Is it beneficial to invest in a good CPU cooler fan/heatsink?

[rumbleMonkey]

Is it a good idea to buy a good cooling system for the CPU even if you are not overclocking? What if your goal is to have the lowest possible temperatures for your PC, is it wise to ditch the stock heatsink and faN?

I need some opinions and explanations, as I am debating to get a better cooling system, because I feel my PC temperatures are kind of high. I reapplied heat sink paste with AS5, and still temperatures remain high.

When I play games like mass effect 2, crysis, assassins creed 2, CPU temps go up to 70C. And that bothers me, so why not get a new cooling system? is it worth it? why?

[stroyal]

Assuming your room temp is 70f/21c, this summer when it is 90f/32c (if you don't have air) that CPU will be close to 90c.

As long as you don't exceed the design high temp, there is really no benefit.

Were they always that high?
Did you put the paste on too thick?
What processor?

[rumbleMonkey]

Assuming your room temp is 70f/21c, this summer when it is 90f/32c (if you don't have air) that CPU will be close to 90c.

As long as you don't exceed the design high temp, there is really no benefit.

Were they always that high?
Did you put the paste on too thick?
What processor?

The processor is Intel i5 760, with the heat sink and fan that came in the box. The case I am using is the NZXT Gamma mid tower. I am pretty sure the thermal paste isnt the problem, because before applying it, the temps were a bit higher, so like 70+ on some games. after applying the proper amount of thermal paste, temps were a lot lower, but still kind of high. If a new cooler thingy will improve my temps, would that not be advised?

[JPMiller]

This is how I see it...
If my temps exceed the 60's on a regular basis, I think something should be done about my cooling...
Granted as long as its not throttling down and affecting performance, it likely doesn't REALLY matter, but thats MY rule of thumb...
Often its more about CASE airflow than the individual coolers used.
The stock coolers should be adequate for anyone not overclocking....
So the next thing to look at is your cases airflow.
How many, what size and what orientation are your fans?
Is your wiring done cleanly so that it doesn't impede airflow?
Did you use the wiring holes inside the case to route the cabling out of the way, or is it a spaghetti mess inside?

Did you add any fans to the grilled areas on the side or the top?

[stroyal]

I just checked around an most stock coolers are running @ 45c to 50c,
Sounds like something is amiss.
and it looks like 72 is about as high as you want to go.
Intel® Core™ i5-760 Processor (8M Cache, 2.80 GHz)with SPEC Code(s)SLBRP


But I only researched for a few minutes, Google, you know.

[RicheemxX]

The processor is Intel i5 760, with the heat sink and fan that came in the box. The case I am using is the NZXT Gamma mid tower. I am pretty sure the thermal paste isnt the problem, because before applying it, the temps were a bit higher, so like 70+ on some games. after applying the proper amount of thermal paste, temps were a lot lower, but still kind of high. If a new cooler thingy will improve my temps, would that not be advised?

After applying the 'proper amount' are you sure you know what the proper amount is? I'm only asking because I see a lot of people say that and they cake it on like its peanut butter. You only need a very thin film.

Are you sure your temps are accurate? How are you getting them.

A new cooler might help and obviously it's not going to hurt anything but its better to be thorough and find out for sure that the hs/fan is the issue. Why spend $20-30 to find out that something else was wrong and you didn't really need the new fan after-all. Again it won't hurt anything but most of us like to keep our hard earned cash when we can.

[sword_fish]

This is how I see it...
If my temps exceed the 60's on a regular basis, I think something should be done about my cooling...
Granted as long as its not throttling down and affecting performance, it likely doesn't REALLY matter, but thats MY rule of thumb...
Often its more about CASE airflow than the individual coolers used.
The stock coolers should be adequate for anyone not overclocking....
So the next thing to look at is your cases airflow.
How many, what size and what orientation are your fans?
Is your wiring done cleanly so that it doesn't impede airflow?
Did you use the wiring holes inside the case to route the cabling out of the way, or is it a spaghetti mess inside?

Did you add any fans to the grilled areas on the side or the top?

+1 here.

@ rumblemonkey
how's your temps now?
mind if you share an inside pic of your chassis?