Software-Monitoring Tools
Software-Monitoring Tools
Hardware-monitoring tools based on specialized chips or built into chipset components, and complemented with appropriate sensors, usually only provide measurement capabilities. To perform the control, output the measured results, and analyze them, you'll need special-purpose software. Relatively simple programs that provide this kind of service are built into the BIOS Setup program of most motherboards. Functionality, the number of measured parameters, and measurement precision usually depend on the chips used for this purpose, as well as on the BIOS code version. Fig. 6.9 shows the PC Health Status menu, included in the BIOS Setup program of most popular motherboards.
Figure 6.9: Hardware monitoring in BIOS Setup
Although BIOS built-in functions often provide a wide range of capabilities, there are also specialized software applications that ensure control, analysis, and screen output of the diagnostic parameters. Such programs often use the built-in tools of popular operating systems (such as Windows). As a rule, motherboard manufacturers provide such software tools along with their products. The Winbond Hardware Doctor is a typical example of such a program. The screenshot in Fig. 6.10 illustrates its operation.
Figure 6.10: Typical screenshot of the Winbond Hardware Doctor application
The Winbond Hardware Doctor provides the capability of monitoring system parameters. The main parameters are as follows:
-
Voltage (supply voltage):
-
Vcore — CPU core voltage
-
Vtt — Additional CPU supply voltage
-
+3.3 V — Chipset, frequency generator, and PCI bus
-
+5 V — Chips of the motherboard, PCI bus, and ISA
-
+12 V — ISA bus
-
-5 V — ISA bus
-
5 Vsb — Supply voltage in hibernation mode
-
-
Fan speed (speed of fan rotation):
-
CPU fan
-
Power-supply fan
-
-
Temperature:
-
System1 — Temperature within the system (motherboard or case)
-
System2 — Temperature within the system (motherboard or case)
-
CPU temperature
-
The Winbond Hardware Doctor allows you to install the boundaries that serve as limiting values allowable for computer hardware — maximum (High Limit) and minimum (Low Limit) for each parameter being monitored (Fig. 6.11). For temperature control, only the maximum allowed values are important (Fig. 6.12). For fan speed, only the lower limits play a role (Fig. 6.13). If the value of the parameter being monitored goes beyond the valid range, the system displays a warning message accompanied by a sound (Fig. 6.14).
Figure 6.11: Upper and lower limits of the value being monitored
Figure 6.12: Upper temperature limit
Figure 6.13: Lower limit of the fan rotation speed
Figure 6.14: Warning message
Note that the example application has one significant drawback: It is bound to a specific motherboard (or motherboard series) equipped with specific hardware-monitoring tools. Other programs provide more universal system-monitoring tools. The popular Motherboard Monitor (MBM) software is a good example of such a utility.
There are currently two significantly different versions of this tool: 4.xx and 5.xx. The first releases of version 5.xx contained several bugs that made the system unstable with some motherboards. Because of this, most PC users prefer version 4.xx. Fortunately, the most recent releases of the MBM software are free of these bugs. Table 6.7 lists the most popular chips supported by the MBM program. Note that this list grows with each new release of this popular program.
|
Supported monitoring chips |
MBM 4 |
MBM 5 |
|---|---|---|
|
Analog Devices ADM1025 |
X |
X |
|
Analog Devices ADM9240 |
X |
X |
|
Asus AS99127F |
X |
X |
|
Fairchild Semiconductor FMS2701 |
X |
X |
|
Genesys Logic GL518SM |
X |
X |
|
Genesys Logic GL520SM |
X |
X |
|
National Semiconductor LM78 |
X |
X |
|
National Semiconductor LM78j |
X |
X |
|
National Semiconductor LM79 |
X |
X |
|
National Semiconductor LM80 |
X |
X |
|
National Semiconductor LM87 |
X |
|
|
SIS SiS5595 |
X |
X |
|
Texas Instruments THMC50 |
X |
X |
|
Via Technologies VIA686A |
X |
X |
|
Via Technologies VIA686B |
X |
|
|
Winbond Electronics W83627HF |
X |
X |
|
Winbond Electronics W83697HF |
X |
X |
|
Winbond Electronics W83781D |
X |
X |
|
Winbond Electronics W83782D |
X |
X |
|
Winbond Electronics W83783S |
X |
X |
Figs. 6.15–6.18 show examples illustrating the operation of the MBM program.
