What do you use to monitor CPU temperatures

[Noahtuck]

So what does everyone use to monitor their CPU temps, overclocking or not ?

What is supposed to be the most accurate program ?

I have tried HWMonitor (cpuid Hardware Monitor), speedfan, coretemp, ect.

They all report my CPU temp at 20c at idle.

But if i restart and go right into bios it reports my CPU at 30c ?

I was thinking about playing around with my new CPU (my son wants to with his also) and overclocking but i want to make sure what the actual temp is so i don't go to far.

Even if i don't i still would like to know for sure what my CPU is running at.

[aedipuss]

what's best is the bios report, but other than that it depends on what cpu you have. while in the bios the cpu is running at 100% all the time so that's the temp difference you note. if you leave it on that screen long enough you'll get to see what your max temps are.

for most intel chips i like core temp

[JohnnyMalaria]

To be honest, I don't. I let the OS and the mobo deal with it all.

[johns0]

I use Core Temp,when i go into bios it pretty well tell me what Core Temp was showing.

[Noahtuck]

@ aedipuss
That's what the "computer details" are for

Unlike most people i do tend to try and keep up on them so they are accurate :P

But yeah, coretemp along with everything else reports the same thing.

I read somewhere that a lot of bios are notorious for being incorrect.

With my last mobo, Asus, it came with asusprob and i checked it against these programs and they were within 1c of each other.

@ JohnnyMalaria
I usually do also, but when you start playing around with overclocking i would prefer to make sure what i am running at

I have overclocked older CPU's before, because i had a lot of AMD socket A's around so if i had fried one it would have been not that big of a deal but with my new socket AM2+ CPU i kind of want to make sure i don't overheat it

[Noahtuck]

I use Core Temp,when i go into bios it pretty well tell me what Core Temp was showing.

Yeah see, these bios are telling me something way different then all the programs i have used to check it.
If it was a degree or two different i would not worry about it, but 10c degrees is quite a bit.

But all the proggys are almost identical in their readings.
And they seemed to be accurate or report what other programs that came with the mobo's have reported.

I'm thinking about getting one of those digital displays for an empty 5.25 drive bay also, it will be interesting to see what one of those reports.

[aedipuss]

bios readings are at 100% cpu load, and should be higher than after boot idle readings, unless you are really quick at getting to the display page in the bios. do you have a 4 pin fan on your heat sink? they are controlled by the bios to increase speed as temps increase, but it only kicks in after boot. not much use for a temp display anymore as cooling is pretty automatic.

[Noahtuck]

Yeah i get into my bios pretty fast, i hit restart, as soon as it gets to where i need to hit "delete" to get into them, it pops right up, three clicks down, enter and it's displayed, so maybe a couple of seconds.

and my CPU heatsink fans are only 3 wire, never had a mobo that used 4 wires for the CPU fan.

So i am guessing it is reading the CPU temp through the CPU & mobo/bios, as the 3rd wire would be for the RPM of the fan.

And if the bios are giving me a 100% cpu load reading on the temp, that's still pretty dang cool for being 100% load!!

And the temp display would just be for a constant display not on my PC screen, and to see what it shows compared to other programs, and besides, it looks cool :P


P.S.
What happened to your avatar ?
People keep losing them around here, or changing them....
I'm soooooooo confused!!!!!

[budz]

For Intel 65nm cpu's the recommendation is to use Core Temp and 45nm cpu's it's recommended to use Real Temp.
On my newest Intel E6300 Wolfdale cpu the readings from hwmonitor and real temp program show the same temps. The gigabyte mobo bios shows a lower temp.

I dunno about AMD cpu's though.

[Noahtuck]

For Intel 65nm cpu's the recommendation is to use Core Temp and 45nm cpu's it's recommended to use Real Temp.
On my newest Intel E6300 Wolfdale cpu the readings from hwmonitor and real temp program show the same temps. The gigabyte mobo bios shows a lower temp.

I dunno about AMD cpu's though.

Yeah, you damn Intel crowd!!!!!
No help at all!!!!!
Aint the MAC crowd wondering where you're at ??

[ranchhand]

I use a direct LED readout with a probe mounted on the CPU. The Apevia X-Dreamer case has them. I have checked against the BIOS readout, and there is a 1 degree difference. Very handy and instant monitoring.

[lordsmurf]

I don't.

