[Solved] Whats the long-term damage to CPUs?

thanks...care to elaborate a little?

The terminology is "Tcase" or "Tjunction". This is obvious from my previous post, but I'll spell it out for you anyway:

Tcase = CPU temperature
Tjunction = Core temperature

From the Core i7 and Core 2 Temperature Guide - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ture-guide


"Section 1: Introduction

Core i and Core 2 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. Core i7’s / i5’s and Core 2 Quad’s have 1 Tcase and 4 Tjunction sensors, while Core 2 Duo's have 1 Tcase and 2 Tjunction sensors ...

... The monitoring utilities provided by motherboard manufacturers monitor CPU temperature, while some popular freeware utilities monitor Core temperatures ... Real Temp ... is recommended for users interested in monitoring Core temperatures only ... SpeedFan monitors Tcase (CPU temperature) and Tjunction (Core temperature) ... "

Which torture test? Blend? Large FFT's? Small FFT's? There's a difference. Please be specific.

Get it?

skywalk,

The name, Core Temp, makes the answer obvious. You could've clicked on Core Temp's Help, or read my Guide, but since you're asking, then for everyone's benefit, here's the BIG picture!

Tcase:

There is a single (just 1) Analog Thermal Diode integrated into the substrate layers of the processor package (CPU case ... NOT computer case). This Diode is located dead-center under the Cores, not in, on, or near any individual Core. This device measures Temperature Case or Tcase, which is the overall temperature of the entire CPU package, or "case" that you removed from Intel's retail box and placed in the motherboard's socket. The Diode is sampled and digitzed by the super I/O (Input/Output) chip on the motherboard, and is displayed in BIOS and in temperature monitoring utilities programmed to display CPU temperature. This is why you only see a single (just 1) CPU temperature in BIOS, and not 4 Core temperatures. The accuracy of CPU temperature depends upon how accurately BIOS was programmed by the manufacturer. Inaccuracies are sometimes corrected in later BIOS releases, but are seldom exact due to variables such as after market coolers, overclocking and high Vcore. This is why I developed a procedure for my Guide to calibrate CPU temperature.

Tjunction:

Each individual Core has a Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) which is comprised of an array of Analog Thermal Diodes that measure the hot spots on the Core. The array is sampled and digitzed by the DTS, and is displayed in temperature monitoring utilities programmed to display Core temperatures. The DTS is read directly from the Cores, and is NOT available in BIOS. This is why you do not see Core temperatures in BIOS. The accuracy of Core temperatures depends upon how accurately the DTS was calibrated by Intel. Inaccuracies are common between Cores due to variables such as sensor slope error, linearity and response scaling. This why I developed a procedure for my Guide to calibrate Core temperatures.

HyperThreading:

i7 processors which have HyperThreading (HT) disabled in BIOS will display 4 Core temperatures in monitoring utilities programmed to display Core temperatures, just like any Quad Core. However, i7 processors which have HT enabled in BIOS may display their 4 physical Core temperatures and 4 virtual Core temperatures (8 Cores total) in some temperature monitoring utilities programmed to display Core temperatures. Since the 4 virtual Cores are essentially a mirror image of the 4 physical Cores, it is not necessary to monitor them. It is instead advisable to disable the 4 virtual Cores in monitoring utilities which allow you to do so, since monitoring 8 Cores is often cumbersome and confusing.

From my Guide:

Tcase and Tjunction:

Real Temp and Core Temp monitor Core temperatures ONLY. Freeware temperature monitoring utilities are available which display CPU temperature and Core temperatures such as Hardware Monitor and SpeedFan. Hardware Monitor can NOT be calibrated, however, SpeedFan can be calibrated for CPU temperature and each individual Core temperature, and can display however many of the 8 Cores for the i7 you desire, both physical and virtual. I use SpeedFan. During normal use I monitor CPU, Core 0, Northbridge and GPU temperatures only. When testing and calibrating, I monitor CPU, Core 0, 1, 2 & 3, Northbridge and GPU, but never Core 4, 5, 6, & 7.

I hope this helps you to understand how temperatures work. If you'd like to learn more, then click on the link in my signature.

Comp

Any rough idea how going over 73C on Tjunction would affect the overall life of the CPU?
what IS the average life of a CPU anyway? 3 years? (thats how long my warranty is I think)

and if I reach temperatures hotter than 73C, it would reduce its life by weeks/months/years?

thanks, I think this answer was the best, and exactly what I was looking for

You're welcome.

Without a nondisclosure agreement, I haven't found any available schematics, however, Intel's Core i7 9xx Datasheet - http://download.intel.com/design/p [...] 320834.pdf - shows an explanation in Section 2.2 "Power and Ground Lands".

You are also quite welcome.