How to check your PC’s CPU temperature

Is your computer’s CPU too hot? If your computer starts shutting down, locking up, or running sluggishly while performing intensive tasks, you may be experiencing overheating issues, especially during the hot summer months. It’s crucial to keep an eye on your CPU temperature while you’re at it Overclock your computer processorand you don’t want to accidentally press the performance pedal too far When you supercharge an expensive product (but worth every penny) Ryzen 7 7800X3Dafter all.

Oddly enough, Windows doesn’t provide any way to check your computer’s CPU temperature. You can dig into your system’s BIOS to find the message, but finding simple sensor readings can be cumbersome. Fortunately, there are several free programs that allow you to easily check your processor’s temperature. With this information, you’ll know if you need take more aggressive steps Let things cool down. We provide information on how to do this following the software recommendations below.

But first, make sure your fans and grilles are free of dust and debris that can seriously hinder your system’s cooling. For this reason, every computer owner should have a source of canned air.

How to check CPU temperature

The fastest and easiest way to check your CPU temperature is to use the appropriately named core temperature. But be careful when installing! Like many free programs, it attempts to Install bloatware software Unless you uncheck certain boxes during setup.

After installation, open Core Temp to easily view the current status of your CPU, including the average temperature reading at the bottom of the window. If you would like more details please click Show hidden icons Button in the system tray located on the right edge of the Windows taskbar. You will see a list of temperatures for each CPU core in your computer.

Core Temp’s settings menu lets you tweak exactly what appears in the system tray and how you view it, but the default configuration makes it easy to see if your CPU is overheating or functioning as expected.

How to monitor CPU temperature

But core temperature isn’t the only option. Hardware information is an in-depth system monitoring tool that provides in-depth detailed information about every part of your PC hardware. If you choose to run it in sensor-only mode, scroll down to the CPU section – Dedicated section, no CPU Temperature section in the motherboard inventory—Shows the current temperature and other specific details.

NZXT’s Cam software is another popular choice with diverse skills. Its sleek interface is easier to understand at a glance than most other monitoring tools, and the program displays a variety of useful information about your CPU, graphics card, memory, and storage. Cam also includes features such as in-game FPS coverage and overclocking tools. You can also use NZXT’s Cam mobile app to keep tabs on your software when you’re away from your PC.

Turn on the hardware monitor and speed fan are other well-respected monitoring tools that can track system information. You have a choice! But when it comes to simply checking your computer’s CPU temperature, Core Temp’s immediate focus is unmatched.

Finally, please note that if you are running an AMD Ryzen system, you may see two different CPU temperature readings. The “Tdie” reading you want depends on how the program you are using displays the information. It is a measurement of the actual heat on the wafer.

Another “Tctl” reading is the control temperature reported to the cooling system, sometimes including temperature offsets to ensure common fan speed behavior across various Ryzen chips. Any of the programs above already list a single temperature account for the offset.

How to check CPU temperature in Windows 10

Since the Microsoft operating system lacks any native temperature checking tools, you will need to use one of the third-party equations listed above to check the CPU temperature in Windows 10.

What is the optimal temperature for your CPU?

The maximum supported temperature varies by processor. Most of the free monitoring software mentioned above will list the information as “Tj. Maximum. This means temperature junctionor the maximum operating temperature of the hardware. If for some reason you don’t see this information, search for CPU World Website Find model information for your CPU. Each program listed above displays the model number of your processor, so it’s easy to find.

but that’s maximum Temperature – The temperature at which the processor crashes and shuts down to avoid damage. Regularly operating anywhere near this temperature is detrimental to the long-term life of the hardware. Instead, follow general rules of thumb regarding CPU temperatures under load.

• Below 60℃: You ran so well!
• 60°C to 70°C: Still working fine, but getting a little hot. If your CPU temperature continues to rise over time, consider cleaning your PC of dust.
• 70°C to 80°C: This is warmer than you want to run it unless you’re overclocking. If not, be sure to check to make sure your fans are working properly and there is no dust blocking the system’s airflow.
• 80°C to 90°C: Right now we’re too hot for long-term comfort. Check your hardware for broken fans or dust buildup, and if you’re overclocking, dial back your settings – especially the voltage (if you’ve adjusted it). One notable exception: We’ve sometimes seen more powerful laptop processors hit sub-80s when plugged in during gaming, at which point they start to lose performance. This is an expected result, but please be aware if the temperature exceeds 85° C.
• Above 90°C: Danger, Will Robinson!

How to lower CPU temperature

If you frequently experience high CPU temperatures, there are some steps you can take to try to resolve the problem.

First, clean your computer. Overheating of the CPU is usually caused by dust and dirt that has accumulated inside the PC over the years, clogging the fans and vital air passages. Your local hardware store often charges ridiculous prices for canned air, but you can get a bottle for about $1. Amazon $13. PCWorld’s Guide How to clean your computer can guide you through the entire process. When you do this, check to make sure all fans are working properly, Pointed in the right directionand all vents in the PC are not blocked. (Also, make sure Your computer fan is set for maximum cooling performance.)

Hope this solves the problem. If not, more intensive measures will be needed. If your PC is a few years old, the thermal paste that carries heat from the CPU to the cooler may have dried out. This can cause temperature spikes.

Removing the old thermal paste with rubbing alcohol and applying a new layer of thermal paste may help lower the temperature significantly. You can find small thermal paste syringes from well-known brands like Arctic night It’s available on Amazon for less than $10. (I used to be a happy person arctic silver 5 Been using it for years.

if all That It doesn’t help that your cooling solution may simply not be able to keep up with your CPU’s heat output, especially if you pair a stock cooler or a modest third-party cooler with a high-end chip if you’re overclocking. Buy a new CPU cooler A device may be a suitable choice.

Cooler Master Hyper H412 ($23) Amazon) is a solid, affordable air cooler. With its larger heatsink and fan, it’s a solid improvement over regular AMD and Intel CPU coolers. Noctua NH-D15 increases in size and price ($110) Amazon) is one of the most efficient air coolers ever made, but its large size may hinder memory access and won’t even fit in smaller cases.

Closed Loop Liquid Cooling solutions (CLC) provide significantly lower temperatures than air coolers with minimal hassle and ease of installation. Smaller 120mm units are available, but if you plan on overclocking, consider upgrading to a model with a larger 240mm radiator, or even a massive 360mm radiator if you’re using a high-end 9-series Intel or AMD chip .