This is how software tries to determine your TjMax:

http://softwarecommunity.intel.com/i....aspx#30228327

"Next you have to assume that the Tjunction is 100 degrees Celsius and if bit 30 of MSR 0xEE is set then it is 85 degrees Celsius."

The Intel rep says at the end of this thread that this is NOT valid for Desktop processors but I think temperature monitoring software continues to do this.

I used CrystalCPUID to do a RDMSR 0xEE and my E6400 shows bit 30 is set.



I can understand TAT reading this bit since TAT was designed specifically for mobile processors and has never been updated for the desktop core processors but if CoreTemp and SpeedFan are using this method to determine that my processor has a TjMax = 85C then they are wrong. All of these programs are in complete agreement but that doesn't make them all right. Instead it makes them all wrong.

At idle if my heatsink is 6C above my reported core temperature then my reported core temperature is wrong. The DTS represents the hottest point on the core. The heat transfer from the core through the IHS, through the AS5 paste and through the copper heatsink should result in a lower temperature for the heatsink and definitely not higher.

Using a TjMax = 100C for my processor gives me a lot more realistic number for my absolute core temperature.

I believe that TjMax is a fixed value but the other guys on this forum could be correct and my TjMax might actually be 95C or some other number around 100C. If I can get the heatsink off I think the IR thermometer should get me some temperatures very close to the real core temperature.

All I know so far is that assuming a TjMax=85C for my revision B2 Conroe core processor is wrong.

Also keep in mind that I am only using the Intel OEM heatsink which certainly isn't the most efficient these days. I have a Tuniq tower arriving later today which typically results in even lower reported core temperatures.