This of course is an old video and shows what happened to older CPU, modern CPU's use various techniques to stop this from happening from throttling the processor until it cools, or even switching the CPU off and crashing the system. Intel Core i7 Extreme (Bloomfield)Ė7.9☌īelow is an old video from Toms hardware guide, but it still illustrates the importance of the heatsink and fan and shows just how quickly a CPU will fail it it doesn't have the correct cooling setup or if your fan should come loose. Intel Core i5 (Lynfield) (Model 750s)Ė8.9☌ Intel Core i5 (Clarkdale) (Model 661)Ė9.8☌ Intel Core 2 Extreme (Hypertown QX9775)Ė3☌ Intel Core 2 Extreme (Yorkfield QX9770)ĕ5.5☌ Intel Core 2 Extreme (Yorkfield QX9650)Ė4.5☌ Intel Core 2 Extreme (Kentsfield QX6800)ĕ4.8☌ Intel Core 2 Extreme (Kentsfield Q6600)Ė2.2☌ Intel Core 2 Extreme (Kentsfield Q6700)ė1☌ Some of the CPU's below have varying critical temperatures depending on the model, these are represented by a range of values in the table below.ĪMD Athlon 64 (Socket 939, 1.4 volts)Ė5☌ĪMD Athlon FX (San Diego + Toledo + Windsor) 63☌ĪMD Athlon X2 (Windsor)ė0☌-72☌ (1.35v - 1.25v) Critical temperature is often referred as Critical Case temperature as CPU core temperatures are difficult to report accurately. Please be aware that as faster models are released even under the same name the thermal requirements may change. Below is a table showing you the critical temperatures for most of the CPU's we use today. Always try to keep at least 20C below this value if you can. This is not to say you want your CPU to operate at this temperature as it will be borderline between working and burning out. What this boils down to (quick pun :} ) is what the manufacturer states is the maximum temperature the CPU will operate at. CPU's have a rated maximum temperature sometimes called a critical temperature.
The only way to be sure is to check your fans and other cooling equipment regularly and also use CPU thermometers to check your CPU temperature is stable and not raising over time. Even these however are not 100% fail proof.
INTEL CORE 2 DUO E4600 MAX TEMP SOFTWARE
Today's motherboards come with temperature monitoring software and hardware which actually shuts the computer off if the CPU temperature gets too hot. This usually happens when a fan breaks down and goes unnoticed. In extreme cases your CPU could burn out or melt onto the motherboard. Using CPU's at high temperatures can lower cause system crashes in the short term and in the long term cause the life of your CPU to be greatly reduced.
INTEL CORE 2 DUO E4600 MAX TEMP FULL
Following on from the cooling article we look at the maximum temperatures of CPU's.Įven though we use fans and heatsinks CPU temperatures can still raise if they are being used at full power for a long period of time.