running too warm??

I'm a senior who doesn't understand all the "computerese" language and terms and I have a question.

How I can find out the temperature of my desktop computer. I am having some intermittent problems that seem to manifest themselves more when the computer has been on a while and gets warm, maybe too warm. I can postpone the problems if I point an external room fan directly on my computer. At some point in time, I saw something, that in my quick glance at it, looked like a temperature reading but I can't find it back. Where do I look?

For those of you who answered my concern about W8.1 going away, thank you for your reassurances,
Bernadine

Use HWInfo or something similar. Easy to install and use.

Teeotsa said:

Use HWInfo or something similar. Easy to install and use.

Click to expand...

It does say free to download, but is it free to use? I'm just wary because I had a bad experience. In my inexperience with computers, I downloaded something free and then it wanted to charge me quite a bit to use it. It was really hard for me to get rid of it too. So, I'm super careful now.
Thanks,
Bernadine

Bernadine said:

It does say free to download, but is it free to use?

Click to expand...

It is

Teeotsa said:

It is

Click to expand...

Thank you, I'll give it a try though it's ironic because I've got to turn the heat on, just turned cold outside.

Bernadine said:

Thank you, I'll give it a try though it's ironic because I've got to turn the heat on, just turned cold outside.

Click to expand...

You're welcome!

After a very confusing time on their website, I did manage to download the program and get it working. Now the question becomes, when does warm become hot? The temp reading is about 45 - 48 degrees c. I haven't had any problems with the computer doing bad things since the weather broke last week and the room temp is down from the 80's into the 60's.
If the computer temp is too hot, a friend said he would move the computer and dust it out with canned air, that maybe it's dusty and the fan can't do its job well enough.
Thanks,
Bernadine

Bernadine said:

After a very confusing time on their website, I did manage to download the program and get it working. Now the question becomes, when does warm become hot? The temp reading is about 45 - 48 degrees c. I haven't had any problems with the computer doing bad things since the weather broke last week and the room temp is down from the 80's into the 60's.
If the computer temp is too hot, a friend said he would move the computer and dust it out with canned air, that maybe it's dusty and the fan can't do its job well enough.
Thanks,
Bernadine

Click to expand...

In my opinion, your CPU runs a bit too warm :'D

My 3rd gen i5 runs 30c on idle and below 60 under load.

Bernadine said:

After a very confusing time on their website, I did manage to download the program and get it working. Now the question becomes, when does warm become hot? The temp reading is about 45 - 48 degrees c. I haven't had any problems with the computer doing bad things since the weather broke last week and the room temp is down from the 80's into the 60's.
If the computer temp is too hot, a friend said he would move the computer and dust it out with canned air, that maybe it's dusty and the fan can't do its job well enough.
Thanks,
Bernadine

Click to expand...

Hi Bernadine

If you know the model of your Dell, it would help to add the info in your signature so any suggestions can be a bit more accurate. It looks as if you have a 3rd generation i5-3xxx, which if true is a bit old and wasn't quite efficient when it came to cooling anyway, lowering temps was helped by an after market cooler and thermal paste versus the pad supplied by Intel on the stock cooler - I'm going by the pic you posted though details are hidden. The HWInfo window can be widened so more detail can be seen.

Yes indeed, the HWInfo app is hard to get at, the LAN Sweeper app is right there in your face to distract.

30Cs to 50Cs under mild to modest load is normal definately in summer, if you begin to hit the 60Cs and above under the same conditions you need to have a look, which is what you're doing now. Under a heavy load... gaming or watching 60fps movies at 720P or 1080p would be normal - in the 50Cs to 60Cs, just be mindful of how long you see this and watch for temps to climb above the 70s and 80s. If you notice you're hitting the max, upwards of the 90s and on into the 100C range - you need to fix something. Do note that Intel has some protective measures built into the CPU that will either slow the thing down or shut down your system altogether - your pic shows no throttling, slowing down the system, making your system sluggish.

It is a good idea to have your friend clean out the dust bunnys, a thorough cleaning can never hurt. Check all the fans - do they spin... cpu, case, power supply. If you have a dust filter on the bottom or front of the case, clean it too. The location of the case matters, in a corner or cubbie hole where there's no air circulation is bad - traps heat... next to a window where heat from the sun beats on the case. The hot air inside the case needs to exhaust out and away so plenty of space around the case and on the bottom matters to help draw cooler air in. Too much smoke, or cat, dog hair, are not good either.

A simple test - before and after the cleaning - would be to open HWInfo, widen the window a bit so the details aren't cut off - i5-3... is an example of info being cut off, and have a look below the CPU, at the SMART info for your HDD too. With both of the categories visible I would play a short video at Youtube in your browser, a 720P 60fps and 1080P 60fps test - how fast do temps rise, move your browser to the back after you begin playing the video (behind HWI), and monitor (watch) the CPU, GPU, and HDD temps. If they rise too high too fast, stop the video - you know you have heat issues.

This is only a suggestion to see how your system responds, specifically the CPU, by applying a moderate load - HWInfo updates every second so you should see real time change. If you hit the 70Cs too quickly, you have things to consider. Keep in mind (I'm guessing), your system is getting old, how much effort do you want to invest to keep it running versus replacing the PC for a newer model? It all starts with identifying the source of any problems, and what needs to be done to fix them. If your friend could at least apply new thermal paste to the cpu, this could a help... thermal pads and thermal paste need to be replaced every few years anyway, but it isn't for the inexperienced and a shop might overcharge for an otherwise modest repair.

Here's a short clip of Spider-Man, I would open the link in a new tab for the test, rather than play it embedded here.
The gear icon to the right of CC will allow you to change the quality of the video, I would put a light load on your system by viewing the clip in 720p60, as well 1080p60 - hows the temps?

Wow, thank you for your reply. It must have taken you quite a while to write it up. If I read very slowly and concentrate hard, I can understand quite a bit of it. I'll try to address your points one by one, please understand all the terms and tech stuff doesn't come easy to me. (HWInfo really does want to sell their LAN Sweeper and I almost go caught.)

I was told at some point by someone I don't remember who, said not to put too much info about my computer out there. So I don't know exactly what you are asking for by my name but I did find the "i5-3xxx" in the HWin program report. I attached it. Maybe you can tell me what to include. I widened the HWInfo around the temps as wide as there was info. I'm not sure if I am even copying the correct window.

There isn't a lot of room around the computer, not a lot of room for it anywhere else. But it's not in the sun, not sitting on the floor, have small short haired cat, no smoke.

I found the SMART area and took a snapshot of it. I need my friend to move my computer so it can be opened and cleaned up, but beyond dusting it out with canned air, I don't know just how competent he is working inside a computer. I've never even heard of thermal paste before. I'm not saying this about all men, but some men around here think more highly of themselves than their skills actually warrant.

You mentioned sluggish, yes it can be and will lock up completely. It gets to be a mess. Even shutting it down becomes impossible unless I turn the surge protector off. The next time I start it again, next day or later in the day, it may or may not want to work.

Replacing this isn't really an option that's why my first question was if I can still use 8.1 since it's not going to be supported anymore. I know how to use this computer, or at least use it to fit my needs but learning something new and completely different is just beyond my desire to be drowned in the world of computers. Just reading your reply, and I thank you for making as clear as it is, following your directions have made my eyes cross and head swim.

I did snapshot of before and then after 720 and 1080 and attached the results. The first time playing the 1080, it got stuck about 3 or 4 minutes in and I had to start it over. Fortunately, it didn't completely lock the computer up like sometimes happens. I ran the video in the full screen mode.

I hope I covered everything you wanted to see. Any suggestions, comments, questions, etc. are greatly appreciated. I don't know when the cleaning of the computer will take place. I have to get some canned air first and then I have to get him here and all of that could take a while. At least for now, it's cool in here and computer seems to be a bit happier.

Thank you,
Bernadine

Sorry Bernadine, my intention wasn't to cause frustration or confusion.

It is smart to keep private sensitive information offline... the model Dell computer you have isn't personal info, I'm sure Dell sold millions of em. It helps those who want to offer advice to know who the patient is

As far as location of the case, and the space around it, the point is the PC case must draw clean cool air in, and expell hot air out. Small cramped spaces, corners (right angles) trap hot air. The PC case (should) be cleaned yearly, atleast inspected. Ignoring basic maintenance will shorten the life of a PC and can affect performance negatively. No need to get carried away, we just need to be mindful.

Thank you for the images of the system temps. As Teeotsa mentions in post #8, temps in the 30s at idle (on but not doing much), 40s in summer - this can be seen as normal. Under load (watching a 60fps movie) ideally under the 60s. Your temps don't appear to be dangerous yet, but they are not ideal. If the temps reach the 70s or higher for no apparent reason - TURN THE PC OFF.

You're at a crossroads now. The Inspiron 660 debuted in 2012 IIRC, it's old, and likely in need of long overdue maintenance. It may not make sense to spend too much money getting the Inspiron 660 in working order - it may very well need replacing for something newer, doesn't have to be brand new - there's refurbished (recertified) - see Dell and Amazon if interested.

The lockups, sluggishness, and random reboots must be addressed, and will require the skills of an experienced person, doesn't have to be a (so-called) professional. I hope you find an honest and skilled person to help you out, someone who will advise you honestly. Don't forget the Eight Forums too - we're still here for you but it's hard not being in front of the PC.

