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This image demonstrates what I'm talking about:

enter image description here

The motherboard's CPU temperature is in green. The individual cores' temperatures are in red.

I've tested the temperatures in three different scenarios:

  • Idle: All cores <5% utilization. Core temperatures are around 70C, while CPU is around 55-60C. Frequency stays around 2600 Mhz.
  • Gaming: Three of six cores around 50% utilization, remaining three <10%. Core temperatures gradually increase to 90C. CPU temperature gradually decreases to 40C. Frequency is gradually reduced to 1200 Mhz. Pictured above.
  • Stressed: Using Intel's diagnostic tool to stress the CPU; all cores near 100% utilization. All cores are over 90C, while CPU is at 80C (I believe the tool limits itself if it goes above 80C). I can't monitor frequency during this.

Why are the two readings so different? Also, why does the motherboard's reading decrease while gaming, even though the Core readings are almost as high as they are during the stress test?

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    CPUTIN varies between motherboard manufacturers and is often simply wrong (some vendors don't have the sensor and thus CPUID reads bogus data), sometimes the sensor is wrong, and sometimes it just reads something unrelated - if you stress the system, the fans will likely turn on/faster, which may end up decreasing some temperatures, especially those of components that normally don't get any cooling (northbridge/southbridge, memory, etc.)
    – user2813274
    Commented Jun 22, 2015 at 4:13
  • @user2813274: I have liquid cooling. The fans are constant. When I stress the system, all temperatures become extremely high.
    – dauphic
    Commented Jun 22, 2015 at 4:15
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    @dauphic then you have an issue with your cooler/heatsink; try reapplying the thermal paste and ensuring the radiator is functioning correctly. The values you outlined in your screenshot with a red box are the actual CPU temperature values. Indeed, in your screenshot, CPUTIN is simply wrong, and your CPU is indeed running at 88 C.
    – Breakthrough
    Commented Jun 22, 2015 at 4:19
  • @Breakthrough: The cooler is functioning correctly, and I've already reapplied thermal paste and reseated it. I can feel it transferring heat between the radiator, as well as a change in exhaust temperature when idle vs. stressing.
    – dauphic
    Commented Jun 22, 2015 at 4:20
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    I'm sorry, but it is what it is. The thermometers embedded directly in the CPU give you the most accurate reading, and that is what the CPU temperature is (otherwise it wouldn't be getting throttled like it is). And regardless, you clearly have an issue with your CPU cooler. Again, you have seven independent readings inside the actual CPU itself telling you what the temperature is. If the heat isn't being transferred out of the CPU, then of course CPUTIN will give you a lower reading, as it's an external sensor, and isn't exposed to all the heat (because it's not being transferred out).
    – Breakthrough
    Commented Jun 22, 2015 at 4:46

1 Answer 1

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The CPUTIN sensor on many motherboards is usually a non-standard (or sometimes, even non-existent!) sensor, and thus the values it output are usually not in degrees, but an implementation-dependent scale of values. It's always the most accurate to use the temperature sensors inside the CPU itself.

Most modern CPUs have a temperature sensor in each core, as well as one resting on the package itself (where the heatsink is attached to). These are the values you should be using to indicate the current CPU temperature. Indeed, in your case, it appears as though there is something wrong with the cooling system (especially when looking at the idle temperatures of 50-60+ degrees).

You should reapply your heatsink (try using less thermal paste), and ensuring that it makes adequate contact with the CPU package itself. If you've done this several times, and are absolutely sure the heatsink is mounted properly and transferring heat to it, then you may have an issue with the water pump in your water cooling setup (assuming the radiator fans are working correctly).

Although unlikely, it's possible that the heatsink itself is defective, and may be "sloped" when it was created/machined (contacting one edge of the CPU die with more pressure than another). Pay attention to the pattern the thermal paste was spread in, and the resulting thickness, when you take the heatsink off next time, and ensure that it was distributed evenly (if not, than you may want to contact the manufacturer for a replacement).

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