Figure 6.15: Operation of the MBM program (v. 4.17)
Figure 6.16: Customization of the MBM program (v. 5.05)
Figure 6.17: Operation of the MBM program (v. 5.05)
Figure 6.18: MBM (v. 5.05)
Tables 6.8–6.19 briefly outline the parameters of the motherboards from several leading manufacturers. These motherboards, according to the data provided by the MBM developer, are supported by MBM v. 5.3. These tables list the chips integrated into the motherboard architecture to ensure the capabilities of monitoring the most important parameters.
|
Motherboard |
Monitoring chip |
Temperature sensor within the case |
CPU temperature sensor |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AT7 |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
AT7 MAX2 |
W83627HF |
Winbond 2 |
LM90 or Winbond 1 |
|
BD7 II |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
BD7 RAID |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
BE6 |
W83783S |
Winbond 2 |
Winbond 1 |
|
BE6-2 |
W83782D |
Winbond 1 or 3 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
BE7 RAID |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
BF6 |
W83782D |
Winbond 3 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
BG7 |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
BH6 |
LM79 |
LM79 |
- |
|
BL7 |
W83782D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
BM6 |
W83782D |
Winbond 3 |
Winbond 2 |
|
BP6 |
W83782D |
Winbond 3 |
Winbond 2 or 1 |
|
BW7 |
W83697HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
BX133 RAID |
W83782D |
Winbond 3 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
BX6 |
LM79 |
LM79 |
- |
|
BX6-2 |
W83782D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
IT7 |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
KA7-100 |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 2 |
VIA686A 3 |
|
KG7 |
VIA686B |
VIA686B 2 |
VIA686B 3 |
|
KG7 RAID |
VIA686B |
VIA686B 2 |
VIA686B 3 |
|
KR7A RAID |
W83697HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
KT7 |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 2 |
VIA686A 3 |
|
KT7 RAID |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 2 |
VIA686A 3 |
|
KT7A |
VIA686B |
VIA686B 2 |
VIA686B 3 |
|
KT7A RAID |
VIA686B |
VIA686B 2 |
VIA686B 3 |
|
KX7 |
W83697HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
KX7 RAID |
W83697HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
NF7-S |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
NV7 133R |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
SA6R |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
SA7 |
SiS950/ITE8705F |
SiS950/ITE8705F 2 |
SiS950/ITE8705F 1 |
|
SE6 |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
SH6 |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
SR7-8X |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
ST6-RAID |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
TH7 II RAID |
W83782D or W83627HF |
Winbond 3 or 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
VA6 |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 3 |
VIA686A 2 |
|
VH6 |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 3 |
VIA686A 2 |
|
VP6 |
VIA686B |
VIA686B 1 |
VIA686B 2 or 3 |
|
VT6X4 |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 3 |
VIA686A 2 |
|
ZM6 |
W83782D |
Winbond 3 |
Winbond 2 |
|
Motherboard |
Monitoring chip |
Temperature sensor within the case |
CPU temperature sensor |
|---|---|---|---|
|
V66M |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
Veriton 3200PC |
ADM1024 |
ADM1024 1 |
ADM1024 2 |
|
Motherboard |
Monitoring chip |
Temperature sensor within the case |
CPU temperature sensor |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ATC 6220 |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
Motherboard |
Monitoring chip |
Temperature sensor within the case |
CPU temperature sensor |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AK 73 |
VIA686B |
VIA686B 1 |
VIA686B 2 |
|
AK 77Pro |
W83697HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
AX 34 |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 1 |
VIA868A 2 |
|
AX 6BC |
GL518SM |
- |
GL518SM |
|
AX 6L |
GL518SM |
- |
GL518SM |
|
AX 6S |
W83627HF |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 (P2 diode) |
|
MX 64 |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 1 |
VIA686A 2 |
|
Motherboard |
Monitoring chip |
Temperature sensor within the case |
CPU temperature sensor |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A7A266 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7M266 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7M266 D |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7N266 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7N266 C |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7N266 VM |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7N8X |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 and W83L785TS-S |
|
A7N8X |
ASB100 |
Asus 2 |
Asus 1 and W83L785TS-S |
|
A7S333 |
SiS950/ITE8705F |
