Confusion between Intel Processor Diagnostics Tool and Hardware Resource Monitor causing inconsistent temperatures.
Confusion between Intel Processor Diagnostics Tool and Hardware Resource Monitor causing inconsistent temperatures.
I looked into my CPU temperatures; both SpeedFan and Hardware Monitor showed around 70°C, with the peak reaching 72.6°C. I ran the Intel Processor Diagnostics tool, which reported a lower temperature of 39°C than expected. Which results should I trust? What steps should I take?
W1NGD1NG,
Welcome to Tom's!
The 72.6 you mentioned for your desktop i3 540 -
http://ark.intel.com/products/46473/Inte...e-3_06-GHz
is Intel's "Tcase" Thermal Specification, which refers to the CPU temperature, not the Core temperature.
The details are quite unclear, making it hard for many people to grasp that CPU and Core temperatures differ. The CPU temperature is generally lower than the Core temperature because of sensor placement differences.
Core temperature remains the standard for measuring heat.
Here’s the suggested operating range for Core temperature:
80C
Hot
(100% Load)
75C
Warm
70C
Warm
go with whatever fits your video card, though the ASUS issue is a messy problem—try MSI After Burner, which seems to be the most accurate I've found so far.
W1NGD1NG, Hello to Tom's! The 72.6 you mentioned for your desktop i3 540 is Intel's "Tcase" Thermal Specification, specifically the CPU temperature, not the core temperature. This information is quite unclear, making it hard for many to grasp that CPU and core temperatures differ. The CPU temperature tends to be lower than the core temperature because of sensor placement differences. Core temperature remains the standard for measuring heat output. The suggested operating range for core temperature is: 80C Hot (100% Load) 75C Warm 70C Warm (Heavy Load) 60C Normal 50C Normal (Medium Load) 40C Normal (Cool) 30C Cool Idle 25C Cool Mid-70s core temperatures are considered safe, so aim to keep it below 80. For a detailed explanation of measurement techniques and more, you can refer to the Intel Temperature Guide: