I've recently built a new rig, including an AMD Phenom x4 955 and an Nvidia GTS 450. Both of these components run at around 35-40 degrees Celsius under normal load: watching videos, browsing the internet, etc.

Now, I was wondering: what is the norm for CPU and GPU temperatures? And do components fall into that category?

Thanks.

Depends on the component. Check around the googles for your particular parts' tolerances.
For instance, my i3 quad core has a critical junction temp of 105 'C, but that's the absolute most it can take before it starts melting down, so I would consider anything above a 40-50' normal running temp to be on the high side. Up to 80 or 90 under heavy load would be somewhat acceptable however.

My celeron 430 running at 2.4GHz heats up to 56 celsius.
But your stuff is just freaking unbeliavably cold.

That's quite normal not cold.

Today is a hot wet day and I get 38 degrees on the i5. I think the highest I've ever hit was 80 on the GPU with furmark running on super mode.

So yeah you are doing great.

Well yeah, I used to have a really buggy PC which would instafreeze whenever it went above 50°C, so I'm kind of used to going overboard on cooling measures.


I'm currently running... let's see... Starcraft 2 with max graphics and it's at a flat 30 degrees. Kinda hot, I guess.

Hmm. From what I've read so far, the "norm" for CPU temperatures is pretty variable from computer to computer. I suppose it also depends on what you're running on your computer as well.

I have the same processor. I get around 30-40 as well. The highest I ever got was 64 'C while playing at around two seconds per frame in CC. Starcraft 2 on ultra, Black Ops, Dwarf Fortress, all of it runs at <62 'C.

I read that you really shouldn't go above 62 with this processor, but I could be wrong.

Doing a quick google, going over 60'C for that processor is not recommended.

After running Half-Life 2, the CPU seems to have trouble moving away from 40 celcius. It's been hovering at that temperature for over 10 minutes.

It depends on CPU / GPU, but you have no need to get worried over 40 Celsius. I personally turn off any game I'm running if my GPU goes over 80 degrees C but that never happens.
30-40 is a good idling temperature, 50-60 normal game load, 70-80 very heavy load. This of course depends on your cooler, I only have stock coolers and two case fans so yeah.

tl;dr don't let it go over 80

Lol, my old 9800 GT got to 98 C often.

I used SpeedFan to make the noise go away.