What's a good motherboard temperature software monitor?

Post by **Nakor** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:24 am

My computer shut itself down a couple hours ago due to overheating, so I want to get a software monitor so I can keep an eye on the temperature while it's hot like this; hoping to find a freeware one. Does anyone know of any?

Shawn · Post by **Shawn** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:37 am

http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

Speedfan is free and easy to use.

Post by **wavemeister** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:36 am

It's a good advice to estimate whether the temperature sensors of the mainboard are submitting the right temps...the Elitegroup K7S5A I had used before fried an Athlon XP1700+ once due to the fact that its sensors were worth crap shíte, the submitted temps were about 68F (!) too low. Maybe you want to ask a local computer dealer if he can measure the temps inside your case and at the CPU, the one I asked to do it did it with a non-contact laser tool for a few bucks.
That's not unimportant, because if the sensors won't read out the correct values, the software can't do it either.

Once you had either estimated the accuracy of the mainboard or you are a trusty soul, you should enter the correct settings in the BIOS of your mainboard (if available, but I think that no manufacturer dares to sell a mainboard without temp control anymore). Refer to the advices of the CPU manufacturer.

If the temps inside the case are still too high, you have several options:

First, you may want to remove the dust which had gathered inside, clogging the cooling fins. The best tool to clean up is the ordinary vacuum if used with the appropriate caution; brushes or cans with compressed air are not the best options since they are only spreading the dust around.

Still too hot? Then it's time to take more drastic actions. Either you gear up on case fans, and/or you replace the CPU cooling unit with a more effective one (make sure that the CPU cooler fits without problems, some of them are that large that they collide with parts of the mainboard or other components).
Another "temp tuning" tip is to clean up the cable mess inside the case to improve the airflow, e.g. by using round-type cables for the drives instead of the older ribbon ones, or wrapping the power lines together with cable shields before tucking them away.

Post by **Nakor** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:38 am

Thanks Shawn, that's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for.

Wave~ You might be right. Now that I've got a reading, it's telling me that Temp2 is at 57ºC (135ºF). This morning isn't that hot, and the computer hasn't been doing much, so we'll see. If it's accurate, that's not great news, if it's guessing too high, that at least can't hurt me. I doubt that's a low guess. Soon enough I plan on replacing the whole system anyway, so I don't really plan on dropping any money on this one at this point.

Shawn · Post by **Shawn** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:46 am

Open the case and touch the heatsink and see if it feels warm.If it does,then it is running to hot.You should nto relaly be able to feel any heat off it if it is cooled corretly and running at that temp IDLE is to much.

Post by **Nakor** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:54 pm

I don't actually have a heatsink, or at least not an added one, unless there's one built in I'm unaware of. It's a pretty old, low-end system. I turned it on and checked the temp right away just now, and it went straight to 53, which simply can't be right, not within a minute after booting, so I think the sensor is probably off. $:\$

Post by **wavemeister** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:14 pm

Nakor wrote:Now that I've got a reading, it's telling me that Temp2 is at 57ºC (135ºF).

If that's the temperature inside the case, it's way too hot - inside my case, there's 25 °C (77 °F). Either there's a heat accumulation around the temp sensor, or the values are not right; you can check the former by simply opening one side of the case and watch the temperature.

Post by **TStodden** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:10 pm

If your system is air-cooled, normal operating temp is around 150 F...

If your system is water-cooled, normal operating temp is around 85-90 F... but most overheat sensors don't get triggered until around 125 F

I'll have to look for some motherboard monitor software, but Speedfan is one that's decent.

Post by **Diabolique** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:30 am

Good thing my computer gives me a constant reading via a front display.

I've never seen mine reach even 100 F...usually it's in the 80s range...so 135 F sounds pretty high to me.

Post by **TStodden** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:10 pm

My Bro's Desktop computer (currently disconnected) has a built-in thermometer on his tower & it usually runs around the current room temperature or a few degrees above (as it's water cooled). The only time I have ever seen the temperature spike above 110 (like 119) was when somebody careless placed the keyboard on top of it & blocked the 2 (or 3) cooling fans that were there for quiet some time (like 6 hours or so).

When his system starts to get hot, more fans start to kick in & starts to sound like a jet engine before the overheat sensor kicks in.

Post by **wavemeister** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:00 am

Found another software-based monitor...here (if you don't mind that the DL site's language is in German or here (if you don't mind to register before DL'ing).

In both cases, you'll get the Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7.0.

walvis · Post by **walvis** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:28 am

If you want a good programm that monitors the temp of your computer then I would recommend everest.exe
It shows you all you want to know about whtat is going on in your comp.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/win/33809