How do you guys get ACCURATE cpu temps?

[nitrousninja]

I've heard that the software ones are pretty inaccurate and I'm looking into overclocking and obviously am concerned with heat. What is a good guage to use? My case is an Antec SX1030 and the rest is in my sig. Thanks a lot...........Matt

 

[Mikewarrior2]

I Say BAH to whoever claims that software (save Asus PCProbe) is faulty. Software merely reads the temps off the various chips on the motherboard dedicated to temp reading/rpm and voltage monitoring. If the software is inaccurate, its the fault of the hardware.


MBM is an accurate solution You can get it here. It does take some setup time to get it to work well.

Now, unfortunately, since you're using a socket-a setup, the readings won't be very accurate anyway... just try to look and see if your temps are inline with other soyo dragon + owner temps.



Mike

 

[Egrimm]

It's simple we don't... (get accurate cpu temps).

Most of us use the onboard thermistors of our mobos and brag about our XPs having very low temps, when the temps really are much, much higher in the core.

 

[MustangSVT]

U cant. here is a good "interview explaining why"
Explanation.

Quote


<< In short, the in-socket thermistor cannot effectively measure the temperature of the processor, all it truly does is measure the temperature of itself. >>

 

[thermite88]

More information in this thread.

 

[mulciber]

...

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Laser can't be that accurate, cause it will measure core-edge temp.



Mike

 

[Alkoholger]

Mikwarrior2; do you mean that asus probe is not an accurate program?

 

[Yoshi64]

I get accurate temps from the thermistor inside my Tualeron (tualatin celeron 1530 Mhz)

40 C idle, 45 C full load
case around 35 C

 

[rogue1979]

Anyone running an Athlon or Duron is not gonna get the true internal cpu core temp. It doesn't really matter though, the normal has been measured with the motherboard sensor for billions of times by everybody, more than enough data to feel comfortable with what is a safe cpu temp. Generally speaking 50c or lower for a max cpu temp is fine, of course lower is better.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

rogue1979,

ERRR! There are at least 5 mainstream MB's that regularly read higher than 50C, under normal conditions: The Asus A7V, A7V133, A7M266, A7V266E, A7V266, and MSI K7T-turbo. They all regularly read in the 55-60C range. This is due to both thermistor placement and motherboard manufacturer compensation.

YOu can't make a broad based statement like "keep it under 50C". That isn't accurate, because each and every MB "reads" socket-a temps differently. There is no "general guideline" that can go beyond any single motherboard.


Yoshi64,

I did not list it as "accurate" like mbm because different versions do add "compensation" of some sort ot the CPU reading. Whereas MBM will read what the Asus ASIC chip is reading. However, this does not mean that the compensation is unjustified... it just happens that when people see "higher" temps they tend to freak, even though for certain mb's it is normal. IN fact, if they knew the Internal Core temps of a palomino from the SOLE palomino based review on the 'net (67C to 90C, they'd probably freak out more.


Mike

 

[rogue1979]

Sounds like Asus sucks for cpu temp readings. I have used an Abit KT7, Abit KT7A, Epox 8KTA3, Epox 8K7A, DFI AK76-SN and FIC AD-11 and all of these have given me fairly consistent cpu temps for both Duron and Athlon. Maybe we should bring up the fact that two identical motherboards, or for that matter two identical cpu's won't give the exact same temp readings. So yes, unless you are splitting hairs a general temp of 50c or lower is an acceptable guideline for socket A cpu's. There are a few exceptions of course, but according to you there is no way to compare cpu temps on two different motherboards, so what is the purpose of having a thermistor on the motherboard at all?
Answer: To give an approximate guideline for cpu temps! We all know that the actual internal core temp of a socket A cpu is higher than the motherboard tells us.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Asus doesn't suck as much as you think. Its much closer to DIE temp than other mb's, as is the K7T-Turbo.

The thermistor is not comparable to other mb's, due to these major factors: Thermistor placement is different, Motherboard compensation is different, and for those mb's wtih manipulable thermistors are often never in the same place on each motherboard.

The socket-thermistor is there simply because, up until now there has been no way to get internal diode readings, because the chips lacked one. A socket-thermistor will never be a precision temp measuring device as it is currently employed. there are far too many outside factors. cross "motherboard" comparisons are rendered useless because of the various factors listed above. In fact, just in terms of baseline compensation differences, going from a low reading board to a high reading board, wtih the exact same test conditions could result in as much as a 20C temperature change. That's why cross motherboard comparisons just don't and can't work effectively.


Mike

 

[thermite88]

The only accurate way to measure CPU temperature is to use the on-die thermal diode. The only Review that does that showed a CPU temperature range from 67C (best aftermarket HSF) to 90C (AMD retail HSF).

<< Sounds like Asus sucks for cpu temp readings. I have used an Abit KT7, Abit KT7A, Epox 8KTA3, Epox 8K7A, DFI AK76-SN and FIC AD-11 and all of these have given me fairly consistent cpu temps for both Duron and Athlon. >>

Asus should be commended for using compensated temperature to show "more realistic" measurement. But they should be blamed for not using the real thermal diode measurement due to competitive market pressure. Other manufacture paddle the low reading of socket temperature measurement which are meaningless until they tell the user how many degrees should be added to reflect the real CPU core temperature.

It is sad that the only way to get consistent cpu temps for both Duron and Athlon. is to not measuring the real thing.

 

[Rack]

For your setup, I would probably do this:

My lil project

and latch onto some signals on the SMBus probably from the RAM, since I've examined a Dragon +, and I don't remember any SMBus headers on it.

George

 

[rogue1979]

Of course you guys are right, but Asus's attempt to provide an accurate core temp reading just makes readings more inconsistent between board manufacturers. In most cases the thermistor is placed in the center of the socket barely touching the bottom of the cpu.
Another approximate way to do it is the old touch method. Put your fingers on the very bottom of your heatsink where it contacts the cpu, warm to the touch is around 40c, almost too hot to touch is 50c. Yes, this is pretty inaccurate, but like i said, what else do we have to compare with?

 

[Texmaster]

<< I Say BAH to whoever claims that software (save Asus PCProbe) is faulty. >>



Then you say BAH to asus

I called them because the software was reporting a CPU temp of 60C, the bios, 27C and my digital doc 5, 27.3C.

He finally admitted that not all of the "bugs" in the probe software had been worked out