temperature questions

[kidspot]

What would you say is a safe "conservative" opperating temp for a cpu? And do you measure this on the chip, or is taking a reading off the heatsink adequate?

I just saw the temp rise to 105 F. and did not know what a "safe" range is (my A.C. froze up and heated the computer a bit hotter than usual)

[Thundrchez]

105 F ought to be no problem if you are not overclocking your cpu. If you are not overclocking, I would not get concerned until the heatsink is too hot to touch for more than a few seconds, perhaps 130 F. Then again, it also varies from cpu to cpu.

Reading the temperature off the heatsink is close enough. Some bioses will report what the cpu temperature is; some mobos have a thermal sensor that springs up to touch your heatsink; some mobos make you connect the sensor to the appropriate place on the cpu/heatsink; some socketed mobos have a thermal sensor in the middle of the socket.

[kidspot]

Thanks Thundrchez, I'm Running a 500 Athlon at 600. First time overclocking and did not want to risk higher than a 1.75 core voltage. It runs stable, but will not post at 650 (have not tried voltage past 1.75)