Extremely high temperatures are present.
Extremely high temperatures are present.
You've got a solid setup with the i3 2120 and Q67 board, but the main concern is overheating. The BIOS idle temperature is about 47°C, which is high for this configuration. Your AIO cooler (AIO 700) with copper heatpipes and a small fan seems adequate, but it might not be enough in your setup. You also have two case fans available. If you haven't applied thermal paste yet, now's a good time to do that. If you're using stock coolers, consider upgrading to a better one or adding more airflow. Let me know if you need help finding compatible options!
The i3 is built with LGA 1155, sharing the same mounting parts as the older 1156, then 1150 and now the newer 1151 models. This means an 'Intel compatible' cooler should fit your setup too. Temperatures matter less without knowing your room's conditions, and load temperatures are more important to me than idle readings.
The idle temperature isn't crucial. This CPU performs equally well at around 70°C, so it's vital to check the heat levels while playing games or running demanding apps. You might have set a BIOS setting to lower fan speed when temperatures drop below a certain point to cut down on noise. Alternatively, one of the heatsinks could be loose, reducing pressure on the processor surface. If you use a case fan, adjust its direction so it directs airflow toward the smaller original fan; the cooler's air will then flow through the fins and aid cooling. Also... your motherboard uses a 1155 socket, with holes matching those of 1150. A 1150 cooler should fit as well. You now have more choices available. Additionally, there are many coolers designed for multiple sockets—check the packaging for details. Some come with adapters or brackets that accommodate both 1151 and 1150/1155 configurations.
Apologies for the oversight, I overlooked mentioning the temperature readings. They hover near 85°C.
The afterburner monitors your processor's clock speed, allowing you to keep an eye on it. Have you removed all the debris from the system? If yes, upgrading to a new cooler seems like the best solution.