Real Temp - New temp program for Intel Core processors

[unclewebb]

KURTZ: Those tests show that his E8400 is running like any other E8400 at those speeds.

Here's a couple of screen shots of my E8400 at 3000 MHz and at 3200 MHz.
I'm using DDR2-1000 memory speed so maybe that is why my times are slightly better but the times are very similar so his CPU is not thermal throttling during normal use.





The Thermal Status information that RealTemp reports comes from model specific register (MSR) 0x19C within the processor for each core. Intel calls this the IA32_THERM_STATUS register and bit[0] of this register is called the Thermal Status bit. When it is set, the CPU is reporting that thermal throttling is in progress.

The last 4 bits in this register contains various information about thermal throttling including a log of any thermal throttling incidents in bit[1]. On his E8400, all 4 bits might be set so the last digit in this MSR for him could be the letter F. It should be the number zero (0). In my tool you have to enter 0x19C in the MSR Number box and then click on the Read MSR button to display the Thermal Status data.



He could use my MSR Tool or any other similar tool that lets him read the value of this MSR.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/3/1794507/MSR.zip

http://release.crystaldew.info/OlsMsrEditor

You can also use CPU-Z. Just click on the About tab and then click on Save Report and it will output the value of this MSR into its report for each core. That would be handy to send to Intel if there is a problem because they tend to trust CPU-Z.

My opinion is that this CPU temperature sensor is broken and Intel should be willing to exchange his CPU for a CPU that is not broken. Ask him to post a screen shot of MSR 0x19C and I will interpret it for him. This MSR also contains the temperature data in the higher bits but it looks like that is stuck / broken too.