How to read CPU temperature?

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minedwiz

minedwiz

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Mar 12, 2013
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I have an FX-6300 running at stock clocks, cooler by a Hyper 212 EVO, as I didn't entirely trust the stock cooler in my warm California climate. Today is particularly warm, with my ambient room temperature currently around 28-30C (I also have a fan aimed at my desk - the thermometer's across the room). I decided to run a full stress test (Prime95 blend @ all 6 cores) with both speedfan and HWmonitor open to see how it handles.

http://i.imgur.com/bLye2uV.jpg

Obviously, the crazy "max" temps for CPUtin and the others in hwid can't be right, or else my system would have shut down, but how do I interpret the "real time" cpu temp? Do I believe Speedfan (with its alarming flame icon), which seems to read the same temp as HWmonitor's CPUtin, or do I believe HWMonitor's core temp reading, which is far less alarming?
 
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rvieaujr

rvieaujr

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Mar 3, 2013
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the easiest way is to download amd catalsyt driver and that will monitor your cpu, gpu, mobo and exc. or cpu-id which does the same thing but a lot more detail if u just want to0 check ur cpu temp from time to time when u boot or restart yourpc the temp of your cpu will be listed on the general info on the 1st page of your bios. if u constantly would like to monitor its temp i would suggest buying a fan controller with and LCD temp monitoring screen. and they only cost like 35-50 bucks depending on how nice u would like to get. adds some flash to your pc also.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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The values you can "trust" appear to be those under the FX-6300 heading in your CPUID image. Ignore the others (there's no way it's 127C ever).

There's little to worry about though. Modern CPU's will protect themselves by undervolting/clocking and if absolutely necessary turning off the PC.

Your cooler is more than adequate for any scenario you will encounter.
 
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minedwiz

minedwiz

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Even though that temperature under the FX-6300 heading can sometimes read lower than ambient temperature? I take it that speed fan is next to worthless, then, for monitoring cpu temp?
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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It looks like I'm wrong. It works for my setup but there's no way it could be in the low 30's if you're stressing the CPU and the ambient temperature is fairly warm. It works perfectly for my i7-3770K.

The 53degC in Speedfan might be correct.

*It appears other people are having the same issue of incorrect temperature readings so I'm not sure what to say:
https://teksyndicate.com/forum/cpu/fx-6300-colder-my-room/125932

You could see if your motherboard has any software which might monitor the CPU temperature (though in some cases it's a sensor next to the CPU not inside the CPU).

**I think maybe it's best to give up unless you can confirm what tool is reliable (contact AMD?). As I said previously, you're unlikely to have any issues and you really can't fry a modern CPU as it will download or shut down the PC if necessary.
 
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minedwiz

minedwiz

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All right, thanks. I went digging more, too, and I found that AMD CPUs use an odd algorithm where the "core temp" reading is only accurate above 45C (i.e., under heavy load or at peak), which I'm clearly not going to reach with a Hyper 212 EVO. The number that shows up in speedfan seems to be a sensor actually in the socket, so it's bound to be different than actual core temp, but it's a better indicator under idle or light load.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Appears so.
How does a company screw up the concept of reporting the temperature anyway? Sigh.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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Easily, these software packages that mobo companies provide with their mobos, are often generic and not actually tailored to a specific mobo, also they don't update the software when they update the BIOS. Might pull down CoreTemp or a similar free app or two and watch them to see say which two report most closely then decide on just 1 of the 2.
 
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