Help needed regard E6400 temperature

[craigslist4me]

First, my thanks to CompuTronix and others who wrote the C2D temperature guide. I've learned a lot from it. I looks like I have very similar problem, however, as those in the C2D guide post, ie, my temperature seems way too high.

My setup: E6400, Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 mobo latest firmwire, stock CPU HSF, computer case left open. I disabled automatic voltage/frequency adjustment on the mobo and manually set it to 1.325V/400MHZ FSB. Boots into windows no problem, everything seems stable. However, when I starts testing the problem begins:

1) CPU-Z displays CPU voltage at 1.328V idle instead of 1.325V
2) TAT idle temperature is 39/38 C idle for the 2 core, hot in comparision to others'.
3) When I start loading the CPU to 100%, temperature quickly climbs to 62C in a matter of 5 minutes, and that is where I stoppped. If I don't stop, I'd image the CPU will get to 75C in another 5 minutes. The system still seems very stable at this point.
4) Before I stopped TAT, I touched the HSF, it is only slightly warm, defintely not 62C. The northbridge on the other hand is very hot.
5) Core-Temp. display similar value as TAT, however, in the Tjunction box, it always display 85C even at idle. Is this supposed to be a fixed value?
6) When CPU is at 100% load, CPU-Z displays voltage @ 1.28V, lower than idle?? Again, I disabled anything related to "automatic voltage/speed adjustment" on the mobo. I don't see why the voltage changes on its own.
7) So I thought my CPU is too hot because of O/C. So I changed everything back to stock, 2.13G. Redo the test, same thing, TAT climbs to 62C in less than 5 minute. That's when I suspect there is something wrong with my temperature sensor or the CPU heat transfer. How could intel design something that will exceed their published max. temperature without any O/C in 5 minutes?

Does anyone have similar experience? Is there something wrong with my sensor or CPU? Will getting a better HSF/TIM help to lower my temp. to the reported 50C range at full load?

 

[CompuTronix]

craigslist4me, I reviewed your thread shortly after you posted it. I've been trying to get caught up on the temperature threads. Sorry I haven't worked back to you till now.

...my temperature seems way too high.

E6400
Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 mobo latest firmwire
stock HSF, computer case left open.
1.325Vcore
400MHZ FSB

1) CPU-Z displays CPU voltage at 1.328V idle instead of 1.325V

This is normal due to Vcore voltage regulator loading.

2) TAT idle temperature is 39/38 C idle for the 2 core, hot in comparision to others'.

Other what? This is a normal idle temp for the cores (Tjunction), 15c higher than the CPU case (die) temp (Tcase), not to be confused with the term "computer case".

3) When I start loading the CPU to 100%, temperature quickly climbs to 62C in a matter of 5 minutes, and that is where I stoppped. If I don't stop, I'd image the CPU will get to 75C in another 5 minutes.

This is normal, as the CPU and cooler heat soaks very quickly and levels off. Another 5 minutes would only show an increase of perhaps 2c.

4) Before I stopped TAT, I touched the HSF, it is only slightly warm, defintely not 62C.

This is also normal, since it's not possible to feel what's happening within the hottest part (thermal junction) of the cores. All you can tell from touch is roughly how warm the CPU case (Tcase) may be, which should be 15c cooler than the cores, so you would expect 47c. What sofware monitoring program came with your motherboard, are you running it, and what does it read? This relates to item #2. Understand that it will give CPU case (Tcase) temp, which is part of the info we need.

The northbridge on the other hand is very hot.

Also normal - smaller heat sink at higher voltage without a fan.

5) Core-Temp. display similar value as TAT, however, in the Tjunction box, it always display 85C even at idle. Is this supposed to be a fixed value?

Yes. The Tjunction field shows Intel's spec for 85c, which is the shutdown temp limit.

6) When CPU is at 100% load, CPU-Z displays voltage @ 1.28V, lower than idle?? I don't see why the voltage changes on its own.

Normal again, because there is no dynamic load at idle, however, at 100% load, Vcore will sag, and you will see this in any utility able to monitor Vcore. Very perceptive on your part.

7) So I thought my CPU is too hot because of O/C. So I changed everything back to stock, 2.13G. Redo the test, same thing, TAT climbs to 62C in less than 5 minute. That's when I suspect there is something wrong with my temperature sensor or the CPU heat transfer. How could intel design something that will exceed their published max. temperature without any O/C in 5 minutes?

Please re-read the Temp Guide, and look closely at the colored scale. There are 2 separate temps. 65c Core Temp (Tjunction) is fine, and 50c CPU case temp (Tcase) is fine.

Is there something wrong with my sensor or CPU?

Not so far as I can tell. There are 3 sensors in the C2D; a single Tcase (again, not to be confused with the term "computer case"), and dual Tjunctions (one in each core).

Will getting a better HSF/TIM help to lower my temp to the reported 50C range at full load?

Yes, but let's sort this out first. Please do what you can to provide answers to my questions so I can better help you.

Comp 8)