Newb question: can anyone tell me what these Speedfan temps mean???

Question

I just built my first PC (P6N SLI-FI board and Core 2 Duo 6420 chip) and I've got a few questions about cooling (I'm using the stock cooler and the thermal paste that came with the chip):
1.  I installed Speedfan, but I'm not sure what each temp refers to.  After having the machine run Windows XP for a minute or two, here are my approximate readings (all in degrees Celsius, obviously):
Temp1= 23
Temp2= 30
Temp3= 145 (I think this is an error due to lack of a sensor)
HD0 = 23
Core0 = 23
Core1 = 23
After playing Neverwinter Nights 2 for about an hour, Temp2 reaches about 45 (all of the other readings are lower, somewhere in the 30s I think, but I can't remember for sure).
2.  I'm going to be using my computer mostly for gaming.  What temps should I try to stay below?  Should I think about using Artic Silver 5?  (I really wanted to use it when I put the machine together, but I wimped out because I was worried about voiding the warranty with Intel  ) 

Answer 1

Quote from: Snaggly Pete on 24-May-07, 23:09:08
Thanks for the info.  So, none of the temperatures I've listed represent the ambient temperature?  How do I find out what the ambient temperature is?
The temp in my house was probably about 70F (I didn't actually check at the time) when I measured those temperatures and yes core0 and core1 were roughly 23C.  Again, I only had the computer on for a minute or two when I checked SpeedFan. 
Sorry for the delay in responding to your question!
As far as case temperature, I've gone as far as suspending a household thermometer in the vicinity of the HS fan.
Fact: It is impossible for any air-cooling solution to cool the processor below the temperature of the intake airflow. Air cooling solutions, as well as liquid cooling solutions, rely on convection (+conduction and radiation) to transfer the heat off of the CPU. The amount of heat the air mass/flow can absorb is limited by the temperature of the air mass, volume and partial pressure across the heatsink(s). Except for the short time the HS is transitioning from a cooler, non-operational state, where the HS may be cooler than the incoming airflow caused by a newly started system, to the operational state with both case temperature and CPU temperature increasing, the temperature of the HS will always be above the temperature of the surrounding air.
So, given a 70F/21C room temp, you should expect the 'system' (mobo) and core temperatures to be at or probably slightly above 21C if you check Hardware Monitor in BIOS immediately and as much as 10 - 15 degrees C higher by the time you check them in the OS. Again, those figures may be lower or higher by a few degrees depending on the HS/HSF used.
Remember, when evaluating operating temps, always use the delta between case temperature and core temperature (or whichever system temp) rather than the temperature in question on its own. Say you are given two systems that use all the same components except the cooling solution. System A uses air-cooling solution 'Ace' and has a case temperature of 38C with core temps of 43C on each core, while System B uses cooling solution 'Best' and has a case temperature of 23C and core temps of 34C. Which is the better solution?
The answer is probably TEC.   
TB