[redwudz]

I don't think a CPU would run at 100% in BIOS. In my experience, BIOS may run bit warmer than idle when the OS is loaded. It depends on what temperature/CPU regulating/fan controlling programs are running when the OS is launched. I find HW Monitor doesn't do well with AMD CPUs, especially with Phenoms. It regularly shows temps above 70C when the BIOS shows ~40C. If you have a MB monitoring program from the MB manufacturer, probably better. I do use HW Monitor, though, mostly to see the difference in temperatures from idle to full load, not the exact temp of the CPU or the MB temp monitor chip.

With external temp probes, you have a problem getting them on the CPU surface without messing up the CPU>cooler interface. You can glue them to the base of the heat sink, but that will read HS surface temps, not the CPU. But I still use my finger and feel the base of the HS to see how hot it is. If you burn your finger, it's too hot. I also have a infrared thermometer that gives very accurate readings, again, just of the HS surface temps. CPUs and the MB temp sensors output a digital signal proportional to temps. How that is interpreted is up to the software reading it.

I have the best luck setting the temp warning in BIOS to 60C and if you hear the buzzer during a heavy encode, you need better cooling.

[Noahtuck]

@ redwudz
That's a dang good idea!!!
It never even crossed my mind but now that you mentioned it, it seem's a pretty obvious idea, using an infrared thermometer or probe!!

And even when my CPU is running under full load, i have put my fingers on the heat sink right above the CPU and it is as cool as a mid winter day in january....
For michigan anyways....
LOL!!

[redwudz]

Here's a infrared thermometer similar to the one I use, about $25US: http://www.directron.com/mt100.html I use it for a lot of things. Even checking my AC temps from the ceiling registers. I use it more often to check North Bridge temps, HDDs temps, RAM temps, PS exhaust and case fan exhaust temps.

Another thing to be aware of with CPU temps is the recovery time. The CPU temps should drop in just a few seconds after the load is removed. That tells you the cooler is working fairly well.

A four wire fan connector is usually for a PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) fan. A PWM fan can precisely control fan speed from a full stop to full RPM. Some PWM fans will set off the fan fail alarm because they start, then stop, till the temp goes up. A four wire fan connector is compatible with a 3 or 2 wire fan connector if it has the proper guides on the connector. The wires are 12+, ground, tachometer sense, PWM control. PWM fan connectors are fairly common on newer MBs. PWM options are in BIOS.

[TBoneit]

Myself I use nothing beyond my ears.

Since the CPU fan is thernal speed controlled it runs totally silent. The power supply is very quiet. The case fan is silent.

If i hear any fan noise during a long encoding session I know it is time to clean out the HSF assembly.

Silent running is good as I have the computer next to the HDTV and I don't want to hear any noise from it.

Temperature monitors are only useful if you are there and have the screen on to monitor them. I have set up batch encodes to run overnight for years now.

Note: I see many systems with way to many fans running in the case as well as monster power supplies. A Properly designed case should be able to get by with one 90mm or larger thermal controlled fan and a power supply with a large slow turning fan. The larger and slower turning the fan the less noise as well as longer bearing life and less dust buildup duw to lower air velocity.

Good Luck

[ocgw]

@ redwudz
That's a dang good idea!!!
It never even crossed my mind but now that you mentioned it, it seem's a pretty obvious idea, using an infrared thermometer or probe!!

And even when my CPU is running under full load, i have put my fingers on the heat sink right above the CPU and it is as cool as a mid winter day in january....
For michigan anyways....
LOL!!

You a Michigander?

ocgw

peace

[Noahtuck]

You a Michigander?

ocgw

peace

Yep!!

Are you ?

There are a few here that i know of, I am near Grand Rapids, so is gadgetguy, Yoda313 is around Detroit & there was someone else that has been around that i think is near mid michigan, but i don't recall at the moment.

[ranchhand]

Regarding the direct temp probe: I don't position it directly on the surfact of the CPU, that (obviously) could cause serious problems. I position it on the side, touching the side of the CPU. I sometimes put a small tad of tape on the wire further back holding it, and the pressure of mounting the heatsink holds it in position. I have done this on at least 5 builds for years, and never had one problem. It's really nice to occasionally glance at the LED readout and have an instant reading directly off the CPU.

[redwudz]

When I did use a temperature probe on a CPU heatsink, I used a small dab of thermal compound between it and the surface, then covered that and the probe with a cap of high temperature epoxy and never had any problems with the probes comming loose. The stick-on ones always did.

[ranchhand]

Hey Red, great idea, I will try that on my next build!!