{"id":18800,"date":"2022-08-04T15:22:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T13:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=18800"},"modified":"2022-11-02T11:52:46","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T10:52:46","slug":"what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Good Idle CPU Temps?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844720ca823\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844720ca823\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844720ca823\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#How_Do_CPU_Temps_Work\" title=\"How Do CPU Temps Work?\">How Do CPU Temps Work?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#What_are_Good_Idle_CPU_Temps\" title=\"What are Good Idle CPU Temps?\">What are Good Idle CPU Temps?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#How_Do_You_Check_Idle_CPU_Temps\" title=\"How Do You Check Idle CPU Temps?\">How Do You Check Idle CPU Temps?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#How_Can_You_Improve_Your_Idle_CPU_Temps\" title=\"How Can You Improve Your Idle CPU Temps?\">How Can You Improve Your Idle CPU Temps?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#Improve_Case_Airflow_and_Cooling\" title=\"Improve Case Airflow and Cooling\">Improve Case Airflow and Cooling<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#Replace_CPU_Thermal_Paste\" title=\"Replace CPU Thermal Paste\">Replace CPU Thermal Paste<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#Replace_CPU_Cooler\" title=\"Replace CPU Cooler\">Replace CPU Cooler<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#Enable_Power_Management_Modes\" title=\"Enable Power Management Modes\">Enable Power Management Modes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#How_Hot_is_Too_Hot_For_a_CPU\" title=\"How Hot is Too Hot For a CPU?\">How Hot is Too Hot For a CPU?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#Does_Overclocking_Reduce_CPU_Lifespan\" title=\"Does Overclocking Reduce CPU Lifespan?\">Does Overclocking Reduce CPU Lifespan?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>What are Good Idle CPU Temps, and how can you improve yours if they don\u2019t fall into your desired range?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll walk you through all of that in this article, so let\u2019s dive into it.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_CPU_Temps_Work\"><\/span>How Do CPU Temps Work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>First, let\u2019s take a moment to talk about CPU temps in general.<\/p>\n<p>Like a lot of electronics, CPUs generate heat due to the electricity surging through them.<\/p>\n<p>However, the complexity and density of the transistors within a CPU means that CPUs can get <em>hot<\/em>\u2014 like, dangerously hot\u2014 during operation, if they aren\u2019t properly cooled.<\/p>\n<p>Without proper cooling and <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/thermal-throttling-guide\/\">thermal throttling<\/a>, the process by which an overheating CPU slows itself down, a CPU would be in danger of overheating itself to death every time it is used.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18814\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling.jpg\" alt=\"What is Thermal Throttling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18814 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"What is Thermal Throttling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>This is why cooling is one of the most important parts of any PC: desktop, laptop, handheld, or otherwise. Powerful processing requires powerful heat dissipation to prevent overheating, thermal throttling, and other problems from arising.<\/p>\n<p>With those general rules in mind, let\u2019s talk about idle temperatures.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_Good_Idle_CPU_Temps\"><\/span>What are Good Idle CPU Temps?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When CPUs aren\u2019t being stressed with heavy-duty workloads, they\u2019re considered to be <em>idling<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Idling should be the thermal best-case scenario for your CPU and your entire PC build since less power is being drawn and no hard work is actually happening.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, this isn\u2019t always the case, especially if your PC has fundamental cooling issues of some kind that have yet to be addressed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So, what are good idle CPU temps? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Generally speaking, you should expect your CPU to stay at or under around 40 Degrees Celsius (or roughly 20\u00b0C above ambient temperature). If your numbers are higher than this, you may have some cooling issues that need addressing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You can also get numbers far lower than this by opting for something like <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/air-vs-aio-coolers\/\">liquid cooling<\/a>, though<strong> depending on the climate you live in, it can be difficult to achieve sub-ambient* idle temperatures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><em>*<\/em>Ambient temperature refers to the temperature of the room surrounding your PC. In particularly hot climates, even a liquid cooling setup can\u2019t necessarily push temperatures below this at idle. However, your idle temps should still be below 40 C unless there\u2019s a serious problem with your setup.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Check_Idle_CPU_Temps\"><\/span>How Do You Check Idle CPU Temps?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pick a temperature monitoring software and you\u2019re good to go! I like to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.almico.com\/sfdownload.php\" target=\"_blank\">SpeedFan<\/a> myself.<\/p>\n<p>SpeedFan is a super lightweight, straightforward piece of temperature monitoring software that doubles as a fan controller, should you wish to enable the feature.<\/p>\n<p>To identify your CPU temps, just take a look over your core temperatures to verify that everything is working fine.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18802\" style=\"width: 411px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18802\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-18802\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-1.png\" alt=\"SpeedFan Exotics Tab\" width=\"411\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-1.png 411w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-1-258x300.png 258w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18802\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-18802 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20411%20478%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"SpeedFan Exotics Tab\" width=\"411\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20411%20478%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 411w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-1.png 411w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-1-258x300.png 258w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-1.