GTA 5 is killing my CPU

[CeeCee]

Hi everyone. My CPU is suffering whilst playing GTA. It reaches 75c when running in high settings (Runs around 30c when idle), I have tried lowering the settings to normal but it doesn't really help. It usually starts to lag when I go in/near the ocean. The graphics card runs at around the same temperature but I am not worried about that i know they have higher safe temps.
I have purchased an aftermarket cooler and new thermal paste but I have to wait for it to arrive. I love the game, I really want to play but I daren't. I have just finished building this PC and I know it's not the best but it's all I could afford, so I don't want to murder it.

Does anyone have any tips on how to keep it cool until my new cooler arrives?

My specs are:
AMD 6300 (stock clock and cooler)
Radeon R9 280 (no over clock)
8GB RAM

Hope someone can help!

[Astraea Kisaragi]

AMD CPUs are generally known as powerhogs with FX series at least TDP of 125W. Perhaps the purchased cooler - even if is better as stock - isnt suitable for such high TDP.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Make sure air gets exchanged.
Also get a sideblower cooler for more watt than your cpu has.
That should fix it.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by fauxtronic:

That's why I use the Hyper 212 EVO cooler on my FX 8350. The stock coolers with FX processors are crap.

THIS...

Great cooler, very versatile, and very inexpensive too. Fits several sockets, both Intel and AMD.

[CeeCee]

Originally posted by fauxtronic:

I have an old FX 8350 (now relegated to a HTPC for gaming on the TV) so I know a bit about the quirks of these processors.

It's unlikely your CPU is getting that hot. TJ Max is really low on the FX 6300 at around 62C and it should be automatically throttling (affecting your performance) to prevent it getting anywhere near 75c.

The big issue with temps on FX processors is that (i) they (unlike Intels) produce a reading with a 10-20C offset and (ii) most temp monitoring software reports the wrong temp.

To get the correct CPU temperature you should use HWinfo64 and you'll notice two readings for the CPU. I can't remember the exact labelling now, but one of them will likely agree with your 75C figure (using the motherboard sensor) while the other reports the temperature according to the CPU's built in sensor (the most accurate) I'd put my money on that being a bit closer to 55-60C.

Still a bit hot but not in the danger zone. You ideally want it getting no hotter than 52C if the TJ Max is 62C). That's why I use the Hyper 212 EVO cooler on my FX 8350. The stock coolers with FX processors are crap.

I use speed fan for CPU monitoring and MSI afterburner mainly for the GPU temps and fan control, I keep these open whilst in game. MSI definitely has false readings for the CPU, it reads it as 80+ right now and speed fan is showing me between 68-71 (aprox) right now. Just tried Hwinfo it is giving similar reading as Speefan. I have always found Speedfan gives me accurate readings, I actually swaer by it. :D

I will see what it is like with my new cooler (Zalman CNPS5X) apparently it works well with my CPU, someone I know actually got a 10c decrease in temps with this cooler so it's promising!

[Snapjak]

Until you get the cooler installed your only real option is to turn settings down.

[Astraea Kisaragi]

The Zalman CNPS5X is suited for 95W CPUs at most. The above recommended Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO should be okay until 180W.
A slightly cheaper bit similarly performing one could be the GELID Solutions Tranquillo.

[CeeCee]

Well it arrived (I was expecting it to arrive on Monday) and I have installed it my max temp whilst playing GTA for 10 minutes or so was 54c! It idles at around 14c now (according to Hwinfo.) Yay! Finally I can breathe <3

Edit: I used the thermal that was included.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Originally posted by Viki:

It idles at around 14c now

Is the airtemperature lower than 14c around the computer? Otherwise that would be impossible.

And 54c with that air temperature of less than 14c would make a suprise in summer. You will have to check temperature constantly.

If your cooler is actually made for TCP 95watt, it cant protect your cpu from overheating in many cases.

[CeeCee]

Originally posted by Muppet among Puppets:

Originally posted by Viki:

It idles at around 14c now

Is the airtemperature lower than 14c around the computer? Otherwise that would be impossible.

And 54c with that air temperature of less than 14c would make a suprise in summer. You will have to check temperature constantly.

If your cooler is actually made for TCP 95watt, it cant protect your cpu from overheating in many cases.

It's about 18c in my room, it is 24c outside and the CPU is over clocked again to 3.8ghz. The cooler is not 95W I don't know where everyone is getting that from. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zalman-CNPS5X-Performa-1155-Sockets/dp/B006344OMM I live in the UK so the temperatures we are getting today are summer temperatures give or take the odd hot day.

I'm not stupid enough to let my PC over heat, I monitor temps constantly, speed fan is open MSI after burner is also open, my brother in the next room builds them for a living, I am sure if anything goes wrong he can help I just don't like bothering him. Either way, it is adequate for my needs and better than the stock cooler.

[Astraea Kisaragi]

170 watt TDP thats only on paper. It's has only 2 heatpipes with a 9cm cooler I would say to 105-110W TDP at most.

Of course still better as stock by a few leagues.

[CeeCee]

Originally posted by Astraea Kisaragi:

170 watt TDP thats only on paper. It's has only 2 heatpipes with a 9cm cooler I would say to 105-110W TDP at most.

Of course still better as stock by a few leagues.

It has 3 copper pipes which directly contact the cpu.