Hi all,I built a new system for FSX. It has an Intel i5-750 with an aftermarket cooler. I put the sim under heavy stress by sliding the Autogen and Density sliders to 'Extremely Dense', flew out of Boston/Logan in a rain storm using the 3D cockpit...and I watched the CPU temerature. The highest it got under heavy load was 49 deg C. Under less-demanding conditions in FSX, it runs between 30-40 deg C. It idles at 20 deg C.Is approaching 50 deg C under heavy stress a cause for concern? I'm fairly new to building computers. I used Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste on the CPU and followed their website directions for i5/i7 processors where you run a line of thermal paste along the cores of the CPU rather than cover the entire thing.

Below 80C is safe.What program do you use to measure the temps?You could use OCCT to really stress test your system while monitoring the temps (http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download).Have you overclocked the CPU?

I overclock my CPU and it runs safely at 60c sometimes 2 or 3 degrees higher.Vololiberista

Thanks for the replies. I'm not overclocking my CPU, and I'm using Biostar's hardware monitoring tool (it came with the motherboard). It measures the system & CPU temps plus the fan speeds and voltages.

if youre not overclocking and installed the heatsink/fan properly, you dont have to worry about temps.

Your temperatures look pretty much like mine, except I've never seen them as low as 20 C at idle. Room temperature can have a big impact.

I ran my i7 920 for 2 hours at 84C during Prime testing. Will never get that high in FSX. Mybe 60-65C

84 C in Prime? Man, I'd hate to see what that thing would get to under a real stress test like Linpack 64-bit.

My understanding is 80c is safe as well.My cpu went up to 76c with OCCT. In FSX it runs around 70-73. I am using Realtemp

84 C in Prime? Man, I'd hate to see what that thing would get to under a real stress test like Linpack 64-bit.

Wasnt trying to blow it up!

G'day all,I think the best answer is to check the official specs of your particular processor type.In my case, I clicked to Intel's "Processor Spec Finder" and found detailed specs on my Q9650 (which I do overclock). Here, I find that my CPU's maximum Thermal Design Power is 71.4C, so I want to try and keep my temps below that.So, if you have an Intel CPU, check it out here: Intel Processor Spec Finder. (Sorry, AMD guys, you'll have to do your own research. :( )Smooth skies!

TDP is a wattage rating, not a temperature. You're probably looking at Tcase Max which is the maximum temperature of the CPU package. The chip itself is safe up to the 80's.

TDP is a wattage rating, not a temperature. You're probably looking at Tcase Max which is the maximum temperature of the CPU package. The chip itself is safe up to the 80's.

Doh! :( I just checked the definition again on Intel's site. I see I must've crossed my wires... (Lucky I'm not in the bomb disposal team :( )."Thermal Specification: The thermal specification shown is the maximum case temperature at the maximum Thermal Design Power (TDP) value for that processor. It is measured at the geometric center on the topside of the processor integrated heat spreader. For processors without integrated heat spreaders such as mobile processors, the thermal specification is referred to as the junction temperature (Tj). The maximum junction temperature is defined by an activation of the processor Intel

Thanks to everyone who helped me look into this. Looks like I'm safe for now, considering the most I've seen my CPU temps rise is up to ~50 deg C.