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-18802\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">SpeedFan Exotics Tab<\/p><\/div>\n<p>On SpeedFan, I went to the Exotics tab and clicked \u201cShow me the magic\u201d to list all my individual temperatures in the screenshot above.<\/p>\n<p>Analyzing individual core temperatures will let you know exactly how hot your CPU is running and whether or not you should be worried.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you notice that some cores are particularly hotter than the others (by 10 or more degrees), it may be a sign of poorly-applied thermal paste.<\/strong> Consider this when proceeding to the next section, if your idle temperatures are not to your satisfaction.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Can_You_Improve_Your_Idle_CPU_Temps\"><\/span>How Can You Improve Your Idle CPU Temps?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Case_Airflow_and_Cooling\"><\/span>Improve Case Airflow and Cooling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The first thing to evaluate when you have high idle temps is your overall case airflow and cooling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-many-case-fans\/\">How many fans do you have<\/a>, and where are they mounted? If you don\u2019t have at least three case fans (2 intakes, 1 exhaust), the airflow in your chassis is most likely going to suffer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Adding an additional intake fan to the front of your case should help alleviate airflow concerns, especially if your intake fans are placed to align with the CPU and GPU. (These being the components that most need a constant flow of cool air.)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is some nuance to this point, but generally, insufficient case cooling means lacking fans or having fans mounted in the wrong places.<\/p>\n<p><strong>As long as your chassis has a ventilated or open front panel, there\u2019s no real reason not to be using a positive pressure configuration (where 2 or more intake fans consistently outnumber 1, rarely 2 exhaust fans<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18815\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow.jpg\" alt=\"negative vs positive pressure airflow\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18815 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"negative vs positive pressure airflow\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/negative-vs-positive-pressure-airflow.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>If your chassis has a sealed front panel like mine does, however, you may need to turn to a negative pressure configuration<\/strong>. <strong>A negative pressure configuration is when exhaust fans outnumber intake fans, sometimes by forgoing intake fans entirely<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>My current PC build in an NZXT H210 is actually guilty of this, though I\u2019m planning on upgrading to positive pressure once I replace the front panel with a mesh one.<\/p>\n<p>I recommend others do the same in this situation or consider popping off the front panel as long as there are still quality dust filters and fan slots to use upfront.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Replace_CPU_Thermal_Paste\"><\/span>Replace CPU Thermal Paste<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019ve had your PC for a long time and think your case airflow is generally fine, you should consider replacing your CPU\u2019s thermal paste.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>New thermal paste generally costs less than $15, and replacing thermal paste is actually an important part of long-term PC maintenance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-long-does-thermal-paste-last\/\"><strong>Did you know that most thermal paste expires completely before the 5-year mark<\/strong><\/a><strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The average shelf life of most thermal paste\u2014 unused, even. Active use degrades it much faster.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14590\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last.jpg\" alt=\"How long does thermal paste last\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14590 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"How long does thermal paste last\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>As the end user, you shouldn\u2019t need to replace your CPU\u2019s thermal paste too often, even if you use your PC frequently.<\/p>\n<p><strong>However, you should expect to replace your thermal paste at least once every two to three years<\/strong>, especially if you notice that your CPU temps are higher than they used to be.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Thermal paste is the first step of any CPU cooling process, and when it dries out and expires, its thermal conductivity (and therefore, ability to keep your CPU cool) plummets.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14586\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work.jpg\" alt=\"How do CPU coolers work\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14586 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"How do CPU coolers work\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/12\/How-do-CPU-coolers-work.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>To remove the dried thermal paste<\/strong>, be sure to completely power off and unplug your PC.<\/p>\n<p><strong>After you\u2019ve opened your PC up and removed your cooler, you\u2019ll want to use dabs of isopropyl alcohol and microfiber cloth to clean dried thermal paste off of both your CPU and the bottom of your CPU cooler.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>To apply new thermal paste, follow the rule \u201cless is more\u201d<\/strong>. Unless you\u2019re using an HEDT (High End Desktop such as an AMD Threadripper) chip, <strong>a drop of thermal paste about the size of a grain of rice or two in the middle of your CPU should cover the entire thing<\/strong> once you press it down with a cooler.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/do-cpus-come-with-thermal-paste\/#How_to_Properly_Apply_Thermal_Paste\">If you aren\u2019t sure about installing thermal paste, head here to learn how.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Replace_CPU_Cooler\"><\/span>Replace CPU Cooler<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If replacing your thermal paste as recommended in the above section doesn\u2019t improve the situation, it may be time to upgrade your CPU cooler altogether.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13883\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers.jpg\" alt=\"Types of Air Coolers\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13883 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Types of Air Coolers\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/09\/Types-of-Air-Coolers.