Temperature Reading Help

[sgmdew]

Having problem trying to figure out the temp reading from speedfan. Temp 1: 32c, temp 2: 46c, temp 3: -128c. HWinfo64 says cpu running around 17c with NBridge at 46c: but HWMonitor Pro says cpu is 46c. Speccy say cpu 17c. The whole thing is that the 46c temp was 32c before the windows update I did on Tuesday. Also these temps 46c have been jumping really high suddenly and then drop back down to 46c range quickly as well. Anyone got any ideas which temp could be correct.

Running ga990fxa rev 4, with fx6300 and aftermarket cooler.

 

[Mellon Head]

You can ignore the -128C That means there is no sensor being read.

As for the 17C and 46C, the 17C is probably your core temperature being misread as all AMD FX chips do unless they are under high load. AMD says that this is a computed value and is only truly accurate after the core temp exceeds 45C. This is a load of crap, because I can push my FX-8350 to a CPU temp of 60C and my core temp will only read about 40C. It's consistently 19 degrees too low, and will likely be the same for your FX chip.

What is meaningful is finding out the difference between what your reported core temp is and ambient temp, as well as the CPU temp. You need to find the difference between the core temp and your CPU temp when the computer is idling. Then you need to add that difference to your core temp when the computer is under load. That will give you and approximate reading of what your core temp actually is. Finding which reading is the core temp is quite easy, put your computer under load and see which temperature is the quickest to climb. Temp 1 on Speedfan is your CPU socket temp. That's basically the temperature of the outside casing of your processor.

Ignore any TCase ratings from programs like CoreTemp, they are wrong when it comes to AMD chips. It only applies to Intel, and never let your core temp go past 60C. That's the core temperature, plus the difference that I was talking about earlier. I never let my CPU socket temp go above 50C just to be safe, because the real core temp is likely to be around 10 degrees higher.

 

[sgmdew]

These mid 40s reading just started after windows update on tuesday and before this the temp readings were in the low 30s, so what could have caused the spike in the temp.

 

[Mellon Head]

Not entirely sure. Were there motherboard updates in the update package? I'm travelling and not at home, so I can't check the update package to see what might have been included. But a mobo update could conceivably change temp readings if the drivers are in error or something.

 

[sgmdew]

Just standard MS security updates and some net framework 4.5 updates.


Not gonna believe this but just installed a MS release today and now my temps are back down to the low to mid 30s; about what they ran before tuesdays's updates. Will continue to monitor and report back, thanks.

 

[AddRAM]

Use the bios for true temp readings.

 

[sgmdew]

Following up on my temps and think maybe I may have sensor problems or something going with cpu; the reading are now jumping like crazy. Open my email program and it jumps 30 degrees and drops back down. It's jumping all over the place while just idling and then sometimes it'll smooth out and stay at it's previous temps of 30-34c at idle. Any thoughts

 

[sgmdew]

BIOS reading 28-39 and just jumping around, ideas?

 

[AddRAM]

If you`re worried, re apply some good thermal paste to the cpu cooler, and make sure there`s no dust in the cooler.

I would only trust the bios and Core Temp to show proper cpu temps.

Core Temp

 

[sgmdew]

Planning on making some upgrades anyway so will check it out after that and update what happens.

 

[carwiz]

Check your BIOS and see if there's a cooling profile and that it's set for Active and not Passive. It could be that there's a delay or it's set to passive cooling. Note that the terminology used by AMD may be different.

As a side note; Don't run more that ONE temperature monitor at a time--Even if it's just a driver in the background. Don't know about AMDs but on Intels, this can cause a fault on the PECI channel.

 

[AddRAM]

Yep, Speedfan and HardwareMonitor are garbage.

I only use Core Temp and now that I have the new cooler, I installed the Corsair I Link software, which is great, but I keep core temp down in the system tray all the time.

Antec Formula 7 is good stuff, expensive but very good.

Formula 7 - antec.com

 

[sgmdew]

I Have read all over the net that hwmonitor pro was the best to use and the speedfan; now I see core temp recommended and using that my temps are 15c for the core. Also TX 2 was recommended to me and that's what I bought, is this not good stuff. Thanks

 

[carwiz]

AMD CPUs, APUs, or whatever they're calling them today, do not use the same thermal sensor logic or specification as Intel CPUs. Most of the software is written for Intel CPUs because their documentation is freely available. You'd be lucky to find the thermal design specs for an AMD processor. Look for software specifically written to decode the temperature registers on AMDs or use the BIOS.

In my previous post, "delay" is more often referred to as Response. It could be just two options (fast, slow) or it could be a numeric value. The response is how quickly the fan speed is adjusted for temperature changes. Not all BIOS OEMs make this available but it's worth a look. It could be included, but undocumented, in a set of parameters controlled by a single option. (Such as Active or Passive cooling.) Setting the response to fast will normally eliminate wide swings in temperature. If, that is, the fan speed can keep up.

 

[Mellon Head]

AMD CPUs, APUs, or whatever they're calling them today, do not use the same thermal sensor logic or specification as Intel CPUs. Most of the software is written for Intel CPUs because their documentation is freely available. You'd be lucky to find the thermal design specs for an AMD processor. Look for software specifically written to decode the temperature registers on AMDs or use the BIOS.

Newer AMD chips use a calculated value for core temperature, the exact method and alchemy behind it no one seems to know. I cannot find any program out there that will give me a reliable core temperature for my FX-8350. Since the OP is using an FX series CPU, I suspect that s/he is experiencing the same problem with the reported low core temperatures, such as the 15C reported by CoreTemp.

 

[sgmdew]

It's a he(pic is great grand daughter) but anyways doing some more searching I came across some indication that 6 core cpus have a 71c (8 cores 61c) safety threshold. Still gone pull and put in my 8300 since I have it available. Will check temps then. Thanks

 

[carwiz]

Good be on you! I have a seven year old great grand son that when he's over is into/curious of everything. Hard to keep him off the tractors and equipment. I have to hold his hand in the shop or he tries to turn on all the machines just to see what they do. After a safety lesson and tour, I let him drill some holes in a piece of wood. That seemed to just spur more curiosity. What a hand full.