What is going on with my CPU temps?

nickaa827

Prominent
Jul 9, 2017
5
0
510
Hello, I have an AMD Athlon X4 880k CPU on which I recently added a new 212 evo, as an upgrade from the stock cooler. I am having issues with the sensors for the temps. One reader, Hardware Monitor (third party software) says that the CPU temps idle at about 60 degrees celsius. However, the utility that came from my motherboard's website is giving a different and much lower temp. I'm glad that it's saying its that low, because that means the new cooler is doing its job, but is it really reporting the correct temps?

Is this a problem? How can I fix it? I've put new arctic mx4 TIM with the hyper 212 evo only a couple days ago so I don't know if that has something to do with it, however the issue with the temps having big differences between readers always happened even with the old stock cooler.

Looking for some expertise here. Thanks again. Screenshot examples attached.

gMXQ4WT.png
 

nickaa827

Prominent
Jul 9, 2017
5
0
510


Ok, so what's your interpretation of the "thermal margin" reading? Because I'm assuming that's not the actual temp of my CPU. It says the thermal margin of my CPU is about 40 degrees celsius.
 

nickaa827

Prominent
Jul 9, 2017
5
0
510


Well, that's alright then. That still leaves me with a question, how do I accurately measure CPU temps? Not the margin, the actual temps?
 

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator
I have not successfully done so with an FM2+. Why is the actual value important? The important thing is how much margin you have. Knowing that it is 50C is only useful because you mentally know that is closer to maximum allowable heating. You get the same information directly from Overdrive.
 

nickaa827

Prominent
Jul 9, 2017
5
0
510


Yea, I suppose it doesn't actually matter. I kinda just wanted to know, as like, bragging rights lol, but I guess I'll just tell my friends "I'm like 40 degrees from the max so that's pretty good"

On the other hand, could I use the official max temperature and subtract the thermal margin and get a temp? Would that be inaccurate? The max is 73.3 degrees celcius according to a benchmarking website.