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you have room for it (in, say, a Micro ATX or larger case with sufficient thickness), a beefy air cooler can be an inexpensive option for upgrading your cooling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t mind <strong>dipping into the bank a little or have a smaller PC in general, you may also want to look into custom loop liquid cooling through an AIO<\/strong> for your improved cooling needs.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to <strong>double-check your case specifications<\/strong> before making any kind of CPU cooler purchase!<\/p>\n<p>For a compromise between the space savings of AIO liquid cooling and the performance-per-dollar of air cooling, <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-cpu-coolers\/\"><strong>also consider low-profile air coolers!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Enable_Power_Management_Modes\"><\/span>Enable Power Management Modes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you cannot take immediate action or the actions you\u2019ve taken haven\u2019t improved your idle CPU temps, you may want to enable a power management mode.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To do this on Windows, open up Start and type \u201cChoose a power plan\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18806\" style=\"width: 344px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18806\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-18806\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-5.png\" alt=\"Choose a power plan\" width=\"344\" height=\"639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-5.png 344w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-5-162x300.png 162w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 344px) 100vw, 344px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18806\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-18806 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20344%20639%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Choose a power plan\" width=\"344\" height=\"639\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20344%20639%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 344px) 100vw, 344px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-5.png 344w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-5-162x300.png 162w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/word-image-18800-5.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-18806\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Choose a power plan in Windows<\/p><\/div>\n<p>After clicking that, you\u2019ll get a pop-up window where you can select a <strong>Balanced<\/strong> or <strong>Power saver<\/strong> power plan. This should help further reduce your system utilization by reducing total power draw.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18816\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode.jpg\" alt=\"Power Saver Mode\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18816 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Power Saver Mode\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/Power-Saver-Mode.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>This will come with across-the-board reductions to performance, though, and is only recommended as a stopgap until you can actually fix the underlying issue.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Hot_is_Too_Hot_For_a_CPU\"><\/span>How Hot is Too Hot For a CPU?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>On the opposite end of the spectrum from idle CPU temperatures, you may be wondering how hot CPUs are supposed to get under load.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever asked yourself, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/cpu-temperature-guide\/\"><strong>How Hot Is Too Hot For a CPU?<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201d<\/strong>, I\u2019ve answered that question in detail before\u2014 just click the link in that last sentence if you want a longer answer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For now, though, the general advice to know is that CPUs are perfectly fine at temperatures of up to around 90 degrees Celsius.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At and above this range your CPU will start to overheat and need to thermal throttle (which reduces performance) in order to prevent permanent damage.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_Overclocking_Reduce_CPU_Lifespan\"><\/span>Does Overclocking Reduce CPU Lifespan?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you have high CPU temperatures, you definitely shouldn\u2019t be overclocking.<\/p>\n<p>However, you also shouldn\u2019t worry too much if you are overclocking, <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/overclocking-reduce-cpu-gpu-lifespan\/\"><strong>as a stable overclock generally will not damage your CPU or your GPU<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Applying overclocks comes with some trade-offs, though\u2014 and an overclocked CPU is definitely going to run a lot warmer than a non-overclocked CPU, even at idle temperatures.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18817\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking.jpg\" alt=\"CPU Overclocking\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18817 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"CPU Overclocking\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/CPU-Overclocking.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you want to reduce the idle temperatures of an overclocked CPU or GPU, look into tweaking your voltage downward to reduce the heat being generated, upgrading your cooling setup, or both!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, yeah. I\u2019ve addressed the question of idle CPU temperatures to the best of my ability, so I hope that this article answered it to your satisfaction.<\/p>\n<p>When tackling idle CPU temperatures, making sure that your case cooling, CPU cooler, and even thermal paste application are up to par are all equally important steps to resolving the problem.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>If you have other questions about CPUs or CPU temperatures, head down to the <a href=\"#comments\">comment<\/a> section or up to our <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">Forums<\/a> to ask us!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are Good Idle CPU Temps, and how can you improve yours if they don\u2019t fall into your desired range? I\u2019ll walk you through all of that in this article, so let\u2019s dive into it. How Do CPU Temps Work? First, let\u2019s take a moment to talk about CPU temps in general. Like a lot...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2339,"featured_media":18808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[303],"tags":[117],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18800"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2339"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18800"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19119,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18800\/revisions\/19119"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}