AMD Phenom II X4 940 Temps

[WannaPiEcE]

Hi there,

I recently purchased a 940BE to replace my Kuma 2.8 and have noticed a huge variation in temperatures between core temp and CPU (Ambient?) temps.

According to my BIOS and my Motherboard Monitoring software it shows my CPU temp as an acceptable mid 30's. However according to core temp, Everest, CPUID HWM, speedfan and AOD, my core temps are roughly 20 degrees centigrade higher than my CPU temp. *see screenshot below

My question to you is... Considering my CPU temp is considered normal operating temp and my CORE TEMP is roughly 20 degrees higher does this mean there is a bad contact between the cores and the heatspreader?

It really seems that way to me and I am about to return the processor. I mean it just seems like the headspreader is not even making contact with the cores. Which leads me to believe that buying a better cooler, water cooler, or anything else will just be a waste of money if the heatspreader is making little to no contact with the cores.

My Question is, should I return this processor due to this difference in Core/Ambient temperatures or just get an aftermarket cooler, because I planned to get 1 of the following coolers, but, I don't want to shell out the cash if it isn't going to do anything...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118046
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233011

My setup:
Biostar TA790GX 128M (Latest BIOS)
Phenom II X4 Deneb 940 @ 3.5 with no voltage increase (1.36v), Stock cooler (same temps with stock thermal grease and with the OCZ freeze grease). (Cool and Quiet enabled)
2x4870 crossfire sitting at low 50's ldle

[LegacyOne]

Temps are fine core temps are meant to be higher then overall CPU temp.

[Jasp]

As said temps are fine considering you have overclocked it on the standard cooler, max temp is 62c on a 940be, i believe if you overclock via the multiplyer as well cool & quiet is rendered worthless as it will no longer clock down during idle..(though not 100% sure though)

[WannaPiEcE]

Thanks for the replies.

Do you think it's worth it to get an aftermarket cooler like the ones I mentioned considering the CPU temp is almost always below 40c? (Well, it gets to mid 40's max). The core temps using HW Monitor showed they never maxed over 60 when gaming.

The stock HSF does seem warm to the touch.

[Jasp]

From what i understand its the individual core temps you want to be looking at not the general CPU temp reading, as you said yourself its not going over 60c while gaming so its within normal operating limits considering you have overclocked it.

[iNoXious]

An aftermarket cooler will deffinatly help!
That Zalman cooler should do just fine, i wouldnt bother with cheap watercooling.

[watercooled]

Agreed - the temps are OK but there are uncomfortably close to the CPU's maximum temperature. http://products.amd.com/en-us/Deskto...f10=False&f11=

[WannaPiEcE]

Agreed - the temps are OK but there are uncomfortably close to the CPU's maximum temperature. http://products.amd.com/en-us/Deskto...f10=False&f11=

Any word on if the temperature they are mentioning is the core temps or the actual processor temperature reported by the BIOS, this has been the question on my mind for some time now.

Because, yes the CPU temps stays in the 30's-40's but the Core temps hit 60max with Prime 95.

I have yet to hear a straight answer as to if it is the core temp or the CPU temp that they are referencing, and I don't believe anybody knows.

I did get an aftermarket cooler with a 120mm fan and it dropped my core temps from mid 50's idle to mid 40's idle, but with Prime 95 it does run 60 max Core temp.

Oh and by the way the fact that it's overclocked doesn't mean anything... I get the same temps at stock speed, this is because the chip doesn't need a voltage bump to get to 3.5. Same voltage = same temps no matter what the clock speeds (+/- 1-2c)

[Will404]

its core temp, and increasing the CPU speed increases the temprature regardless of whether you increase the voltage. Overclocking on the same volts from 2.4 to 2.8 on my Q6600, increases the temprature under load by arround 5-7'C (stock cooler)