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G99

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 8, 2006
366
0
Hi
I was wondering, what is the maximum temperature the CPU will go, before damaging itself on an iMac G5? I've recently seen some really high temperatures, like 71C, for the CPU.
Thanks in advance.
 
Anything above 60C willl cause instability. That's a bit hot, I'm running at 45C here on my iMac.
 
That temperature sounds like something you'd get running a heavy program and music and internet simultaneously. Is that the case? ( to the OP )
 
Currently, my 15" 1.5GHz PB is running at 56C (processor bottomside), and I've only got Safari and Mail open... I had X-Plane on earlier, and it peaked at around 62C. The Processor/Controller Bottomside is one degree more at both times.

According to Temperature Monitor, the maximum limit of the processor bottomside and processor/controller bottomside is 75C and 76C respectively.


Also, I don't get any instabilities running at over 60C - I just get a very, very warm desk! The desk feels warm if I put my hand on the underneath!! :eek:
 
Right now, with just Safari open, I'm running at 68C.
Strange, because this iMac is 6 months old.
But, I've got CPU performance as "Highest"
 
G99 said:
Right now, with just Safari open, I'm running at 68C.
Strange, because this iMac is 6 months old.
But, I've got CPU performance as "Highest"

Time get some bottled air and clean out the dust...
 
There is no fixed temperature above which CPUs become unstable. It all depends on the individual chip itself. CPU temps up to about 75-80C are well within tolerances as a general rule.

An iMac consistently running at 68C when only using Safari and not hitting any sites using CPU intensive things like flash and/or applets might be a little warm. However, it all depends on the room temperature and your actual system load.

It is probably worth checking that your iMac is getting sufficient ventilation. That is, nothing blocking the intakes at the bottom, or the outlet slot at the rear, top of the iMac. If you have the heat on or other heat producing things near the iMac, that the hot air is not blowing onto the iMac. The iMac is not in an enclosed space such as a wall unit or tall shelf/desk construction. Etc.
 
As someone said (I've never owned an iMac), if there's room for you to use compressed air or (or a vacuum on a lower setting believe it or not), I would do it. A few seconds with a vacuum sucked up a good handful of dust out of my old PC - and got it working again too.
 
howesey said:
Anything above 60C willl cause instability. That's a bit hot, I'm running at 45C here on my iMac.
My iMac G5 is always at maximum load (because I'm a MacRumors Folder), and my temp is always about 71 degrees C. No instability here.

Above 80 degrees C is when you have to worry.
 
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