Noya :
It's complicated. I read part of a guide on one forum and it has to do with case temp, core temp, processor temp, yada yada.
Noya,
Yes, thanks to Intel, temperatures are complicated. Also, thank you for the glowing review! I'm the engineer who wrote the "yada, yada": Core 2 Quad and Duo Temperature Guide -
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/221745-29-core-quad-temperature-guide
If you'd taken the time to read the entire Guide, then you'd have an understanding of the differences between Tcase (CPU temperature) and Tjunction (Core Temperature), and how to calibrate your temperatures, as well as how these temperatures apply to monitoring utilities.
defragme,
You posted the following:
Another piece of information that I found:
(http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAWE#)
Thermal Specification: 71.4°C
If you click on Thermal Specification, a pop-up window explains that this is Tj Max (if I'm not mistaken). Real Temp has TJ Max at 95°C. What's going on here?
Sorry, but you've misinterpreted Intel's Thermal Specification. The temperature shown in Intel's Processor Spec Finder is Tcase (CPU Temperature),
not Tjuinction (Core Temperature), which is a very common misconception among many users. From the Guide:
Section 1: Introduction
Core 2 Quad and Duo processors have
2 different types of temperature sensors; a CPU case (not computer case) Thermal Diode centered under the Cores, and
Digital
Thermal
Sensors located on each Core. The case Thermal Diode measures
Tcase (
Temperature
case), which is CPU temperature, and the
Digital
Thermal
Sensors measure
Tjunction (
Temperature
junction), which is Core temperature. Since these sensors measure
2 distinct thermal levels, there is a
5c temperature difference between them, which is
Tcase to
Tjunction Gradient. C2Q's have
1 Tcase and
4 Tjunction sensors, while C2D's have
1 Tcase and
2 Tjunction sensors. Uncalibrated default temperatures are rarely accurate.
Intel provides complete specifications for
Tcase (CPU temperature), but only partial specifications for
Tjunction (Core temperature), which has caused much confusion and debate in the overclocking community concerning test methods, temperature monitoring utilities and accuracy. The monitoring utilities provided by motherboard manufacturers monitor CPU temperature, while some popular freeware utilities monitor Core temperatures...
SpeedFan monitors
Tcase (CPU temperature)
and Tjunction (Core temperature), which can be calibrated for each sensor, while also providing a full compliment of peripheral temperatures, voltages and fan speeds...
Section 3: Interpretation
(
<>) The first part of the spec refers to a single measuring point on the
Integrated
Heat
Spreader (
IHS). Since a thermocouple is embedded in the
IHS for Intel laboratory testing only, CPU temperature is instead measured using a Thermal Diode centered under the Cores.
Maximum case temperature (
Tcase Max) is determined by Spec#. The CPU case Thermal Diode is how
Tcase is measured, and is the CPU temperature displayed in BIOS and SpeedFan.
■
Tcase Max is a specification,
Tcase is a temperature.
(
><) The second part of the spec refers to mobile processors without
Integrated
Heat
Spreaders (
IHS). Although desktop processors have an
IHS, both variants measure the hot spots on each Core using
Digital
Thermal
Sensors (
DTS).
Maximum junction temperatures (
Tjunction Max) are determined by Intel factory
Calibrations. The
Digital
Thermal
Sensors are how
Tjunction is measured, and are the Core temperatures displayed in SpeedFan.
■
Tjunction Max is a specification,
Tjunction is a temperature.
Section 4: Thermal Flow
Heat originates within the Cores, where
Tjunction sensors are located on the hot spots of each Core. Most of the heat dissipates from the
top of the Cores through the
Integrated
Heat
Spreader and CPU cooler to air inside the computer. Some of the heat dissipates from the
bottom of the Cores through the CPU case, which creates a
5c thermal Gradient toward the center of the substrate, where the
Tcase sensor is located. This heat then dissipates through the socket and motherboard to air inside the computer.
Safe and sustainable temperatures are determined by CPU cooling efficiency, computer case cooling efficiency,
Ambient temperature,
Vcore, clock speed and Load.
■
Tjunction is higher than
Tcase.
■
Tcase is higher than
Ambient.
Section 6: Scale
... Since
Tcase indicates CPU substrate temperature only, it is not used for Throttle or Shutdown activation, however, as
Tcase Max will be exceeded before
Tjunction Max is reached,
Tcase Max
is always the limiting thermal specification...
Scale 2: Quad
Q9x50:
Tcase Max
71c, Stepping
E0, TDP 95W, Idle
16W
Q9x50:
Tcase Max
71c, Stepping
C1, TDP 95W, Idle
16W
Q9400:
Tcase Max
71c, Stepping
R0, TDP 95W, Idle
16W
Q9300:
Tcase Max
71c, Stepping
M1, TDP 95W, Idle
16W
<--Q9300
Q8x00:
Tcase Max
71c, Stepping
R0, TDP 95W, Idle
16W
Q8200:
Tcase Max
71c, Stepping
M1, TDP 95W, Idle
16W
Q6x00:
Tcase Max
71c, Stepping
G0, TDP 95W, Idle
16W
-Tcase/Tjunction-
--70--/--75--75--75--75-- Hot
--65--/--70--70--70--70-- Warm
--60--/--65--65--65--65-- Safe
--25--/--30--30--30--30-- Cool
defragme,
As I've shown, there's a
5c Gradient between CPU temperarture and Core temperatures. and if you read the Guide thoroughly, you'll also understand that BIOS temperature
is CPU temperature, which functions independently from Core temperatures.
Comp