Is it normal in a 2 cpu box to have the cpus at different temps at idle ?

[Markfw]

I just got my new motherboard, posted first time, and cpu0 while just running idle is 47c and cpu1 is 40c with my thertake silent boost K8's (hotter than my Athlon64, same HSF unit). Why are they a different temp ???

Edit: something is whacky, the system temp says 46c and cpu1 is 45c and cpo0 is 51c now !! How can the system temp be higher than the cpu ? Is this motherboard know for bad sensors ?

 

[CraigRT]

in my experiences (this is just me) I have never seen a motherboard's sensors to display anything correctly. so likely the readouts are just skewed. to get the best readouts, hook up a thermistor to right beside the CPU core on both CPU's. but generally from what I've seen, one of the CPU's does run warmer, as one gets more of the tasks for one (unless assigned differently) and one also is warmer simply due to physical location. there are a number of factors, it's not a big deal if everything is running good.

 

[Markfw]

anybody else ??

 

[Falloutboy]

my guess its a combination of two things the mobo sensors and the airflow for one cpu may be better than the other

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
in my experiences (this is just me) I have never seen a motherboard's sensors to display anything correctly. so likely the readouts are just skewed. to get the best readouts, hook up a thermistor to right beside the CPU core on both CPU's. but generally from what I've seen, one of the CPU's does run warmer, as one gets more of the tasks for one (unless assigned differently) and one also is warmer simply due to physical location. there are a number of factors, it's not a big deal if everything is running good.

I'm with this line of thinking ..mobos' sensors def don't read accurately ime ..not many are right on the nose for temps..extreme rig you got there

 

[Steve]

Is one of them getting less case airflow, or is it closer to the PSU?

 

[skriefal]

Yes, that's common. One of the CPUs is likely hotter due to heat from the video card, or simply due to the pattern of air flow in the case.

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

As mentioned above, maybe one CPU has better access to cooler air.

Maybe the heatsink on one CPU isn't making good contact with the chip. Maybe you can try opening the case and see how that affects things.

Maybe the MB temp sensors aren't calibrated properly. Can you use a laser temp sensor, external thermocouple, or other temp sensing device to compare the temps so you know you at least eliminating the sensor from the equasion?

Are both heatsink fans spinning the same speed?

Maybe it is normal for one CPU to take most of the load and then for the other one to kick in when the first starts getting bogged down?

Anyway, just ideas.

-D'oh!