SiS950/ITE8705F 1 |
SiS950/ITE8705F 2 |
|
A7V |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7V Pro |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7V133 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7V266 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7V266 E |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
A7V333 |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 or 4 |
|
A7V8X |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 socket or 4 |
|
CUBX |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUBX E |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUBX L |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUR DLS |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUSL2 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 CUSL2 |
|
CUSL2 C |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 CUSL2 |
|
CUSL2 LS |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 CUSL2 |
|
CUSL2 M |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 CUSL2 |
|
CUV266 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUV4X |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUV4X C |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUV4X D |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUV4X DLS |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUV4X E |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUV4X M |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
CUV4X V |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
K7M |
W83782D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
K7V |
W83782D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
K7V T |
W83782D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
KN87X |
LM78 |
LM78 |
- |
|
MEW AV rev 1.6 |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P2B |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P2B D |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P2B DS |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P2B F |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P2B L |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P2B LS |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P2B S |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P2L97 |
LM78 |
LM78 |
- |
|
P2L97 DS |
LM78 |
LM78 |
- |
|
P2L97 S |
LM78 |
LM78 |
- |
|
P3B F |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P3C 2000 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P3C D |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 or 3 |
|
P3C E |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P3C L |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P3C LS |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P3C S |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P3V 133 |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P3V 4X |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4B |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4B533 |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4B533 E |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4B533 V |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4B533 VM |
Mozart2 |
Mozart2-2 |
Mozart2-1 |
|
P4G8X |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4G8X Deluxe |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4PE |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4S333 |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Mozart2-1 |
|
P4S533 |
ASB100 |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4S533 VM |
Mozart2 |
Mozart2-2 |
Mozart2-1 |
|
P4S8X |
ASB100 |
Asus 2 |
Asus 1 |
|
P4T |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4T 533C |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4T E |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P4T F |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
P5A |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
P5A B |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
Terminator P4 |
Mozart2 |
Mozart2-2 |
Mozart2-1 |
|
TUA266 |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
TUSI M |
SiS950/ITE8705F |
SiS950/ITE8705F 1 |
SiS950/ITE8705F 2 |
|
TUSL2 C |
AS99127F |
Asus 1 |
Asus 2 |
|
TX97 |
LM78 |
LM78 |
LM75 2 |
|
TX97 E |
LM78 |
LM78 |
LM75 2 |
|
TX97 LE |
LM78 |
LM78 |
LM75 2 |
|
TX97 X |
LM78 |
LM78 |
LM75 2 |
|
TX97 XE |
LM78 |
LM78 |
LM75 2 |
|
TX97 XV |
LM78 |
LM78 |
LM75 2 |
|
Motherboard |
Monitoring chip |
Temperature sensor within the case |
CPU temperature sensor |
|---|---|---|---|
|
6ATA2 |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 3 |
VIA686A 2 |
|
6BTM |
W83781D |
Winbond 1 |
Winbond 2 |
|
6LTMPII |
LM78 |
LM78 |
- |
|
7AJA |
VIA686A |
VIA686A 3 |
VIA686A 2 |
|
7AJA 2E |
VIA686B |
VIA686B 3 or 1 |
VIA686B 2 or 3 |
|
7KDD |
ITE8712F |
ITE8712F 3 |
ITE8712F 1 and 2 |
|
7NJS |
ITE712 |
LM90 |
LM90 |
|
7VJ D/2 |
SiS950/ITE705 |
SiS950/ITE705 2 |
SiS950/ITE705 1 |
|
7VJ L |
SiS950/ITE705 |
SiS950/ITE705 2 |
SiS950/ITE705 1 |
|
9E JL1 |
ITE8712F |
ITE8712F 1 |
ITE8712F 2 |
