hardware monitor questions

[okeydokey]

im currently running a PC with an AMD 660 mhz and 500mb sd Ram.

When the machine was put together (it seems) it was installed with a VIA hardware monitor.
The monitor shows cpu and system fan speeds and temperatures also showing system voltages.
The monitor provides warnings if the fan speeds, voltages or system/cpu temperatures exceed given parameters.
My questions are :

What should my overheat and hysteresis temp warnings be set at?

What does a hysteresis warning mean, as i often exceed the default temp set by the software (40C)?

I looked up 'hysteresis' on google and it mainly referred to magnetic properties of various materials, how does this apply to cpu's?

should i have the monitor on all the time? it only activates manually. My fans appear to be quite variable, between 1000 and 5000rpm. I think it might be time for some new ones. Opinions?

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

okeydokey,

According to AMD, the Athlons are rated up to 90c, but I would not want to get anywhere near that temp. If you set the warning at 70c and have your comp shut down at 75c you would be safe.

If your fans are bouncing between 1000 and 5000 it just means the sensors are having trouble getting a good signal, I would not worry about the fan warnings. The price of new fans are greater than the value of your CPU.

Take Care,

Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.
Custom Computers of Naples, Inc.

[okeydokey]

thanks naples,
interesting advice. obviously the default is set a little on the safe side. I know the cpu has its own thermal shutoff but i dont know what it is.
Still interested in what 'hysterisis' means and what warning temp that should be set at.
Thanks again.

[ORAC]

Hysteresis is the fluctuation of values around a set threshold. The violation of the threshold is not a problem unless it is sustained for a given period of time. The system should only report a violation when the observed value has violated the set threshold condition for a given period of time.

[Woff1965]

CPU temp can be affected by the fact that most heat sensors don't touch the CPU so the temp can be as much as 10 degrees higher than the figure showing on your monitor.

Bear this in mind if you intend to overclock your PC - or you may end up with a molten puddle of silicon where your CPU used to be!

[ratsarrse]

I got rid of the hardware monitor after a while- after a few weeks of the chip never getting warmer than about 70. It just takes up memory that can be better employed for other things. AMD processors do run hot though, especially the faster ones, but as long as your fans are all working it should be fine.

I think I lost a hard drive to heat - which the hardware monitor wouldn't have helped with. Brand new 80Gb 7200rpm Barracuda lasted about 6 months. I mounted a fan to cool the disks and no further problems.