I just finished my first build (2nd if youcount one in middle school when I knew nothing) and I have never paid attention to my CP's temperature.  When I opened up my BIOS for the first time it said my Q9450's temperature was 60C ~ 140F this seems absurdly hot to me considering there are about four fans in the direct vicinity of the CPU and a copper heatsink surrounding it.  I checked some documents online which I didn't really understand but I saw some tempertures in the 60-80C range for other CPU's so I decided to install my os.  Now I'm curious if this is a normal temperature.  Could someone please help me out.

 The temperature is currently 54 - 59C (according to Speedfan) depending on the core and I'm only on the internet.  Any help is appriciated, Thanks.

That is a bit higher than norm but it depends on room temp and circulation in the case. Are you using the stock cooler? Maybe try reapplying thermal paste. If your cpu temp is that high it makes me wonder what your gpu temps are. What size fans are you using and what is there config. For instance what fans where blowing in or out.

I am using the stock cooler, but I didn't use thermal paste and there was nothing in the instructions about that.  I could potentially get some but I know next to nothing about it other than that it exists.  I have a 120mm fan right next to the CPU a80mm right above that blowing out the back of the case, and a 120mm blow in from the front.  I'm using an ASUS P5E3 premium mb if that helps.  Also how would I go about checking the GPU temps?

mfe5003:

I am using the stock cooler, but I didn't use thermal paste and there was nothing in the instructions about that. 

 

Yikes...get some grease in there quick! Use THIS article as a guideline, mfe5003!

the stock hs comes with a thermal pad. as long as you pulled the cove r film off it than it should work adequately. thermal grease like artic silver 5 works better but necessary. try tidying up your cables in your case for better airflow. what are your room temps . you can check your gpu in nvidia control panel if you have a nvidia card. your temps aren't alarming just a little higher than normal for stock hs.

 Well I just got off the phone with intel and they said that 50-60C is within the acceptable range with 70ish as the maximum and using a third party hs and fan actually voids the warrenty so I think I'll go with the if it breaks intel will fix it approach, but thank you guys very much for your help.  I'll also look into the thermal paste as well.

 80 c is when u want to get worried.

 Speed fan should also display your GPU temps as well as the CPU temps ...................;)

 

You can also use HW Monitor to keep track of both, its a simple utility that doesn't need to be installed.

 

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

 

As for your warm operating temps, try cleaning up the wiring inside the case to improve the overall air flow, it should help some.

SqUiD267:

 80 c is when u want to get worried.

 

 

80C is when you need to start panicing. Most of the time if you start getting into the 70C range on a desktop CPU something is wrong. Optimally a CPU is happier within the 40-60C range under load but any higher can start reducing the lifespan of the processor ever so slightly. 

 Speed Fan will measure your GPU temp and enable you to log your CPU temps at the same time.

 

Also it looks like you have too little air leaving the case with too much coming in. You might be better with negative air pressure inside the case (you appear to have a positive pressure set up at the moment). Ideally you want the 120mm fan at the rear of the case blowing out and the 80mm fan at the front coming in (a 120 mm fan would be better).With the 120mm fan blowing air in and the 80mm fan expelling it the air is simply getting circulated around the case and cant leave quick enough. This could be leading to a heat build up (I take it  the 120mm fan inside the case is more of a spot fan?).

 

Also consider an after market cooler and TIM. You cant beat a Tuniq Tower as long as it will fit in the case and on a quad core it is ideal.

 

 my q9450 sits at 43 C with a zerotherm nirvana 120 mm as reported by realtemp . which is better for 45nm CPU's than coretemp, HW monitor or Speedfan. At load it goes to 55 C . Although i could have put the cooler wrong coz this was my first build ever .