Intel Will Disclose DTS Specs At IDF

Previously undisclosed information about DTS or digital thermal sensor by Intel will be announced at IDF to provide for more accurate internal temperature monitoring of current 45nm CPUs.

At IDF this year, Intel is expected to unveil (Source: AnandTech) information that will lead to improved internal processor temperature monitoring. Intel has never previously disclosed information about the Tjunction value before of its 45nm desktop processors, a value that is needed to accurately measure the internal CPU temperature. Previously, these Tjunction values were estimated by software, but as each model and stepping of processor can potentially have a different Tjunction value, not to mention varying temperature response curves, no current method can be accurately trusted.

Intel is appealing to the enthusiast community by fully disclosing the information needed to now properly determine this information on day 3 of IDF. If you are at IDF this year, the course will be #TMTS001, and will start at 1:40pm. Regular computer users will still benefit from this released knowledge by soon being able to monitor accurately the temperature of each core in their current Core 2 processors, when previously unable to do so. Serious overclockers may find this particularly useful.

Previous Intel chips, prior to Kentsfield, were capable of measuring internal CPU temperature through an on-board diode and was measured externally. With the new processors though, a new method was needed and so Intel engineers came up with the Digital Thermal Sensor, or DTS. Instead of relying on external measurements of the temperature, Intel had integrated that aspect into the processor. By using a thermal threshold value, the Tjunction, along with the data provided by the DTS, the internal temperature of the processor can be determined. Tjunction values in the past have only been provided for mobile processor versions, as they lacked an integrated heat spreader.

Look for our complete coverage of IDF next week.

  • jimmysmitty
    Wow maybe they will be able to get software that can acurately measure the temps of the 45nm chips and not get stuck anymore. From what I have read the temps being stuck is because the software cannot read the DTS correctly.
    Reply
  • Mr_Man
    Neat... and I'll be glad of this... but why wasn't this done before?
    Reply
  • shadowthor
    This will definitely help ppl that develop software to measure temps.
    Reply
  • Reynod
    Seems like all the users whining about temp monitoring is finally going to be addressed.

    I suppose 8 mths isn't too late.

    So far they have blamed the whole fiasco on the mobo manufactures ...

    AMD can't get way with anything ... Intel can.
    Reply
  • techgeek
    Wasn't DTS implemented before 45nm. I mean the original Core 2's @ 65nm have DTS. Also laptops CPU's had DTS before that. Hopefully this disclosure included the Tjunction for Allendale, Conroe, and Kentsfield (which is just two Conroe dies in one package).
    Reply
  • LuxZg
    I agree, this article is very confusing. Yes, Intel Core CPUs have had same way of measurment since at least Core 2 family of CPUs, since my E4400 has the same problem with measurment.

    And now it's unclear if Intel will disclose ALL info, about ALL CPUs, or just new 45nm ones.. I'd like to FINALY know what is my CPU's temperature, really! So far I've relied on "don't go over 15C delta Tjunction under heavy load"..
    Reply
  • xyster
    http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/showpost.aspx?i=478

    For information.
    Reply
  • steveseguin
    All fixed. :)
    Reply