These are only my views, let's hope someone else chimes in.

Oh no, it wasn't you that caused the confusion and frustration, just sitting down to the computer if it's in one of its stinky moods will do that all on its own. Your answer was really good and clear, please don't be sorry for making such a good response. It's just me being a computer - what's the opposite of nerd? That's me.

10 years doesn't seem that old to me. My car is 22 this year, she's still going good. Kitty is 13, she's fine too. 13 is 68 in human years, she's still younger than me. In human years how old is a 10 year old computer?

Yes, computer sits in a little area with some space behind it and the room in front of it. Not too much choice of anywhere else to put it. Maybe I could get a small fan and when he takes the computer out he could put the fan behind it. I could plug it into the surge protector that I turn on to start the computer and it would automatically turn the fan on too.

I haven't been able to find anyone around here who knows enough about computers and will treat me with respect. I had the person who put this computer together for me but a couple years later I had a question and he treated me like I'm an idiot. I know I don't understand a lot about computers but I say what is going on with my computer as best I can. He literally dismissed me when told me what I said was happening, couldn't happen, and he knew because he is a tech. (He was wrong, it was happening, wasn't just my computer, and he didn't know.)

I talked with my friend and he knows about the thermal paste, didn't have time to ask if he knows how to apply it. I'll just wait till he can clean the computer and go from there. It seems OK, nice and cool in here. I'll have a look at Dell and Amazon, though I'm leery of what I might get if it isn't new. And I like 8.1, don't want to have to learn a whole new set of computer programs. And programs I have probably wouldn't work with anything newer, and that makes me even more reluctant. There is a Free Geek in town, but it seems they aren't giving or selling computers. I don't know what is actually going on with them. One of the men here used to volunteer there and he quit them a while back. And the computers they did make used Linux (?) and would require new programs too. Nothing is ever easy if it has anything to do with computers.

Thanks for your patience and understanding and good replies,
Bernadine

Bernadine,
Too bad you're so far away, or I'd just say just bring it on down here for a thorough cleaning and re-tuning, which I'm pretty sure your PC has never had. It's what I do.
But if you're planning on a trip to Florida anyway (not this week, as we're having a hurricane this week) bring the PC with you, and I'll tell you how to get to my place.
After several years of use, without cleaning, the inside of your PC will look like the inside of a vacuum cleaner bag.
Some examples, from my own work as a computer tech:
A dirty fan grill.




A dirty CPU cooling fan and heat sink, plugged with lint. This cooling fan was running at full speed, all the time. The owner called me because of the noise it was making. The PC was sitting on the floor, on a white carpet. I got it cleaned up, UP off of the floor, and it never had a problem again.



Air vents inside of desktop case, plugged up with dirt. This PC just quit working all together.


These pics are just typical of what I saw almost every day, as a working Computer tech.
The case above, was siting on the floor. Worse place for a PC.

To really clean out your PC, you'll need a Vac. Cleaner with a hose and crevasse tool, and a small paint brush to dislodge dirt, so it can be vacuumed out. Be Gentle!

Good Luck,
TM

I'm sorry....my pictures did not transfer properly, the first time around, so I just tried again, with success the second time.

But suffice it to say, that dirt can bring even the most powerful computer right down to its knees. A CPU chip can burn up when not being cooled properly. An Intel chip is more likely to suffer from overheating, than an AMD.

If they are not permanently damaged, Clean them out, and they will run like new again.

TM

Hi TechnoMage,

Yes, Florida would be a bit far to go from Oregon. Is everything OK with you after the latest storm. I saw pictures of really bad erosion, houses and swimming pools falling into the ocean. Hope Central Florida means not near the coast.

Don't be sorry, actually I did get the pics just fine and they are disgusting. I can see the back of my computer and it's not dusty but that doesn't say what's inside. I did get the canned air and just in case the thermal gel. Hopefully, I can get my friend to pull the computer out in the next day or so. He said he would open it up and clean it out. I do hope that's all it is. So would it be better to vacuum it out first, dust it with a brush and then canned air, or no canned air at all? And I will make sure he understands "gentle."

Thanks so much,
Bernadine

For years, before I finally bought myself an Air Compressor for my shop, I just used a soft cleaning brush to loosen dirt and then a Vacuum Cleaner with a hose and crevasse tool, to suck out the dirt. (Works great on keyboards) Using compressed air is quicker, but, it can also be destructive, like to the blades on cooling fans. Not thinking, I hit a small cooling fan with 100 psi compressed air, one day, and half the fins flew off of the fan.
Arggg! Fortunately, it was a fan that I could easily and quickly replace. I learned my lesson. I still blow the dust out of fans, but, I stick something into the fan to prevent the blades from turning, while I blow out the dirt.
I've never used canned air. Just didn't seem like something that was financially sound.
Ask your friend to show you, step by step, what he does, so maybe six months or a year down the road, you can do the job yourself. Eh?

