@GTR12: Hmm, at 4 GHz for my i7-4790k, I don't think I'm worrying too much about overclocking potential, at least for now haha. But at least now I know temps are a barrier for overclocking. Thanks

@PredatorRules: Ok, so I know my case is solid now. You say you recommend installing two top exhaust fans among those brands suggested. How much of a temp decrease would I see? Probably 2-3C? Would it be too optimistic to ask for 5C :)

Also, another potential issue: my mobo only has 1 fan header left, and it's a 3 pin, so it doesn't have the "Sense" feature (which I think allows it to adapt to temps). So even installing one extra fan is iffy at best. My friend suggested I find a way to combine the wires for my two front fans so that they can be controlled by a single fan header. But then there are more questions. Is this bad for the mobo (maybe power draw issues)? Is it bad for the fans? Is it even possible to do this?

Also, would I see more of a benefit to my CPU temps if I instead I slapped an extra fan onto my CPU heatsink and ran my Cooler Master 212 EVO with two fans in push-pull configuration, rather than the single fan push configuration I have now?

@04dcarraher: @Coseniath: Ah, some clarification about prime95 and Haswell. I knew I had read in some places of the issues, but now I finally got a solid answer and some technical details as to why there are issues. Thanks guys :)

@GTR12: Thanks, this is really what I wanted to know. Are these temps safe over the long term? What would be the benefits of getting a higher end cooler besides lower temps? What would lower temps gain for me, besides maybe a longer lifespan for the CPU (and is it even that much?)?

@PredatorRules: Case is Corsair Obsidian 450. Airflow is good I think, but like I said, I've got dual 140 mm intake fans and a single 120 mm exhaust fan (not counting the PSU, which exhausts out the bottom). Cable management is very neat, with most of the cables tucked behind the mobo.

But based off what you say with the H60 achieving 65C, I guess I'm good with my setup. As long as these temps are safe for long term and aren't damaging the CPU, then I'm all good.

@GTR12: @PredatorRules: Thanks for the replies guys. I'll definitely check out these coolers. However, what I'm more curious about is whether I'm getting the ideal temps I should be getting from my i7-4790k/Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO combo. Getting a new cooler is certainly a possibility. However, I'm not a aiming for super low temps. All I want is for my Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO to be doing the best cooling job it can, and I'm wondering if it's currently doing that with my temps in the 70s. Should my temps be in the 70s with my Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO, or did I perhaps not install something correctly/Bios issue/etc. preventing me from getting lower temps?

@GarGx1: Well, I just applied the thermal paste. I used the stock one that came with my Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. My Dad used a technique he used on my last case, where he applied a bunch of thermal paste onto the CPU and spread it around evenly with the tip of an old credit card. He says this worked well on my last PC, since I was getting temps of 65°C max with my Core 2 Duo E8500 @ 3.16 Ghz. Though I should note that he probably used a higher quality thermal paste back with my old CPU than with my current i7-4790k.

@04dcarraher: My case is a Corsair Obsidian 450 D. It's got dual 140 mm fan intake and a single 120 mm fan as exhaust, as well as the PSU that pushes out the bottom. My Cooler Master 212 EVO has a single fan in push configuration, in the sense it pushes air towards the back of the case towards the exhaust fan.

I've upped the CPU fan speed to max, and noticed a 5°C decrease in temps.

So, my new PC finally came in, and I've been putting it through it's paces. Here is the spec sheet:

- i7-4790k

- Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H-BK

- EVGA SuperNova G2 750W

- Gigabyte Gaming G1 GTX 970

- Kingston Hyper Fury X 16 GB in dual channel

- Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO

My question is the following: during a Prime95 benchmark test, my max temps go to 80°C and this causes my PC to crash and go into a hard reboot after about 5 minutes of Blend testing. During real world usage, like playing Dragon Age Inquisition on Ultra settings, my temps peek in the low 70s. Are these temps normal for long term operation? Could they be better? If so, what should I check/change?

I read in a few different places that Prime95 is no longer a suitable test for Haswell CPUs due to the fact they have adaptive voltage and adaptive clocks/turbo boost, and it doesn't accurately reflect real world usage. Is this true?

Thanks for the help

@GTR12: I know about the horrors of Vista lol, I know. But I don't have any other OSes lying around and he just needs it for web browsing and light gaming. It should be adequate for that I think.

Unless you think I should just leave the trial version of Windows 7 on for him? But what if I'm using that copy of Windows to go from Windows 7 to Windows 10 on my new PC? Can I still install Windows 7 even if it's already been activated? Will it stay in trial mode?

So, with my new PC inbound within a new days, I figured I'd give my brother my old (current) PC so that he could have an upgrade over the 2005 fossil he has right now.

The thing is, my current PC has accumulated so many files and personal touches over the years, that despite having made an image backup of it, I'd rather not format my PC. What I would like to do is the following:

Basically, right now I have a Windows 7 partition and a Windows Vista partition (my main OS) on my current PC. I have one hard drive slot left, so what I wanted to do was the following: add an extra hard drive to my PC, install Vista on that new partition for my brother, and then he'd have a clean start.

The main reason why I prefer this option is twofold. One, he'll have his own hard drive and OS to play around with from scratch, and will likely be faster and clutter free without all my junk. Secondly, this would avoid him accidentally tampering with my files, and it would also afford some protection and separation from the rest of the PC were he to get a virus or other malfunction.

He mostly does internet/Youtube browsing mixed with some moderate intensity gaming like Minecraft. I think this solution would work great in the sense he gets a new PC feel (his own accounts, hard drive, games, programs, settings, etc.) and I get to keep my stuff very accessible on a separate partition.

What do you guys think? Is this possible?

(P.S: Also, as an aside, can you guys direct me to some good videos on how to assemble PCs from start to finish? I've been browsing Youtube, some good stuff and some ok, but maybe you guys know where to look for these videos)

Thanks

@PredatorRules: @GTR12: Alright, I think I got it. Thanks guys :)

@PredatorRules: Do you know if we are able to do that with Windows 10? Formatting the OS drive like you say while still having the OS on hand so you can install it fresh afterwards. I was just planning on getting to Windows 10 then doing a clean install the moment I get it, but if there's a better method, I'm all ears.

@Jr14: Yeah, I think that's what I'm going to do. I'm basically going to install Windows 7, do the updates, and go straight to Windows 10, and do a clean install the moment it's done. Just to minimize whatever junk will carry over from the upgrade.