I have just got my new PC up and running. Was after a Q9650 but can no longer get them in New Zealand so got a Q9550 with E0 stepping.My other PC had a Q6700 and the temps on all 4 cores are usually within a few degrees of each other given the same work.This new Q9550 however has the 1st two cores running around 45, the 3rd core running at 30 and the 4th core around 25 and this is with them doing the same sort of work.Is this unusual or just normal? Hate to think I got a dud.John Veldthuishttp://www.virtualpilots.org/signatures/vpa475.png

Probably not mounted correctly. That was my experience with a quad.

More than likely its just normal. The thermal junctions do not always get placed exactly where they should be which results in some skewed temperatures.It could also be as stated above that your heat sink is not quite installed properly.On my QX9650 there is a 10C difference between cores 1,2 and 3,4 and thats just the way the chip was manufactured.

Known issue with the Q95, 96 processors.. dont sweat it just make sure the highest full load stress test temp remains below 75c and you are fine

At idle my Q9650 has one high core, one low core, and two almost identical cores in terms of temps. On full load I have one high core and 3 identical low cores each around 5 deg lower. I have a lapped heatsink and cpu-done on thick glass very carefully so I know everything's flat. It's just these chips.I think if your system is fast and stable, you're fine.-jk

Hi John.>My other PC had a Q6700 and the temps on all 4 cores are usually within a few degrees of each other given the same work.