Are motherboard CPU temp readings accurate?

[Staz]

Are the temp readings most motherboards give very accurate, or are they several degrees or more cooler than what the CPU is really running at?

For example, my current OC'ed Opty 148 is peaking at 59* using Prime95 Torture Test. While that is hotter than what most people can get, I remember reading that most AMD chips wont start to fail until the temp climbs into the 80's. Thus 59* is fine, but I remember reading somewhere that the actual core temp can often be higher, as much as 10*-15* higher than what the motherboard reports. If that was the case, my temps would be 69*-74*, and that's a major concern. Thus the reason for my question, how accurate are the temps given by the motherboard?

 

[zagood]

No, they aren't accurate. That's not to say that your temps are necessarily higher than what the motherboard is reporting, they might be lower.

Unfortunately I don't know of any completely accurate way to measure the processor temp with a heatsink on, I have a sensor located as close to the die as I can that's about 5 degrees lower than what my motherboard reports.

-z

 

[imported_rod]

The processor is generally accurate, since the temp sensor is actually part of the CPU.

But the MoBo/system/Chipset temps aren't all that accurate.

RoD