It will most likely be an application you have running Bikkit. If you click on the CPU heading under Processes, you can order your running tasks by which application is taking up your CPU. You will most likely see the application that is using the CPU. You'll find that just moving your cursor around your screen will use up around 2%.

I'm not exactly sure why your trying to reduce your temperatures by idling your CPU? Your temperatures should remain at a low temperature, even if your CPU is at full load for extended periods of time.

I've said this on the forum many times, but I do not personally recommend overclocking. At the very least, overclocking can seriously reduce the life of your CPU, and in some cases (if care is not taken), end it altogether!

The temperatures you listed above are already ten degree's or so below it maximum temperature threshold, and this is when it is most idle?

Are you able to take picture of the inside of your PC, so that we can identify any potential overheating problems? Also download speedfan from here: Download SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer and post a screenshot of the results?

Of course, will do.

I only really want to over clock to make some of my games run a bit faster ie Oblivion.

Oh, and, checking the processes ieuser.exe and rundll32.exe sometimes pop up with the cpu usage jumps.

I'll get the photos and screenshots for tomorrow.

I think a better graphics card would be best for Oblivion, but other games such as ones which run on the source/hl2 engine will probably benefit from overclocking because a lot of them are CPU-based.

Okay I've taken some pictures. I said I'd take them for tomorrow but I honestly had nothing better to do. I don't know if that is what you meant by the results so... yea...

speed fan.jpg

100_5053.JPG

100_5050.JPG

OK Bikket, all of those temps are a little high. What motherboard is that?

Can you double check that the CPU fan is actually connected to the CPU socket onboard, and not another fan connection?

You need a little bit of cable management there. There are certainly enough fans there.

The biggest problem I see there is that box that the PC resides in. If that box was just an inch wider, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. Also, it looks like the PC is very close to the back wall. As a test, switch your PC off for a few hours. In the meantime, bring the PC forward so that it is just out of the box. Switch your PC on, and keep an eye on those temperatures. You'll be suprised on how much of a difference this will make.

Thanks, I'll ask my mum to buy me some decent cable ties tomorrow or next week. And I'll try that moving pc away form the wall thing. Thanks again.

And yes, the CPU fan is correctly socketed, as is everything else.

Oh, and my motherboard is an ECS P965T-A iP965 Socket 775 8 channel audio PCI-E ATX Motherboard. It was only £37. D'you think I should invest in a new one?

Bikkit,
One of my computers runs an e2160 @ 3.0GHz & 1333FSB. The idle temps are ~86F/30C and never get over 110F/43C @ 100% load during stress or 3DMark tests, with stock cooling and Arctic Silver 5 heatsink compound.