CPU Temp - BIOS vs. Intel Active Monitor

[RoyalTenenbaum]

Hey there,

My BIOS says my CPU (P4 2.6C ghz) is running at 40C at boot up. The Intel Acvtive Monitor says its around 34C. Is one of these more accurate? The highest I've seen it is like 42C on the Active Monitor. Thats when I was ripping Mp3s. What should I do to test at full load and how should I check the temp?

Thanks!

 

[RalfHutter]

Your BIOS is showing the CPU temp when it is actually running somewhat faster than when you are sitting in Windows idling. Windows has a built-in precess that sends a command to your CPU to halt processing when your system is idle (the is the "System Idle Process" that you can see in the task Manager that usually shows 95+% of your CPU time). So it's completely normal to see your BIOS temps a few degrees hotter than your Windows idle temps. Don't worry about it.

For testing under load I like "Prime95". It runs your CPU at 100% load plus you can use it as a stability test as well. The general consensus is that you need to run two instances of Prime95 with a Hyperthreaded CPU because the OS sees it at two separate processors and each runs at only 50% load. Search the forums fro "Prime95" for more info. You can check the temp using the Intel Active Monitor but I don't really like that program. I'd uninstall it and use Motherboard Monitor instead. It monitors a much larger set of parameters then Intel Active Monitor including your HDD temps.

 

[RoyalTenenbaum]

cool, thanks for all the help!