Uneven cores

[zigzag03]

I don't know if this is a cpu question or a cooling question, so i'll post in both places, with apologies for the redundancy...

My recently acquired Q9300 (really living on the cutting edge here as you can see) shows uneven core temps, or more specifically, one core that is much cooler than the other three, 30c vs 45c @ idle, similar when pushed. I've looked at the paste coverage, looks good to me. The liquid cooler is new and untested (and I could write a book about that) but have no reason to think it's the problem. Is it unusual for this processor to behave this way? My previous unit was a Q6600 and it was very consistent across the cores.

Grateful as always for the input of those more experienced, zz03

 

[dma0991]

I'm pretty sure that the accurate reading should be 45C and the 30C is just a minor anomaly since three other cores showed the same reading. Assuming that you've bought an old and used CPU, unevenness of the IHS might affect the temp reading.

 

[MrK6]

Is it always a 15C difference? Or does it change with load (higher or lower delta?)?

 

[zigzag03]

thanks you guys, i have only just put this old machine back together and have yet to really wind it up, so i'll report when i get a little p-95 time on it. in the cpu thread, those folks thought idle data was pretty much useless anyway, so i will test further. thanks again

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Have you tried lapping the Heat sink? Maybe the surface is uneven on the CPU.. but as a warning you might void the warranty.