CPU temperature

[Hitman]

Hi, my PC has an Intel core 2 Quad Q8200 processor at 2.33Ghz. At idle the temperatures are at around 45C, and when under a bit of strain (FF open, bittorrent running, a few small programs and a full system scan) the system reaches 50 - 60C. Now, I was looking and the max temp it can reach is 71 before it dies or whatever, so 60 if fairly close...

The cooling for my CPU is a coolmaster thing, it's like a massive tube and the fan... dunno the exact name, but I think it's a pretty basic fan.

I want to know what'd be the best thing for me to do to try and get the temperatures down? Buy a better fan? Or get a new heatsink? I read that can help...

What would you guys suggest, and if I were to buy a new fan and heatsink, how easy would it be to replace my current ones?

Thanks.

[Jahova]

Aftermarket cooling. I suggest an artic cooler, they're cheap and bring down temps quite a bit. If you're overclocking, look for better.

[Chippiewill]

Get a better Fan, it might come with a heat sink as well. You could also try applying some new thermal paste.

[Stephen!]

You don't need to buy a better one. Your temperatures are fine.

[JoshYoung]

Did you build it yourself? or is it factory built ? If it is factory built check their FAQ or support see what they say. In my opinion you really must be using some juicey programs for it to give those temperatures of that cpu.
My Dedi Servers intel duo core 2.5 CPU was running at 50C a week ago. and i was recommended to replace it. Okay its a server, but nothing was running.

[Agnostic Bear]

Gonna go ahead and agree with the above.

As long as it's under, even by 1c, it's fine, it's just over when you have to worry about things.

[Hitman]

You don't need to buy a better one. Your temperatures are fine.

OK, thanks. If it was cooler, would it run better?

Did you build it yourself? or is it factory built ? If it is factory built check their FAQ or support see what they say. In my opinion you really must be using some juicey programs for it to give those temperatures of that cpu.
My Dedi Servers intel duo core 2.5 CPU was running at 50C a week ago. and i was recommended to replace it. Okay its a server, but nothing was running.

Well, it was factory built by Packard Bell, but the mobo and PSU died so it has a custom mobo and PSU.

Right now each core is at 51, 47, 46 and 49. All that's running is Eset smart security in the BG, Firefox, MSN (not signed in), crappy Intel gfx accelerator and Vista itself.

Gonna go ahead and agree with the above.

As long as it's under, even by 1c, it's fine, it's just over when you have to worry about things.

Agreeing with Stephen I guess (the above guy cut in before had a different opinion).

Cheers guys. If cooling makes a difference to performance I might try something different for cooling, but if it doesn't then I'll leave it be.

[Chippiewill]

Right now each core is at 51, 47, 46 and 49. All that's running is Eset smart security in the BG, Firefox, MSN (not signed in), crappy Intel gfx accelerator and Vista itself.

Yeh, good ol' resource intensive Vista, making computers overheat since '07

[N!ck]

It sounds a little high but not excessively. Maybe the heatsink isn't seated properly.

[The Professor]

Mine's always run at that lol, is that bad?