Is there something such as a temperature monitoring hardware device?

[DaveyTN]

I would like to find a piece of hardware that I can install in one of my drive bays to check on the various temps inside my case. I would like to measure the cpu and video card temps via probes. Is there something out there that would let me do this???

 

[xsilver]

you mean something like this:
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811999116

there are probably others that are better, its just the hardcano series are most mainstream
think it has 2 or 4 probes

 

[NetDevil]

I like this a lot : AeroCool Gatewatch http://www2.newegg.com/Product/ProductL...ry=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

 

[DaveyTN]

Cool. Thanks for the links. Can these monitor the graphics cards core temperatures? If so, how would I hook up the probe to the graphics cards? Where do I put the probe on the graphics cards? Thanks, David.

 

[xsilver]

the recommended way to place thermal probes is not actually between the die and the heatsink as it will hinder thermal transfer, so the idea is to place the probe as close to the die as possible, touching the heatsink i think
this means you'll probably have to remove the heatsink for a good job

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: DaveyTN
Cool. Thanks for the links. Can these monitor the graphics cards core temperatures? If so, how would I hook up the probe to the graphics cards? Where do I put the probe on the graphics cards? Thanks, David.

Easy way, stick it to the heatsink outside or the back of the card, but then you won't get good readings.
Hard way: file away some of the heatsink, and put the probe in the groove so it touches the graphics card core. But it's a risk and you may slightly ruin your heatsink.
Best way is to get a card with inbuilt temp monitoring (which many do have now, especially higher end cards).

 

[DaveyTN]

Great info! Is there any kind of software monitoring that I could install that is actually accurate?

The reason I'm asking is I have a Thermaltake Tsunami dream case with 3 case fans and 2 x evga 6800gt video cards and when I check the NVidia tool, they are showing GPU core temps around 95C under load! I've got the latest NVidia drivers 71.89 and I'm wondering if they are just reporting the wrong temperatures. Any ideas???

 

[xsilver]

lots of temperature probes are innacurate in the sense that they are calibrated off...
what are your idle temperatues? if they are 60-70 then you're really only increasing 25c under load, which is kinda normal
if its reading 30 at idle however, then you may have a problem

you can also do the highly sophisitcated "hand test" -- touch the heatsink when idle and compare it to under load -- under load it should be warm to hot if you cant leave your hand on the heatsink for 10secs or so without it being uncomfortable, its probably too hot

 

[DaveyTN]

I'm running about 72C under idle (mild internet surfing). So, I'm only increasing about 25C under load which you state is normal. That is good to know.

So, why do you think that its so warm under idle? Do you think as you said that the temp probes are just not calibrated correctly?

I will try the "highly sophisticated hand test" and see what happens. Is there any concern about me damaging the card while its running? Static, etc??? One more dumb question, is the heat sink the thing that has all the metal prongs sticking outward?

 

[xsilver]

Originally posted by: DaveyTN
I'm running about 72C under idle (mild internet surfing). So, I'm only increasing about 25C under load which you state is normal. That is good to know.

So, why do you think that its so warm under idle? Do you think as you said that the temp probes are just not calibrated correctly?

I will try the "highly sophisticated hand test" and see what happens. Is there any concern about me damaging the card while its running? Static, etc??? One more dumb question, is the heat sink the thing that has all the metal prongs sticking outward?

unless you're superman, wolverine, or storm, touching your heatsink wont do much except give u a warm feeling inside
and yes the heatsink is just the black/silver/copper thing sticking out of the video card -- just watch the fan -- it might chop off your fingers

with your temps,, feel the heatsink at idle, 75c should be too hot to touch for long (hot tap water is only around 60c) -- if that's not true when you touch it, you know its off

 

[wseyller]

I have a Matrix Orbital MX212 that is very cool. It fits in one cd-rom bay.

Here is a review between it and a similiar products.
http://www.procooling.com/reviews/html/matrix_orbital_mx212_vs_crysta.php


The MX212 does not only temp sensing and fan control it has lots of plugin that allow you to do many things. Also if you dig around the forum for the lcd software you can find aftermarket plugins or learn how to make your own.

You can make it show you cpu speed, memory usage, HD details, internet usage, email, caller-id with caller-id enabled modem, fps in game, and thousand other things and of course temp sensing and fan control. It does too much for me to say in this thread.

 

[wseyller]

Also with temp sensors its best for processors to put the sensor inbetween the pins before you install the cpu in the socket. With gpu I don't see a good way of doing this because it would be difficult to remove the gpu. It would be better to have a video card with built-in temp diode, which I believe you could direct that reading to the MX212 lcd that I have.

 

[DaveyTN]

Thanks for the advice. You mentioned to touch the heatsink - how does the temp on it differ from the GPU core? Would the GPU core be even hotter? How much?