How do you test CPU temps?

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td25er

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2014
7
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I'm a complete noob trying to test a build I just put together. I have an asus z97a motherboard paired with a 4770k cpu (stock speeds and stock cooler) in a Fractal Design R4 case with stock front intake fan and stock rear exhaust fan.

I have CPUID HWMonitor, SpeedFan, and ASUS AI SUITE on my system.

I ran Prime95 for 30 minutes and hit 99 degrees on two of the CPU cores according to HWMonitor. However, the Asus AI Suite said the CPU never went above 86, but it just shows "CPU" and doesn't break down by core so I don't know what that is telling me.

Currently, HWMonitor is giving me temps hovering around
Core0 36
Core1 32
Core2 36
Core3 33
Package 36

AI Suite is giving me a temp of 30.

SpeedFan is giving me temps of

Core0 21
Core1 17
Core2 22
Core3 17

Why are all of these readings drastically different for the 3? What is a reliable tool to read CPU temps? The 99 degree temps in prime95 freaked me out and I want to know if I need an aftermarked CPU cooler.

Thanks.
 
ShintaiDK

ShintaiDK

Lifer
Apr 22, 2012
20,378
146
106
They may have reached 99C (100C throttle). Try realtemp.

Also you may not run stock speeds. But rather the multicore enchancement aka turbo OC. You can see that if your CPU for example is running 3.9Ghz with 4 threads instead of 3.7Ghz or below.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,655
2,034
126
ShintaiDK is likely more knowledgeable, on this, but I can add something.

You shouldn't be showing temperatures near TJunction throttling (~100C) if you've configured your hardware correctly and use only the stock motherboard settings -- even with "TURBO" enabled -- and "even" with these two newer generation CPU-lines of IB and Haswell with their cost-cutting use of TIM between the die and IHS heats-spreader.

First, check to see that CPUID's HWMonitor is a latest version; there could be a mismatch with the new Z97 motherboards.

Second, skip using SpeedFan. It's a useful utility as a last resort, but the author struggles with the near-impossible task of keeping up with every motherboard and thermal sensor on the market.

Third. ASUS AI Suite is useful -- I will assert against complaints of those who don't like it. The monitoring panel will give you all the correct sensor readings for fan speeds and voltages. It is the CPU temperature which irritates some users: it is always seemingly out of whack with the core sensors of the processor, and it is always about 6C lower than the average of the cores. Not seeking to stir up disagreement, I continue to speculate that ASUS attempts to "estimate" a "TCASE" value similar to that Intel spec: a spec which has no sensor, and which supposedly refers to a temperature measurement at the center of the IHS heat-spreader.

Like ShintaiDK says, download latest version of RealTemp, and look for a most-current download of CoreTemp.

Even so, I've found that HWMonitor gives accurate results on my (ASUS board's) Z68 system.

But also -- the fact that ASUS Suite reports 86C suggests to me that there is something fundamentally flawed in your installation of the stock heatsink and fan. Check your push-pin mountings and thermal paste -- if you aren't using the waxy brown TIM already stuck on the heatsink. The ASUS software is predictable -- as I said. It will always report about 6C lower than the average of cores.

If you don't plan to overclock, the stock HSF should be adequate. If you want to overclock a little, get a CoolerMaster 212+ or EVO. If you want to overclock a lot, take a look at the Noctua NH-D14, NH-D15, NH-U14S . . . Corsair H100/H110 etc. OR -- begin boning up on custom-water cooling.
 
MongGrel

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Personally I'd dump ASUS AI Suite off there, much as I've used it years ago I don't these days.

But I'm still using a P6T7 with a X5650 OC'd.

HW Monitor, CPU-Z, and stressing with Prime 95 still the things I usually use, I adjust everything in the Bios.

GPU-Z And GPU Tweak with the ASUS R9 280x TOP when I go to 3D testing I suppose.

Realtemp is good also.

Speedfan I used to have issues with years ago, but I just haven't used it in a long time, maybe it has changed.
 
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td25er

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2014
7
0
0
Thank you all for the information. I'm not sure how to tell if the stock heatsink and fan are installed correctly. I'm also not sure how to tell if the thermal paste needs to be redone.
 
S

Sable

Golden Member
Jan 7, 2006
1,130
105
106
Ignore AI suite, it gives temps a lot lower than the actual temps.

If you're hitting 99 it's likely you're throttling so check the clock speed in cpu-z when you run prime. I had this problem and turns out my hsf had become dislodged during a move so try reseating it.
 
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TakBaseTech

Junior Member
Jan 22, 2013
17
0
0
Take a look at temps in your BIOS before booting into Windows. That should give an accurate baseline for idle CPU temps, at least.
 
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td25er

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2014
7
0
0
I noticed that there really isn't any warm air coming out of my rear exhaust during the CPU stress test. During Furmark, my Powercolor r9 290 gets to 75c and I feel the air getting warmer coming out of the exhaust.

Is this normal?
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,655
2,034
126
Sable said:
Ignore AI suite, it gives temps a lot lower than the actual temps.

If you're hitting 99 it's likely you're throttling so check the clock speed in cpu-z when you run prime. I had this problem and turns out my hsf had become dislodged during a move so try reseating it.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't "ignore it," but it's not my first choice for monitoring the over-clock exercise. I wouldn't say "temperatures are a lot lower," but that they are consistently lower and what you'd expect if you had a thermal sensor between the cooling device (HSF or waterblock) and the center of the IHS.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,655
2,034
126
CrystalBay said:
Also do not use multiple monitoring programs at the same time !
Click to expand...

Absolutely. As much as people like "instrumentation" while they go through an over-clocking adventure, two monitoring programs can collide and give you false results for your settings. Even the stop-codes for BSODs might not indicate the real cause, and one might mistakenly be led to increase voltage when no longer necessary.
 
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