I don't recall the exact amount of time, but there was well over a week of sensor calibration and pre-testing that occurred prior to data being captured for the logged results. With the sensors deployed for testing, margin of error is +/- 0.125C, so there is some separation but nothing I would consider significant or note-worthy, FluidXP Nano-fluid excluded of course.

On the heat source... that really doesn't work for the intended audience and indeed does complicate matters. With an representative system, the entire audience can relate to each piece of gear, applications used and so on. This same scenario plays out for every test we take on, it is a balancing act and trying to find the proper mix of testing to engage the LC community. I assure you, this is something Vapor and I discuss each and every time we are in the planning stages for each test/review.