Your lead to IDU was great! It ran fine for me,and shows temps 12-13 deg cooler than coretemp and HWMonitor(which agree on temp) I also thank the overclock FAQ writer,also great. I got a great deal on a Gateway refurb,$430 from Tiger,c2d 2.13ghz,2gb memory,400gbHD,LAN,TVtuner,multi-card reader,and Vista ULTIMATE! Two problems. 73LE video card only showed 2.8 vista experience,and first time I ran PCWizard Vista benchmark Coretemp hit 95! Installed ArcticPro 7,hi temp dropped 15,idle 5. Installed XFX 8600GT XXX,Vista experience 5.1(graphics 5.9) IDU shows 63 at 100%cpu usage,55 idling. Myonly remaining problem is I CAN'T FIND BIOS! I'm a newbie,and you get absolutely NO support from gateway on refurbs! PCWizard,CoreTemp,SensorVue, none will give me fan speeds or voltage. I'm wondering if 15 month old BIOS is problem,or Vista glitch. Since Intel E6400's are supposed to OC easily,and this is my lowest rating,I'd like to turn it up somewhat,but need fan control to do so. I've read (here and elsewhere) that all I have to do is hit key combo to go into BIOS. Could you or anyone give me suggestions? I'd appreciate any help. DRJ

Gateway Bios setup:
On Gateway computers, it is usually just F1 key (on system startup)
But some may be F2.

You made my day. Lol



All software sensors can be assumed wrong. And as someone else mentioned, believe what you like. For an overclocker like yourself, the highest reading would be something you'd be most interested in. It doesn't quite matter if it just spiked there for a couple of seconds (and never does it again), you just want to be prepared for the worst.

If you really have the need to push your computer to the very limits of its engineering, be prepared to spend a few hundred dollars on very picky hardware to measure your temps. They won't be too easy to use, not to mention the need to calibrate them before every use.

BIOS temps have been mentioned to be the most accurate, but remember, it all depends on where they have positioned the probe. The ideal place would be somewhere on the CPU itself, although I have this suspicion its going to be on the motherboard itself, albeit just below the CPU. Bear in mind I have absolutely no idea at this point where any particular motherboard would position their temperature probes, or if CPUs have them built in. Its never been a big point to me: I just take the highest temp measured in Intel TAT, AND a second probe on the heatsink itself just beside the CPU (I assume this probe shows a lower temp. I just haven't ascertained how much lower).

Given that I'm an enthusiast, getting the temperature correct to the 0.5C doesn't quite bother me. As long as none of the probes go too high, or my computer becomes unstable, its not going to bother me.

Thanks again,Kimsland. I saw F2,but was keying it too soon,apparently.My fan control was DISABLED. I enabled,set "aggressive".The most noticeable result was an immediate 5c drop in GPUmaxtemp,and 2c elsewhere,but CPU fan only running up to 2100 rpm,so I need more. IDU only shows one temp,looks like core "0",the hotter one, and Speedfan temps are agreeing with IDU. Temps now 48-50 idle,65 maxed.I need to learn a LOT more about BIOS, setup Speedfan,but since I'm disabled,early retire,this is my work now. If you (or anyone)have sites to educate me,please let me know.I appreciate the help. Don J

Are you wanting to learn about BIOS is general or your BIOS specifically?

Actually, when you go into BIOS settings, it is in reality CMOS settings (too many labels these days!) as CMOS is the only area that can be user adjusted.
Actually the information on BIOS and CMOS is immense (to say the least) There really is a lot of info out there. Therefore it's best for you to specialize, just in your one system I feel

In any case, start with your motherboard manual, which should give you insight into your own CMOS settings. (that's the best way to start)

To CMH, I appreciate what you are saying,but you have to admit that seeing a coretemp of 95c!!! on a new computer is hair-raising!,no matter where it came from! The Arctic Freezer Pro 7 got rave reviews at anandtech.com,dropped temps 15c on install. We have to believe SOMETHING,so I'm inclined to go with engineer's at INTEL,since it's their fab. I'm not really an OC'er,just trying to do best I can do. Steve Walton at Legion Hardware.com has OC'ed e6400 to over 3 ghz with NO voltage increase. I'd be happy to get Vista Rating up to 5.5, have invested -$800 (with 22" screen,Vista Ultimate,specs above) Appreciate your help . Don J

They don't give manuals at these prices,and users manual on HD doesn't even LIST bios,so I'm on my own (again!) DJ

What model is your Gateway anyway?
Or, what Motherboard is installed?

MBO is generic Intel DG965OT DJ

I must've missed that part about 95C.... I would've told you that there was a problem there in the first place.... Don't think the computer would boot at that kind of temperatures.

I've got my E6420 At 3.2Ghz with no voltage increase, so I can say I believe that review

Well,that gives me hope,anyway. What are you running?

@drjulian

Here's your manual and bios info: http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/dg965ot/ot_manual.htm

you continue to be a lifesaver! Can't say how much I appreciate your help!