http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/...alTempBeta.zip

It's been a long time since the last beta. I guess I finally got tired of waiting for Intel to clear up the TjMax confusion.

Not too much new. This version should properly recognize and report the new Core i7 processors and properly read the TjMax information that is within them.

A new feature has been squeezed into the Settings window called Clock Modulation. It allows easy access to this feature that is built into Intel Core based CPUs. I haven't tested it on Core i7 yet but I think it will probably work on those too.

It allows you to run your CPU at a reduced power state from 12.5% to 87.5% of your normal CPU power.

Possible uses?

How about faking a screen shot for your buddies? CPU-z etc. will report your CPU running at top speed but internally your CPU will only be running at a fraction of that speed which will keep the temps nice and low. A perfect way to con your buddies into thinking that you have an uber cooling solution cause you're running Linpack at some crazy MHz setting but your temps are well in control.

A more practical use might be in testing an overclock. If you are running a nice overclock but always seem to get an error when running Prime then you could set the Clock Modulation to 75.0% which will allow your CPU to run a little cooler. It might help you isolate whether your instability is heat related or not.

The primary use I've found for this new feature is that it can do a better job of detecting sticking sensors.

My test method is to run a program like Prime95 with the small FFTs option. This will create a very consistent load and temperature for your CPU. When the temperature has stabilized at full load, turn on the Clock Modulation feature and set it to 87.5%. Your temperatures should immediately drop a couple of degrees on each core. Wait a minute and then go down another step to 75%, etc. and keep decreasing this until you are at 12.5% and then for the last step, stop Prime95. I've found that after you stop Prime95 that you can decrease power consumption and your CPU temperature by turning off the clock modulation feature.

If your sensors are working properly you should end up with constantly decreasing temperatures on each core. A SpeedFan graph will look something like this:



If half or three quarters of the way through this test you notice that your temperatures stop decreasing then that is a pretty good sign that your sensor is sticking at that level. Instead of having a stair case, the temperature graph will have one very long flat section. In SpeedFan I waited about 90 seconds at each stage to draw this graph. I believe that no temperature decrease during any stage of this test is a warning sign of a sticking sensor.

I don't have any CPUs handy with known sticking sensors so I hope someone will try this test and post what it looks like. If this test is useful then I will try to automate the procedure as much as possible so you'll be able to click one button and walk away for 10 minutes or so and come back and see the results. I'll average the temperature at each level and try to include a small graph to make the results easy to see.

If you want to see what effect Clock Modulation has on the performance of your computer then set it to 50% and run a not so quick XS Bench or try to run Super PI. It will be like someone tied an anchor to your back bumper.

Happy testing.