Acceptable temperatures for CPU and GPU cores when operating Trainz

[Paulsw2]

Not sure if this question has been asked before, but are there any views here about acceptable temperature ranges for CPU and graphics card cores when operating Trainz? Especially now the hot temperatures are here (at least for a couple of days in the UK!)

My hardware monitor shows max temperatures following a two hour session of TS12 as follows:

• CPU (core i7 860): 73 C [core #0]
• GPU (Radeon HD 5870): 88 C

Are those temperatures acceptable? I'm worried the GPU might be getting a bit hot. Do I need extra cooling?

Paul

 

[NickieFoenshauge]

From Tom's Hardware:

To make sense of CPU temperature and Core temperature, compare them to a 4 cylinder car with 5 temperature guages; 4 of the guages are cyclinder head temperatures (closest to the heat source), and the 5th guage is the overall engine temperature, which is 5c lower than the other guages, and is the temperature guage with which we're all familiar. We know the red zone (hot) for the i7 8xx starts at 73c (Tcase Max) on the engine temp guage and 78c (Tjunction) on the cylinder head temp guages, but if we push the engine too hard and peg all the guages, (95c Tcase overtemp / 100c Tjunction Max) then the engine will shut down.

If I was you, I would look for some extra cooling. But, I'm a coward.

 

[NCkilla333]

For an I7, that isn't terrible. They're designed to withstand that kind of heat. Still though, I would invest in a decent cooling pad. I also would suggest having an expert look at the guts of your cooling system, so good CPU paste will do some good. I recently did this myself and brought my temp down from 90 to 65.

 

[fran1]

Just started running a session (22.23) gpu at 38 c, cpu at 61 c.
I will post back later with temps.
At 23.50 temps steady at gpu 44 c, cpu 62 c.

 

[johnwhelan]

A general rule of thumb for most (not all) chemical reactions is that the rate at which the reaction proceeds will approximately double for each 10°C increase in temperature. So basically the component life halves per 10°C rise in temperature.

Cheerio John

 

[kamran]

mine dual core never goes above 60 and gtx 550ti never goes above 65 even in hot summer for about 3 hours playing session

 

[Thai1On]

My i5 gets up in the upper 50's during hot days along with my GPU when I'm working in surveyor. Mind you this is in a non air conditioned room but in a HIGHLY ventilated tower case.

Dave

 

[kamran]

@thread maker.
ur cpu temps are k but pu temps are little bit high.do play any other game that is little high definition and note your temps with that game.as when i play dirt 3 my cpu temp goes to 65 and my gpu goes to 75

 

[Deano5]

Kamran, that's not bad considering your outside temps where you live.
Paul, get a couple of fans and put one on the side blowing straight into/onto the graphics cards and another on the top or top/rear to suck out the warm air that rises. I have a Coolermaster HAF case, these are very good for cooling.
You need to get the air flow through the case dead on or you just end up with the same old hot air blowing round and round inside increasing the temp even more. :wave:

 

[steamboateng]

Mr johnwhelan hit that nail right on. The cooler the components, the longer they last. Period!
Clean case intake and exhaust grills regularly. Clean the cpu and gpu cooling pipes (and/or radiator fins) also.
When buying a new computer or upgrading, a modest investment in a larger cpu cooler may be worth the long haul investment.
I would think that a 50-60 deg C temp would be something to aim for.

 

[Paulsw2]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Looks like I'm a bit hot! When I bought this system I did invest in good cooling, fans, paste etc. However, I think I've let the dust accumulate. I'm always most reluctant to 'go inside' the case (in case I accidentally short everything out or something) but looks like I'm going to have to open up the Antec 900 at last....

Paul

 

[steamboateng]

Paulsw2, I had this problem in my old Alienware, with cpu temps running at 90+ deg C. Dust accumulation on component coolers was always a major problem, as was air circulation. Their old cases just sucked.
I invested in a small soft bristle brush, a can of air and a little component vaccuum cleaner to do regular maintenence.
Just one more thought; if you have an older computer you may also be pushing cpu and gpu at their limits with TS12, in which case cleaning is essential.
Needless to say, but a reminder anyway.....unplug power before cleanig and caution on static build-up.
Good luck and happy Trainzing.
As an off topic side note: Best wishes all on the Queen's Diamond Jubelee. As a wee lad I watched on tv when she first took the crown.

 

[Paulsw2]

Thanks for this response. I am actually quite paranoid about going into the case because of the issue of static - is a soft bristle brush safe?

It helps that I've discovered that I had my Antec 900II fans on the default 'low' setting so I've ramped them up to 'high' when Trainz is on. I've also set manual fan speed up to 60% for my HD 5870 to get some better cooling there as well. Even so, although CPU temps are back in the 60s, GPU is still in the 80s.

Though I read somewhere that the max temp for the HD 5870 is 100C.....

Paul

 

[fran1]

A soft brush is fine, have the hoover on near to the brush so it picks up any dust that comes loose. Make sure the fans are clean and if there are cooling vanes on the gpu (as in the cpu) make sure they are dust free.
I've never been done by static yet. Once you've got everything clean note the running temps, when they start rising in a few months you'll know it's time to clean again.

 

[steamboateng]

It sounds like your fans were set to low for proper air circulation.
To clean the case, first brush off all the intake & exhaust vents from the outside.
Next unpug the computer and remove the side door. If you can remove both side doors, all the better.
If yor leary of static, don't touch any components. But an inexpensive static wrist band should ease your mind.
Use the brush to dust of the component boards and cooler radiators and heat pipes.
If you have a little computer vaccuum, (costs $15 bucks) use it to suck up the dust that settled to the bottom of the case.
If you have canned air, blow off dust by directing the air across the top of component boards & mobo, keeping the can back about 15" to 18".
Vaccuum again., close the case, plug in and boot up!
Once you do it you'll see how easy it all is.

 

[Paulsw2]

Thanks guys for the advice. It's been a few year since I've done this, but I'll gingerly work my way into the cabinet and start blowing dust away!

Paul

 

[JCitron]

Just started running a session (22.23) gpu at 38 c, cpu at 61 c.
I will post back later with temps.
At 23.50 temps steady at gpu 44 c, cpu 62 c.

This is what I see as well.

73 and 88C is a bit on the high side even if the processor and video card can handle these temperatures. The question is for how long? Temperatures like this will eventually degrade these components as well as others in the system. Remember heat is additive so the hard drive temperatures will be up high as well, and all this heat will eventually affect the memory DIMMs which don't like high temperatures.

Check for dirty fans, vents, filters, heatsinks or other components. These can definitely cause system problems even if the airflow is adequate.
I would still seriously look into additional cooling, perhaps more fans, better airflow within the case, or even a larger case to spread out the components to allow for more air circulation.

John

 

[steamboateng]

Yuo'll be fine paulsw2, this is routine maintenance and should be performed every 6 - 12 months, depending on your 'puter environmernt.
Luckily you don't live in California, otherwise I'd tell you to forget it'cause they're gonna get hit by a big freaking asteroid, anyway.
You're fine.
Regards