My CPU temps and differing monitoring programs

[Noughtboy]

Good morning,

I am still using my venerable i5 2500K running in an MSI Z68A G43 MB with a mild overclock applied (roughtly 3800MHz). However, I am using Speedfan ver 3.7 and CPU-Z to monitor volts/speed/temp etc and am getting widely different reports.

Speedfan has me running between 3200MHz and 3800MHz fluctuating consistently with my temps between 52C and 57C on different cores (at an "idle" 7%-10% and using between 17W and 23W as I am running trading software in the background).

CPU-Z shows the core speed fluctuating between 1600MHz and 3800MHz but seems to be either or. In fact, the voltage fluctuates more than the CPU speed between the extremes of 0.992V and 1.24V with many steps in between.

So the two questions are:
1.) Why the wide variations? CPU-Z seems to monitor less frequently but gives me 1600MHz and Speedfan logs more frequently but the speeds never drop below 3200MHz; and

2.) Is 55C or so fine for a 10% "idle" using the stock cooler? I am considering applying new thermal paste as the CPU is now 4 years old and would probably benefit. When gaming, I see temps go to around 70C - 80C

If it makes a difference specs are:
MSI Z68A G43
i5 2500K @ 3800MHz
ATi Radeon 5850 1GB
BeQuiet Purepower L7 530W PSU
Samsung Spinpoint 2TB
GSkill 2*4GB Ram @1600MHz
3*92mm case fans

Thanks

NB

 

[abui1806]

not sure about your first question.
for your 2nd question the temp is pretty high. Applying new better thermal paste and clear all the accumulated dust in the heatsink help reduce cpu's temp a lot. So i strong recommend to do that.
I use HWMonitor and find it pretty consistent with CPU-Z.

 

[Noughtboy]

Thanks for the reply. The first question referred to the the wide variation in the two programs. CPUZ shows my speeds dropping to 1600MHz or going to 3800MHz but nothing in between. Speedfan shows consistent fluctuations between two extremes of 3200MHz and 3800MHz and many in between but never drops below 3200MHz.

Why the widely differing figures? As I mentioned, CPUZ shows the core voltage fluctuating regularly between two extremes of .992V and 1.24V with many steps in between but the core speed not so much.

I am a little concerned that the CPU temps is higher than before I applied the OC. I assumed that the 3800MHz would be a maximum with drops down do 1600MHz when not under stress using Intel Speedstep but the OC seems to be 3200MHz to 3800MHz and not dropping below this.

However, in that case, why would CPUZ register a 1600MHz reading and show voltages fluctuating between .992V and 1.24V (implying the core speed is actually dropping to 1600MHz) and then Speedfan is wrong.

I seem to remember my "idle" temps before the OC being in the mid 30's to low 40's so I am working on the assumption that the core is not dropping down to 1600MHz and Speedfan is more correct.

NB

 

[joeyjojo]

You need a third opinion really. Try HWMonitor as suggested by abui1806. Also double check all the power saving stuff is enabled, and also in Windows (min CPU state).

 

[pandem0nium]

It's down to speedstep being enabled and is normal and expected. I'd trust cpu-z as it polls quite often and 1600 sounds about right for idle.