USB Data Stick creating odd CPU heat

[squishy]

Hi, been reading Hexus for a while now, first post, laugh and flame if you wish

Anyway, while doing some work the other day I noticed that my CPU temperature was idling at around 53°C, where it normally does around 46°C when doing such simple tasks. I thought nothing of it, as it was quite a hot day, but even after closing down Word, MSN, foobar etc, it wasn't dropping. I took out my data stick and was about to shut down when I noticed the temperature drop around 8°C. It was in the top panel of my case, so today I tested it in the normal back USB ports, the same thing happened.

I've not installed the drivers that came with the stick, just using Windows' (XP) default. I have more details about my system, the stick and the heat rise if needed.

Just wondering whether anyone had any thoughts about why this might be happening?

Cheers in advance

[unrealuniverse]

It might be the power draw for the USB stick drawing power from the temperature sensing chip on the motherboard which would make it show a higher temperature. This shouldn't happen but it might just be a querk of the BIOS on the board, the board itself or showing that the power supply has a low 5V line.

All this is only a guess but i think its a pritty good explanation. What is the 5V line at?

Does it do it with other unpowered USB devices?

[squishy]

5V line is at 5.0. The power output on all the sockets in my house is unusually low though, it's an old house, so 12V sticks at around 11.3, I intend to do something about this, but our landlord doesn't .

I've just tried my digital camera in both it's 'webcam' mode and it's 'hard drive' mode, if you get what I mean. I also tried my old USB mouse. 45°C from start to finish. No change at all. I'd test more, but I don't really have anything more to test without hassle of installing drivers etc.

[SilentDeath]

5V line is at 5.0. The power output on all the sockets in my house is unusually low though, it's an old house, so 12V sticks at around 11.3, I intend to do something about this, but our landlord doesn't .

I've just tried my digital camera in both it's 'webcam' mode and it's 'hard drive' mode, if you get what I mean. I also tried my old USB mouse. 45°C from start to finish. No change at all. I'd test more, but I don't really have anything more to test without hassle of installing drivers etc.

If its dropping to 11.3 thats a fault of the psu and not the mains supply.

The change in temperature is likely the driver putting more load on the cpu than normal. Try comparing the temperature against running cpu burn for example. The programs you mentioned are not going to rise temperature much.

Try the drivers that came with the stick..


The temperature sensor for cpu is compleatly independant of the usb, I doubt in anyway the usb stick is affecting the (usually quite poor) accuracy of the sensor chip.

[squishy]

If its dropping to 11.3 thats a fault of the psu and not the mains supply.

The change in temperature is likely the driver putting more load on the cpu than normal. Try comparing the temperature against running cpu burn for example. The programs you mentioned are not going to rise temperature much.

Try the drivers that came with the stick..


The temperature sensor for cpu is compleatly independant of the usb, I doubt in anyway the usb stick is affecting the (usually quite poor) accuracy of the sensor chip.

I dunno, the voltages coming out of the mains are low, I've checked it with other equipment, not just a program on my computer. It's an Akasa Paxpower. But yeah, you could be right I guess.

I'll try the drivers with the stick at some point soon.