Since you asked.....here in Central FL, I was safe from the damage that Nicole did along the East Coast. All we got here was some gusty wind and some badly needed rain. Yes, it's heartbreaking, the damage to those million $ homes along the beach. Many will be condemed and torn down. Once cleaned, I hope those seaside lots will be left vacant.

It's safe now, if you DO want to visit Florida.

I'm glad the pics finally posted OK, and you're right....they are "Disgusting!". But that was my everyday work, for over 40 years.
Thank goodness, the only PC's I work on today are mine (12)
It was so disheartening, when a PC was just let go till it couldn't go any more. I always hated to tell a customer, "I'm sorry, it's DEAD and beyond repair."

Good luck with your PC cleaning.

Happy Holidays!

TM

I've heard it said many times, "I won't ask someone else to do something I won't do myself" so, I just disconnected this little SFF Slimline PC and took it into my inside shop for a "Clean and oil".
I used the brush and vacuum cleaner method to clean the cpu fan and case vents. Then I used my Micro-Oiler to re-oil the main bearing in the Power Supply exhaust fan. That's cheaper and simpler than replacing that little fan. (if I could even find one)
I try to go through this C&O routine about twice a year.

Having a PC opened up, like for the first time in years, it's a good time to replace the little coin-sized CMOS battery. It's a CR-2032 and is available at most stores that sell batteries. I know mine was changed about a year ago, when I installed my new SSD hard drive, so I didn't do that today. But, if I'm working on a PC that's not been touched in three years, or more, it automatically gets a new battery.

Here I am again on my little PC, that's just been cleaned and oiled and she's running GREAT.

I'm glad I asked, I can return the canned air. I'm sure canned air isn't as economic as an air-compressor but you were using it on a professional level. For me for the amount of use it would get, a little can of air is not only more economical price wise but space wise as well. It has been "several" years since my computer has been out of it's space. I looked up "micro-oiler" and wondered what kind would be best for just me. And then there's oil to go in it. What is best? Aren't you just so glad you mentioned this? I looked in my battery stash and I'll have to get a CR-2032. Just one in each computer?

I will watch my friend as he does this but I can't move the computer by myself so he or someone will still have to be involved. And I don't know about taking the case apart, the last computer wouldn't let me open it up. I had set a time with him to work on it Wednesday, but I'll postpone that until I can get the micro-oiler (I'll ask maybe he has one) and battery.

Did the (12) mean you have 12 computers? Oh my, I can't keep up with 1. I think maybe the problem, certainly for me, no one has ever said, every so often you need to do this, and this, and this. I first had a computer in 1992. In 1994 someone used it and said it was slow. He asked me when I had last defragged it. I didn't have the slightest idea what he was talking about. He started the defrag and it took like 8 hours to finish. But no one had ever even mentioned it. The few things I do know to do, I probably don't do as often as I should, time seems to get away from me and everything with computers seems to take me longer to do than people who know what they are doing. I have my little check lists, to defrag, do this... to backup, do this...now to clean it, do this..... Oh, and thank you for all the info. I don't want to have to get a new computer or no longer have Win8.1 and maybe this will help.

As for Florida....I keep wanting to go to the Oregon coast and I can't seem to get my act together to go even that far. As I watched the news, I wondered if they would be allowed to rebuild there, seems a waste of money and of an opportunity to use some better practices to protect the land.

Not going to say how many computers I own. 12 is a modest figure that I haven't been able to boast in over ten years. Here's a little video that touches upon cleaning, maintenance, and minor modifications you might enjoy.

Well, that was pointless!!! That video was recorded at such a high resolution that all I get is constant 'Reloading'.
I've actually seen enough dirty PC's that I don't really need to watch that.

Bernadine, don't worry about the Micro Oiler. If you can even find one, you wouldn't know how or where to use it. That's a technicians thing. But, as for the batteries, they can last for many years, but I made a hard and fast rule, that if a PC comes into my shop that has not had service for three years, or more, it automatically gets a new battery. I buy them a dozen at a time, wholesale.

For over 30 years, I wanted to have my own Air Compressor. It really had nothing to do with computers. I use it every week, for one thing or another. I've amassed quite an assortment of Air Tools.
But, it does come in handy, when I want to blow the dirt out of a PC.
However, I never use compressed air for cleaning a Keyboard. I only use a vacuum cleaner, to SUCK the dirt out of the keyboard, and not blow it down into the switches. A cleaning brush and a crevasse tool does the job nicely. (I used to do that kind of thing for a living)