Is 123 degrees Fahrenheit to high?

[Mike & Rachel]

I have a KT7-RAID with a 1.1 GHz CPU, Via Hardward Monitor shows
that my CPU temp has gotten as high as 123 degrees fahrenheit (while playing
Ultima Ascension). Is this too high of a temp??? Currently only have the
PS fan and CPU fan installed, but I keep the case's sides off.
Unfortunately my computer must stay in my desk cabinet, but I keep the
cabinet door open whenever I use it so the heat doesn't build up. I have
heard that it is better to actually have the case assembled and not open to
the air, because they are designed move the cool air in and expel the hot
air. Does anyone know if this is actually true? I prefer to have the case
torn apart so I can easily get to the parts without having to remove the
sides all the time.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Ed]

On Sun, 13 May 2001 04:47:27 GMT, "Mike & Rachel"
<mden...@kscable.com> wrote:

> I have a KT7-RAID with a 1.1 GHz CPU, Via Hardward Monitor shows
>that my CPU temp has gotten as high as 123 degrees fahrenheit (while playing
>Ultima Ascension). Is this too high of a temp??? Currently only have the

I have same board with a 1.2 running at 1.3 and I get about the same
temps after playing most games.

>PS fan and CPU fan installed, but I keep the case's sides off.
>Unfortunately my computer must stay in my desk cabinet, but I keep the
>cabinet door open whenever I use it so the heat doesn't build up. I have
>heard that it is better to actually have the case assembled and not open to
>the air, because they are designed move the cool air in and expel the hot
>air.

Hard drives, video cards, etc, can actually get hotter if no air is
flowing in the case or around them.

Does anyone know if this is actually true? I prefer to have the case
>torn apart so I can easily get to the parts without having to remove the
>sides all the time.

Once you have the system setup, there's really no reason to leave it
open, it's an accident waiting to happen. You really should have
another exhaust fan, under the PSU in the back of the case near the
CPU. I had to cut a hole in my Mid-Tower to do this and it makes a big
difference!

[Cannuk]

50 C is not that bad, but what's the temp with the sides on the case ?

The lower the temp your system runs at , the least amount of trouble you'll
have.

I caused browning on an old MOBO, a few years back by running it , with the
case open.

I would suggest that you that invest in a at least another fan to blow air
into your case, ( usually there is a grill for such placement in the lower
front of most cases ). And if this doesn't provide enough cooling try an
extra exhaust fan. ( casing mounted or one that occupies a slot at the
back )

Or come live in the frozen waste of the Great White North :P

Cannuk

[Spider]

Tbirds above 1GHz tend to be hot chips, but they are made to take the heat in
conjunction with a Heat Sink Fan (HSF)/CPU fan. I have the KT7A non-Raid with a
1.3 Tbird. System loads up at about 123F, though I have seen a peak at 127F on
a fairly warm day, and that is in spite of:

ThermoEngine HSF with 23 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) YS TECH fan (can't stand
the noisy Delta)
2x80mm blowing 70CFM in
1x80mm blowing 35CFM out
ENERMAX PSU that has two fans - one to suck air from inside the case, and a
second to blow it out the back

So no, your temps are not bad, but might be limiting your overclocking
potential. the chip is rated up to 90-95C, but you don't want to drive it that
high.

You should have, at a minimum, one fan pushing cool air INTO the case (bottom
front), a good HSF on the CPU and another fan pulling hot air out of the case
(top rear). The PSU can suffice for this, but you can do better. Leave the case
closed once you get this configured - all components need cooling, not just the
CPU.

With loads of messing about (rounding cables, neatening the wiring) I got my
temps down to 120F under load. Then started dropping the CPU voltage in the
bios - found it to be very stable at 1.70 (vice 1.75 default) and that put the
temp down to 114F under load. Below 1.70 and stability started to suffer. The
whole thing is a balancing act between:

more voltage=more heat/overclock/stability
less voltage=less heat/overclock/stability
more airflow=more cool/noise
less airflow=less cool/noise

Some folks will crank the voltage and let the fans howl to bag a few extra MHz,
others are content with a cool, quiet, non-aggressive system. Very few are
skilled or lucky enough to achieve a cool, overclocked monster. You just have to
play around to find your comfort zone.

Good luck