Mobo Hotter than CPU - Hardware & Software

My motherboard CPU slot tends to run about 8-10*C hotter than my CPU. Im used to high temps from using AMD but Im not sure on what would be considered the danger zone. On idle my mobo slot will idle around 35-40*C but my CPU with idle around 28*C. Motherboard: ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX Processor: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Processor ~3.2GHz So the things Id like to know Whats the danger zone temp? During full load or gaming my CPU and mobo slot both hit 65*C and stay there, I havent seen them go over. Ive looked it up on Google and asked a few people, most say 75+ is the danger/dead zone. Is it normal for my Mobo to be a bit hotter than the CPU? Other info My secondary mobo slot for my GPU idles at 20*C, thats lower than the idle of my 30* GPU. During full load the GPU slot only hits 26* while the GPU hits anywhere from 45 to 56*C.

Have you felt for hotspots on your mobo, if any case it should be your north/south bridge running a bit hot. I'd say that's normal.

[QUOTE=Craptasket;29147183]Have you felt for hotspots on your mobo, if any case it should be your north/south bridge running a bit hot. I'd say that's normal.[/QUOTE] Motherboard over all temp is pretty low (~20*). I tested the temperature with a infrared thermometer and the higher temp is right around the processor. I assume thats normal, there are no real hot spots though besides that. As for my other question what temps should I be watching for?

If you are really worried, grab a PCI slot fan and that should help with more airflow.

[QUOTE=jordguitar;29147417]If you are really worried, grab a PCI slot fan and that should help with more airflow.[/QUOTE] Well that wouldnt be necessary. I may have to turn my fan speeds back up but I turned them down to lower my electric bill, took a good $30 off. Ive read that 60 is dangerously high but others say it isnt in the danger zone till the 70s or 80s. I may just have to ask AMD about it. [IMG]http://www.zilefile.com/files/15281_wsunb/hwmonitor41311.png[/IMG] Edit: Something else, someone says my +12V is far to low. Ive never messed with the BIOS so Im not sure what to do about that.

60 isn't too bad..

[QUOTE=superdinoman;29147624]Something else, someone says my +12V is far to low. Ive never messed with the BIOS so Im not sure what to do about that.[/QUOTE] what the heck, check your volts from the bios instead. If +12V dips under 11V get a new PSU as for the heat, it's either a bad sensor or it's reading the heat right off the north bridge not actual ambient temps.

[QUOTE=Craptasket;29148271]what the heck, check your volts from the bios instead. If +12V dips under 11V get a new PSU [/QUOTE] Heres the thing, I looked up what should happen and anything below 10v would prevent the PC from starting. I have 0 issues, no freeze ups, no hanging, games run locked at 60 fps, temps hit 65* but that might be linked to the power. My PC boots up in ~20 seconds and hits full speed within 15 or so after login. I checked my mobo and it was designed for x3 and x4 AM3 processors but a BIOS update in 2010 fixed it for the x6. Could the voltage listing be something to do with the BIOS reading it wrong? Ive had this PC for a couple months now and have had 0 issues with the motherboard or processor besides the temperature. Motherboard [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402[/URL] PSU [URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022[/URL] Edit: I checked the BIOS and its readings are entirely different from what Speedfan and HWMonitor say [img]http://www.zilefile.com/files/15282_xdctk/voltage.jpg[/img] The BIOS rates the system at A+ performance and settings. The 12v is of course dynamic as it changes from 11.58 to 12.075 depending on load. I only change fan speeds using speedfan but I think ive got the temps figured out and in a safe zone. Thanks for the info Craptasket

[QUOTE=superdinoman;29148320]The 12v is of course dynamic as it changes from 11.58 to 12.075 depending on load.[/QUOTE] Voltages aren't dynamic, they should always be the same. If they fluctuate often, you probably have a trash PSU that can't keep up with the load.

[QUOTE=bohb;29156279]Voltages aren't dynamic, they should always be the same. If they fluctuate often, you probably have a trash PSU that can't keep up with the load.[/QUOTE] I have a power setting that allows it to cut back energy draw if it isnt required, however the lowest it is allowed to go is 11.58 which is fine. I disabled that while I was in the BIOS and now it stays the same at 12v. I still cant figured out why Speedfan, CPUz, and HWMonitor list such a low number.

[QUOTE=superdinoman;29156831]I have a power setting that allows it to cut back energy draw if it isnt required, however the lowest it is allowed to go is 11.58 which is fine. I disabled that while I was in the BIOS and now it stays the same at 12v. I still cant figured out why Speedfan, CPUz, and HWMonitor list such a low number.[/QUOTE] Speedstep only applies to the CPU core voltage. +/-12v, +/-5v and +3.3v are impossible to control from the motherboard because the PSU isn't controlled by the motherboard, it regulates itself. If something did change any of those 5 voltages, it would wreck havoc on the entire computer because more things than the motherboard depend on those voltage levels staying within spec and not changing.

[QUOTE=bohb;29157884]Speedstep only applies to the CPU core voltage. +/-12v, +/-5v and +3.3v are impossible to control from the motherboard because the PSU isn't controlled by the motherboard, it regulates itself. If something did change any of those 5 voltages, it would wreck havoc on the entire computer because more things than the motherboard depend on those voltage levels staying within spec and not changing.[/QUOTE] That doesnt really answer why they show 4.8-4.86v rather than listing it at the proper 12. The PSU is fine, I tried another PSU and it did the same thing.

Voltage readings are supplied by an often cheap wofat IC on the motherboard. Most of the time the IC is either faulty or lacks any sort of precision and can't be trusted. The only way to really check voltage levels would be to get a volt meter and test each rail by hand.

Ill have to do that when I get the proper equipemtn then. For now I think Ill just keep using it as Ive had no real issues happen that would happen if it was messed up. If the only problem is it not displaying right then I can deal with that.