weird (?) temperature readings on Q6600

[tensim]

Hi Guys,

The temperature readings on my Q6600 are currently as follows:

CPU: 14C Core 1: 38C Core 2: 38C Core 3: 32C Core 4: 34C

This is on a stock Q6600 SLACR (G0) currently at idle (well, just a web browser running). Temps also keep fluctuating, going up as high as 40C on Cores 1 & 2... Using Everest Ultimate (registered) to monitor temps...

Is this normal? 14C for the CPU seems silly low, the room temperature isn't 14C (I don't think)?

cheers

[Thorsson]

Is that at idle? But yes, the 14C is clearly an error. TBH the others are probably wrong too, but I've never seen the die sensor so far out before. What do other programs show, e.g. µGuru and speedfan?

[tensim]

Hi Thorsson,

Thanks for replying . I'm using a few programs to keep an eye on temperature - Everest, Coretemp and uGuru. CPU cooling duties are being performed by a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 mounted using their backing plate + spring loaded bolt kit (dramatically labeled as the 'Crossbow' ) with MX2 paste

All programs are giving the same temps as each other, though currently not as low as I was seeing last night. Current temps are: CPU = 19C Core1 = 35C Core2 = 35C Core3 = 28C Core4 = 30C

Under load (running Prime95 set for max heat) temps settle around: CPU = 31C Core1 = 48C Core2 = 48C Core3 = 40C Core4 = 42C. These temps are with the CPU cooler fan running at around 60%

If I boost the CPU coolers fan speed up to 100%, they drop a bit to: CPU = 29C Core1 = 46C Core2 = 46C Core3 = 38C Core4 = 39C.

What does the CPU temp reading actually measure (as opposed to Core temp, which I assume is the actual temperature of the chip itself?), is it the surface temp of the die?

thanks

[Thorsson]

No. The Corex measures the temperature of the individual cores, the CPU measures the space between the cores. The motherboard picks up the latter temp from the CPU, and various programs pick up the core temps direct from the CPU.

However they don't pick up a temp reading, they pick up the distance from a measure (TJMax) embedded in the chip logic. This varies from chip to chip, and from time to time a chip can change the value. As Intel doesn't disclose what the value is, the program writers guess. Coretemp and Everest use the same guess for every chip, so they should show the same values. RealTemp uses a different guess - the writer has spent a lot of time trying to pin down the values, but even then sometimes it is wrong.

What is certain is that tests have shown that after a prolonged period (20 mins+) of maximum load (on all cores) the CPU temp should be around 5C less than the Cores, and if it's 100% idle with full cooling (100% fan) they should be pretty much the same. The CPU temp is clearly too low, but Cores 3/4 look too far removed from 1/2 as well.

What FSB and CPU voltage do you have?

[joz12345]

hav u tried a reboot? the other day my cpu temp kept reading 124c even at idle, while the cores were hovering around 30c, and the cores at load were only around 50c i checked with several programs to check it wasnt a software error, but they all showed the same, so i rebooted, and the problem was fixed

[tensim]

Hi Thorsson,

All settings are stock (as far as I know). CPU voltage fluctuates between 1.2-1.32V and the FSB is 272Mhz.

Current temps (with a few web browser windows open) are CPU: 23C Core1: 39C Core2: 39C Core3: 33C Core4: 35C

Watching the temp readout on my sidebar... it's really fluctuating quite rapidly, especially on Core3/4 (like from 35C down to 32C up to 33C up to 34C up to 37C down to 33C etc etc... all in the space of 2-3 seconds. Is this normal? This is only on the Coretemp readings, the Everest ones stay stable)

Is my CPU sensor buggered perhaps?

cheers

[Nelsaidi]

What does it say the temperature is in the BIOS?

[tensim]

uGuru only shows CPU temp when in Windows, it's reading 23C at the moment (same as in Everest)

cheers

[joz12345]

go into your bios and find the hardware monitor section or equivalent. There will be a reading there, showing what your motherboard thinks of it. If this is wrong then your sensor or mobo is showing it wrong, and youll have to just ignore your readings.

[rickworden]

I've used the SLACR G0 Q6600 on an ASrock DUAL SATA mobo (bargain from SCAN <&#163;40) which can't cope with 1066FSB so I have to underclock by 5&#37;. The plus side is that my core temps never get above 35deg even when encoding multiple video streams. I'ts fast enough for me and the PC is quiet because I can also turn the fan down to minimal RPM! Forget overclocking!

[joz12345]

you can probably overclock your board to support 1066 fsb, if you cba, then never mind

[crazyfool]

my q6600 is idling at 38, 37, 36, 33 with a tuniq tower on full and speadstep on i believe... bit high aint it?

[looney]

14c sounds silly lol

My one fluctuates alot too between different cores, at the moment its 44,44,40,38 and i have just a browser running at the moment (my heatsenk needs resiting i think), but the temps do vary, few days ago it was under 40, but it wasnt as hot a day, and If i take off my case door it goes down too.

Must be something with these processors.

[Thorsson]

The fluctuation probably just means that the Coretemp poll interval is set very low and the Everest one isn't.

[tensim]

Soooo... what's the general thoughts on these temps? Are they completely unreliable? What should I do about it (if anything)?

Is a faulty (if it is) CPU sensor cause for a replacement under warranty? I'm assuming this'd be the motherboard?

cheers :-)

[aidanjt]

Intel doesn't provide any specification or guarantee on the accuracy of their on-die sensors, you could try to ask your etailer about the possibility of a replacement, but they aren't obliged to do so afaik.