My CPU Temperature

[ee1209b]

I read the thread that Gordon Smithema posted along with the answers to his question. I am wondering if my CPU Temp. is dangerously high.I figure optimal Temp varies from system to system. When I boot up my temp shows 46 C or so. A few mins. later It is at about 52 C. ( I am using CPU cool to measure Temp.)The first three years I used this machine I did not think about CPU temp. but decided it might be a good idea to monitor it. Also, when I use Real Player or Windows Media Player The temp goes up about three or four degrees. I wonder is that normal. Do I have a problem? If so what does anybody think for my system. I only have one exhaust fan in the back of the computer case. I replaced the one that came on the computer about a year ago. because it stopped running. If I have any other fans I do not see them when I go into my case! I vacuumed the case about a month ago when I upgraded memory!
My System

Windows 98, 320 Megs of RAM, 333 Celeron processor,Machine Type IBM PC/AT,Processor type Pentium(r) II Processor, IE 6.0, DSL Internet connection.Motherboard form factor=baby AT
Motherboard Name Aristo M747 BX-Pro

[Whyzman]

I thought this might help to get a flavor for how others are doing:

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20359&highlight=cool

You might want to also do some housecleaning using some canned air and blow the heatsink fins off etc...

Dust seems to pick up some sort of electrostatic charge and "affixes" itself like a bloodsucker...and could use a little "coaxing" to let go...LOL

You might want to consider lapping your heatsink and using some Arctic Silver...

http://overclockersclub.com/heatsinklappingguide.php

[ee1209b]

I found another fan in my machine. It is situated above what I believe is my CPU. I have looked at some diagrams of heat sinks and what I see does not look like the diagrams but has very short fins that I think may indicate there is a heat sink there.(I have never seen a heat sink in person though)
I would like to find out if the fan is working (The fan on my power suppy is seemingly working fine). Can I safely plug in my computer long enough to see if the fan turns while I have the case off? Everything i see says NEVER have the case open unless power is disconnected.
After I found the fan I moved the ribbon cables to one side to see if that would help lower the Temp. It did go down 2 or 3 degrees. Now at 50. (It had gone up to 57) and that is higher than I has ever been. It seems to be staying between 47 and 51 right now.
I saw a table in Scott Mueller's Upgrading and Repairing pc s that said my particular CPU has a Max. Temp. of 85 C. Is that a bunch of baloney? Right now the temp keeps going up and down by just 1 or 2 degrees or so. Does this indicate something is currently trying to cool my CPU? Thank You again for your help!please excuse lack of knowledge am trying so hard to learn

[Paleo Pete]

Yes, you can run the PC without the case cover on for troubleshooting purposes. In some cases I recommend running it with the cover off and a small fan blowing into it to determine heat problems.

The CPU will usually vary in temperature by 2 or 3 degrees even while sitting idle. I think 85C is a bit on the high side, but that may be the point at which the CPU can be officially pronounced DOA...If my memory serves me you usually want to keep it under about 55-60C.

This is a heatsink, with fan attached. Yours may look a bit different, but should be fairly similar, or could be part of a wider bracket containg a slot type CPU. That type may or may not have a visible heatsink, but it's most likely there...

[ee1209b]

I want to open my case to see if the fan is turning. Do I just open the case while the computer is still running, or do I shut it off , open the case and start it again. Will I get shocked to death if I attach the grounding clamp to the case and the wrist strap to my arm? I know that sounds so ignorant but I am just not sure. Never opened the case before with power on!
Boy< You guys are going to catch it when I start building my computer and upgrading this one at the same time:)
Thank You again!

[Budfred]

I have run computers with the cover off for weeks at a time and it isn't a problem. However, I have never taken a cover off while the power was on and I wouldn't recommend it... there are too many things that could go wrong. Just power down, remove the side cover (if your case allows that) and turn it back on.

As long as you don't connect you grounding strap to a hot wire or your case doesn't have a short circuit, it should be okay to hook it up to a metal surface of the case. However, it is generally not a good idea to do anything with the hardware with the power on....