Uneven CPU core temperatures...

[RyanGreener]

Hi everyone, I just installed my CPU and heatsink setup. It's been running for about an hour, so I can't say it's going to stay like this, but between Core 1 and 2 there is a difference of about 10 degrees. Things I think can be the culprit are:

#1. One side of the CPU heatsink has a fan and the other doesn't.
#2. I have random case fans that aren't really symmetrical, but they're pulling if they're on the outside, and the intake is a push setup.
#3. The thermal paste is uneven....initially I put two lines and just let the heatsink squish it but it didn't seat properly and read around 63 or so....thankfully it's not critical temperature, but I decided to clean off the thermal paste off the CPU, and what I could off the heatsink and try it again. Does it need time to spread out more evenly (with heat and all?)

I mean, it's a good thing that one CPU core is at 20, and the other is at 30, but I am wondering why there is such a big difference. On the stock cooler, the differential was about 2-3 degrees.

Also, another random thing I noticed...in OCCT it reads 30/20, on the motherboard BIOS it reads 42-44 deg C. Why is this? I thought OCCT uses the CPU-Z engine which reads off the motherboard?

EDIT: CPU is the AMD Athlon X2 Windsor 90nm.

 

[dorion]

I would say the temp difference is because of your processor being two dies glued together. I don't know how many processors do this today, telling what kind of processor you have might help.

The temp difference between the bios and the program? Speedstep not activating until Windows is active?

 

[RyanGreener]

Windsor Athlon X2 CPU. Edited first post.

 

[aigomorla]

because one core is running your background processes, and other stuff, while the other is sitting idle.

And i dont think OCCT can get coretemps off AMD correctly.
I would try RMClock or AMD Overdrive, and see if you can get core temps off those.

 

[RyanGreener]

Hmm, I just did my OC settings and disabled Cool N Quiet, etc and now they read about even (within 2-4 deg C). I guess everything is fine.