 130nm is more accurate. Ermmm.... oh yeah I would have expected AMD just to push the clock speeds up so that the same temps as A64 were reached, but obviosly other factors have come into play.
Anyhow I know I am running a bit on the high side with temps but I am not particularly intending to run that long term. Voltage is 1.49V and @2520MHz. I am going to try 250x10 instead of 280x9(I think!) as I think the cpu may require less vcore on the x10 multiplier. Just a hunch. Reducing Vcore will get my temps down a lot I think as I am at the overclocking limit where I needed a lot of extra vcore for those extra few MHz. I am sure I won't notice much difference even running at 2.4GHz. Just need the time to be bothered to run all the stability tests again!
Jules