Tests run using Prime95, CPU-Z v1.43, CoreTemp v0.96.1 & Abit Guru
Bios was loaded with Default settings initially, the only amendment being to Vcore to match the Vid.
Prime was run for 3 hours on each CPU.
The respective VID for each CPU was taken from coretemp & Set using Abit GURU.
E8400
Pre Adjustment to 1.1225V
Q6600
Vid was correctly set in default bios.
Test Results:- E8400 At Stock speed using Stock cooler Load__Avge_Max__MIN
Core0 56.7__59___48C
Core1 56.1__58___49C
Avge. 56.4__58.5_48.5C
Idle__Avge_Max__MIN
Core0 39.8__46___38C
Core1 43.0__43___43C See Note *
Avge. 41.4__44.5_40.5C
Delta 15.0__14.0__8C
* Core1 on idle appears to be locked on 43C this is confirmed from the CPU-Z Dumps. The same result occured on the earlier water cooled test.
Q6600 At Stock speed using Stock cooler Load__Avge_Max__MIN
Core0 60.3__62___49C
Core1 57.6__59___46C
Core2 60.4__62___49C
Core3 57.3__59___47C
Avge 58.9__60.5_47.75C
Idle__Avge_Max__MIN
Core0 35.7__39___33C
Core1 34.2__40___31C
Core2 37.2__43___35C
Core3 33.9__40___32C
Avge. 35.3__40.5_32.8C
Delta 23.6_20___14.9C
I have the CoreTemp files & CPU-Z Dumps if anyone would like them. I just pulled the logs into Excel & Calculated the stats
I will add the CPU-Z Dumps & The temps from them later if anyone is interested. They bear out the coretemp results, using the methodology decrined in
post#13 Coretemp only reads the CPU register see
directly access the data from within the Intel CPU register that holds the digital thermal sensors (DTS ) for the respective core. The absolute temp is purely TjMax (105C on 8400) - DTS value. I have verified this myself using the method described. (cpu-z dump). Now that basically is so simple it puts the onus firmly with the CPU. This leaves us with the following posabilities.
Conclusion
I'll leave you to make your own. , but to me the E8400 or my E8400 doesn't live up to the advertised claims ogf being cooler, it's 2 cores are barely that cooler than the 4 cores of the Q6600. Please also bear in mind when looking at the results the motherboard was on a desk, not in a HTPC case.