Socket temperature vs Core temperature???

[mohdzarif]

This is when I was running Prime95.

Are both of these temperatures important. I mean, which one is more important than another? I ask this because certain utilities like Core Temp and Corsair Link only show core temp and not socket temp. HWMonitor and HWiNFO show both.

My specs:
CPU: AMD FX-6100 @ 4.2GHz 1.416V
Mobo: ASUS M5A97 R2.0
Cooler: Corsair H80i

According to CPU World, the "max operating temperature" of my CPU is 70C. http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-FX-Series%20FX-6100.html
Is it referring to socket temp or core temp?

I wonder why some softwares like Core Temp and Corsair Link don't show socket temp at all? I tend to believe that it is not really important. So what CPU World says about max temperature is the core temp and not socket temp?

Help me I'm clueless.

 

[clutchc]

You should be most concerned with core temps. Socket temps are not important for your situation. But the problem with AMD processors since the demise of the K10 architecture, is that their core temp reporting is... flaky. The best way to monitor core temps with AM3+ and FM2/FM2+ socketed CPUs is with AMD Overdrive. It reports Thermal Margin instead of direct core temps. TM will tell you how much room you have left before the CPU begins to throttle to save itself. http://www.techspot.com/downloads/4645-amd-overdrive.html

The reason 3rd party temp reading software is not always reliable is that there are so many variations of temp sensing and reporting techniques used per processor.
For example, here is a list of Intel variations over the last few Generations: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1800828/intel-temperature-guide.html
AMD uses a slightly different method: http://cdn.overclock.net/3/30/900x900px-LL-306a7aae_tclscale.png

 

[mohdzarif]

I've downloaded OverDrive and wow, the Thermal Margin reading is very convenient.

So that means I can just solely depend on OverDrive isn't it?

What do you mean by socket temp isn't important in my situation?

 

[clutchc]

Yes, you can solely rely on AOD if you want. I do for my FX-8350. However, most FX processors will begin to read accurately once they get loaded. So if you use a temp pgm like "Core Temp" it will generally read correctly once the CPU is under load. But idle temp is flaky. Btw... If you want to use Core Temp be sure to click on the 'more downloads' link and choose the 32 bit/64 bit link. If you click on the big 'Download' link, you will get bloatware you don't need.
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

The socket temp is just the temp read by the MB BIOS of a sensor at the socket. All that will tell you is how hot the socket is. The socket can take a lot more heat than the cores.

If those 54C core temps in HWM were while the CPU was under load, it is doing well.
In AOD I like to keep my TM in the double digits. But theoretically, you could go all the way down to single digits and still be... OK.

 

[mohdzarif]

Thanks!