What to look out for in temperatures?

[eyeAteGod]

Motherboard: ASUS P5N32-E SLI
Processor: E8400 Core 2 Duo
Case: Antec P180. 3x 120mm fans

Real Temp shows 40c idle, everest 54c idle. Real temp says that I can't rely on idle temps. Fine. Load temps are RIDICULOUS though. I tried unzipping something and Realtemp is >95c. My BIOS will show 120, Everest 120/130. When I stop the unzipping (it's a 3gb file), the temperatures drop back, very rapidly. 30 degrees in less than 30 seconds.

What I find strange though, is if the CPU is running this hot, shouldn't the motherboard temperatures reflect this? Motherboard temp is 17c.

I know there are a lot of complains about bizarre temperature readings with the E8400 so, how do I check this physically? I mean, should the CPU be hot enough to burn your fingers if I touch it?

I'm using a stock intel heatsink/fan, and no overclocking (and no real intention to do so).

 

[Anubis]

somethings VERY wong there, the CPU would die at 130C, most mobos have a thermal shutoff point around 90-100C

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: eyeAteGod
What I find strange though, is if the CPU is running this hot, shouldn't the motherboard temperatures reflect this? Motherboard temp is 17c.

I know there are a lot of complains about bizarre temperature readings with the E8400 so, how do I check this physically? I mean, should the CPU be hot enough to burn your fingers if I touch it?

Temperature is heat density. A little bit of heat concentrated into a tiny tiny area results in a high temperature. But temperature alone is not what determines whether something "feels" hot to you when you touch it.

If interested the physical science behind what I am talking about is heat capacity and thermal conduction.

Regarding your CPU temp...just how "absolutely beyond any shadow of a doubt" are you that your HSF is properly and correctly installed? All it takes is for one loose corner and you got yourself just enough of an airgap between the IHS and HSF to make those CPU temps climb climb climb.

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: eyeAteGod
What I find strange though, is if the CPU is running this hot, shouldn't the motherboard temperatures reflect this? Motherboard temp is 17c.

I know there are a lot of complains about bizarre temperature readings with the E8400 so, how do I check this physically? I mean, should the CPU be hot enough to burn your fingers if I touch it?

Temperature is heat density. A little bit of heat concentrated into a tiny tiny area results in a high temperature. But temperature alone is not what determines whether something "feels" hot to you when you touch it.

If interested the physical science behind what I am talking about is heat capacity and thermal conduction.

Regarding your CPU temp...just how "absolutely beyond any shadow of a doubt" are you that your HSF is properly and correctly installed? All it takes is for one loose corner and you got yourself just enough of an airgap between the IHS and HSF to make those CPU temps climb climb climb.

I concur. I recently had the same problem, and even though I reseated my heatsink, it was still user error on my part in installing the heatsink. Get some good thermal compound, clean the CPU and heatsink, and reinstall. I know how frustrating it is to have to reseat the heatsink twice, but sometimes you screw up even when trying to be careful.

 

[eyeAteGod]

Ok, I'll reseat the heatsink tonight and see what happens. But how would you differentiate between a chip's temperature reporting flaws and user error?

 

[Margalus]

if it says 120 you know it's wrong. Unless you are using the farenhiet scale.

anyway, I am just guessing here. But the temp reading may be off because that chipset for that motherboard does not officially support e8400.. I don't know what effect that might have on sensor readings.

 

[Binky]

E8400 temps are VERY unreliable on many motherboards. If it runs stable, you believe the heatsink is mounted properly, and the heatsink doesn't *feel* like it's hot, then don't worry about it. Future BIOS releases will hopefully clear this up. My own E8400 is sitting in a box because the temp wierdness drove me nuts.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: Binky
My own E8400 is sitting in a box because the temp wierdness drove me nuts.

A wasted E8400 makes baby Jesus cry.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: betasub

Originally posted by: Binky
My own E8400 is sitting in a box because the temp wierdness drove me nuts.

A wasted E8400 makes baby Jesus cry.

In Soviet Russia wasted baby Jesus makes E8400 cry!

 

[Margalus]

Originally posted by: Binky
and the heatsink doesn't *feel* like it's hot, then don't worry about it.

that is not true at all. An improperly mounted heatsink will not feel hot or warm because it's not drawing the heat from the cpu.

 

[Binky]

Originally posted by: Margalus

Originally posted by: Binky
and the heatsink doesn't *feel* like it's hot, then don't worry about it.

that is not true at all. An improperly mounted heatsink will not feel hot or warm because it's not drawing the heat from the cpu.

Right. That's why I said the part about...proper mounting. If your temp sensors are unreliable, all you can do is make sure to mount the heatsink as well as you can, and then use whatever temp reading you have available (i.e. fingers, temp gun, etc). What else would you recommend? Running outside of the the case and using an infrared temp gun on the back of the MB? That's not really practical, is it? Please offer something useful if you wish to disagree with somebody.

People are also incredibly overconcerned with temps.

 

[Mondoman]

Be sure to mount the heat sink the right way: with the MB OUT of the case, with each pin completely turned in the direction OPPOSITE the arrow on top, push down the pins in an "X" pattern, verify proper mounting by looking at the back of the MB to make sure all pins are all the way through.

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: eyeAteGod
Ok, I'll reseat the heatsink tonight and see what happens. But how would you differentiate between a chip's temperature reporting flaws and user error?

By taking one of the elements out of the equation. The one you have control over is your installation of the heatsink. Make sure to read up on exactly how to do it with your TIM, and your Heatsink, and your CPU, and follow the instructions step by step. If it still has temp problems, you can rule out your installation. I linked an installation guide for you if you wanted to use it. Intallation Guide
If you know of a better one, then by all means use that.