Not sure how to read the temperatures when stresstesting the OC

steffeeh

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Feb 12, 2016
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You see my build in my sig if it's helpful

Basically I have a 100% stable overclock on my 5820k at 4.4 GHz with 1.264V with my Noctua NH-U14S aircooler.
Now previously I have pretty much stated to myself that I won't be able to reach 4.5 GHz unless I watercool this thing with a good watercooler with 2x 140mm fans or so.
Though lately I've started to be unsure if that really is the case... Because now I'm starting to have the feeling that I might have been focusing on the wrong temperatures.

Basically I've kept an eye on the maximum temperatures on the cores and how they behave as I stresstest it in Aida64 but also when I game or do other CPU intensive tasks. I've pretty much ignored the temperature of the overall CPU as it's always lower, and I felt I should keep an eye on the hottest part.
But is this the proper way to do it? Because I'm starting to think that maybe the correct way to view the temperatures is to run the stresstest and just keep a basic eye on temps so it doesn't get wayyy too hot, but then decide wether it's too hot or not when the stresstest presents the average temperature and not focus too much on the maximum core temps?

For example, running a stresstest now and looking the temperatures as they go, the hotter cores hover around (i.e not calculated average!!) 70-75C while the cooler ones hover around 66-70C, and the whole CPU package showing roughly 66-67C.
But there are regurarly occurring temperature spikes in the cores, especially in core #3 (hitting 84-87C), and core #1 in 2nd place temp-wise (hitting 82-84C). Other cores spike at 74-76C or so.
On the other hand the calculated average temperature by Aida64 are 64-66C on all cores + the CPU package except core #3, the core #3 being at 70C (i.e well within safe limits by reading them alone).
And I'm trying to wrap my head around all this - sure those spikes hit bad temperatures... but they're spikes... they're no sustained temperatures, but still they're reaching high temps.

What temperatures should I let determine wether or not I can go further or if I should stop... maximum temps vs average temps... core temps vs package temps? Could I in theory reach higher safe temperatures (considering the average temperatures), or have I hit the ceiling for now (considering the temperature spikes)?
 
Solution
personally i dont stress test

see no reason to torture the cpu way beyond what real life use would do to it

though some people think stress testing is mandatory

i just load it right up with the things i actually do on my pc

try coretemp for monitoring the cpu temps those little spikes may just be an error
 

Dunlop0078

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I dont stress test much either, if its stable enough for what I'm doing i.e gaming or something thats fine for me. I will run a stress test for maybe 10minutes or so just to make sure i'm not crashing immediately and temps aren't too high if so I start to game and if I dont crash gaming or using the computer normally for a few days I call it stable. I'm sure some people would say thats a lazy hack way to overclock but it works for me.

I would say those temps are fine especially for an aida64 stress test, I would try to push it a little higher. I would just make sure no cores are throttling, aida64 if I remember right has a little thing on the bottom that goes red for each of your cores if any reach TJ max and start to throttle.
 


This answer seems to address your concern http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1740479/safe-temp-intel-core-4670k.html . Bottom line? Pay attention to the average.

Your tests show some extreme situations. Stress tests are usually used to determine two things. First they are usually used to determine CPU stability. You've confirmed a stable overclock. Secondly they are used to determine a CPU cooler's performance level. You've confirmed temps. will stay within acceptable limits at 100% loads. After that you can rest assured your real world temps. will also be within the safety "window" as well. You've also looked to your temps. during realistic usage. Apparently those temps. are also good because you didn't post those temps..

On a side note that cooler, if I'm not mistaken is shipped with one fan for a push configuration. You can add an additional pull fan that may evacuate heat faster and might bring those spikes down, which as you've seen aren't worrisome. Still, the option is there.

Not sure why it double posted my answer. I offer my apologies and if a moderator would like to delete one that would be appreciated. Sure I can click that trash can icon.

Here http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1800828/intel-temperature-guide.html is a VERY VERY detailed Intel temperature guide. It does contain a LOT of info. Hoping this much info doesn't give rise to more questions but instead educates. If it does, were here.

 
Solution

steffeeh

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Feb 12, 2016
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Thanks for the links! Finally know how to monitor it now :)
Just wondering if thermal testing in Prime95 is necessary in my specific case as I'm not testing it for temperature benchmarking?
Also are the recommended maximum temperature of <80C and more around 75C specifically aimed at testing Prime95, meaning if a slightly easier stresstest like Aida64 or even gaming and such were making the CPU hit around 75C it would still be too hot in addition to the load? Or is any application fine/safe if it stays around 75C maximum?
Because if so I might as well just throw up my heaviest real world usage that I can imagine and just make sure it stays around 75C maximum, without reaching for stresstests as I've only used them to ensure overclock stability.

I have actually been looking at adding a second fan to my heatspreader as I'm too lazy to switch to watercooling.
While there are mixed opinions wether it would help or not (also considering my mild gentle fancurve to keep things quiet) with push-pull to make things cooler, I haven't actually thought that it might have an impact on the temp spikes themselves and just even things out. Perhaps that, combined with a more reactive fan curve aimed at regular usage, plus maybe even a mild manual thermal throttle setting that just works very lightly (like -200MHz and some on the Vcore) as soon as I go over for instance 78C - could perhaps even things out a bit?
 
all depends what you are happy with really

personally i would just throw the heaviest real life use at it you can

should still stay under 75c i would think

and its again personal choice how loud the fans are compared to how much cooler the cpu is

i like quiet so my fans are really low but i have overkill custom liquid cooling my temps rarely break 60c when i load it up with every thing i normally do all at

once
 


My apologies. THAT BIG GREEN BUTTON!!!! Why do I click it to answer questions?

Anyways I went a bit(read a lot) stupid with a test in order to answer a question here at Tom's Hardware.

hot.jpg


I ran IntelBurn Teston maximum, played Spec Ops: The Line(Full Screen while test was going), had The Incredibles playing on mute, Had three browsers and multiple tabs open and I had a couple? monitoring programs running. I felt that was going to push my CPU fairly hard. You can see by the temps. It did.

Then I tried to make it as lazy as possible

With nothing running except for the essentials
Broken_TV.png
on my old school CRT monitor. My 1080p TV bit the dust a few days ago :( .
 


lol thats a bit more than every day use
 


Heaviest real-world usage test? Yeah, not really real-world.
 

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