All PCs and servers on your network emit heat but there is a limit to the amount of heat a computer can withstand before damage is done to hardware.
CPU temperature monitors enable you to monitor CPU temperature from one location. Monitoring the temperature allows you to identify when hardware devices are overheating and gives you a chance to fix the problem before any damage is done to the device – which is vitally important for network troubleshooting.
Here is our list of the eleven best CPU Load & Temperature Monitor tools:
- SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor EDITOR’S CHOICE Part of the Engineer’s Toolset, this monitoring tool spots when a server is being overused. Excessive use can lead to high CPU temperatures and alerts in the monitor trigger alarms when activity gets too intense. Start a 14-day free trial.
- Paessler CPU Monitoring with PRTG (FREE TRIAL) This all-in-one infrastructure monitor includes several sensors that accurately measure server temperature, either through SNMP or through WMI.
- HWMonitor A hardware monitoring tool with temperature and fan speed monitoring. It is compatible with sensor chips including the ITE IT87 series and Winbond ICs.
- NZXT CAM This is a system monitoring tool that is provided for free by a build-it-yourself gaming PC supplier. Runs on Windows.
- Open Hardware Monitor An open-source hardware monitoring platform. It monitors temperature sensors, fan speeds, voltages, load, and clock speeds.
- Core Temp Temperature mentor that takes system information from the Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) of computer processors. It has a Core Temp Monitor app for Windows and Android phones.
- HWiNFO Free hardware and temperature monitoring tool. The tool comes with real-time monitoring capabilities and a customizable alert system.
- Atera A cloud-based remote monitoring and management platform that includes device and server monitoring for a range of metrics, such as CPU metrics.
- SpeedFan A piece of software that monitors the voltage, fan speed, and temperature of computers. It also allows the user to control fan speeds and reduce noise.
- AIDA64 Extreme Hardware monitor with support for over 250 different types of sensors that can monitor temperature, voltage, fan speed, and power. It is available for all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.
- Rainmeter Top CPU temperature monitor for Windows devices that monitors core temperatures, CPU, disk usage, and RAM. It includes customizable skins that you can use to build a unique monitoring environment.
The Best CPU Temperature Monitor Software
Our methodology for selecting a CPU temperature monitor
In this section, we review the best CPU load & temperature monitors to help you stay on top of failing hardware on your network. We analyzed the following features of each tool:
- Includes temperature read-outs per core
- Identifies motherboard temperature
- Includes thresholds on CPU temperature and a connected alert mechanism
- Can also monitor fan speed and status
- Additionally monitors processor activity
- Shows the CPU clock speed
- Allows a free period for assessment
- Offers good value for money with respect to the number of functions the software provides
Features Comparison Table
| Product/Features | SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor | Paessler CPU Monitoring with PRTG | HWMonitor | NZXT CAM | Open Hardware Monitor | Core Temp | HWiNFO | Atera | SpeedFan | AIDA64 Extreme | Rainmeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accuracy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Depends on plugin |
| Real-Time Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Logging Capability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Depends on plugin |
| Alerts and Notifications | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Depends on plugin |
| Multi-Core Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Depends on plugin |
| System Tray Display | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compatibility | Windows | Windows | Windows | Windows | Windows, Linux | Windows | Windows | Cloud-based | Windows | Windows | Windows |
| Graphical Display | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Other Hardware Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Depends on plugin |
| Ease of Use | High | High | Medium | High | Medium | High | Medium | High | Low | High | Medium |
| Free Trial | 14-day free trial | 30-day free trial | 30-day Free Trial | No | No | Free | Free | 30-day Free Trial | Free | 30-day Free Trial | Free |
1. SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor EDITOR’S CHOICE
The SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor is part of the Engineer’s Toolset, which is a bundle of more than 60 monitoring and entire system management utilities. The CPU Load Monitor can track the performance of network devices and watch to make sure their hardware doesn’t get overloaded.
Key Features:
- Autodiscovery
- Spots capacity issues
- Live reports
- Alerts
- Notifications by email or SMS
Why do we recommend it?
SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor isn’t designed for just one device, but it can monitor the CPU load on all devices on a network. The tool includes an autodiscovery service that sets up the parameters of the monitoring tool for each device.
Network devices rarely include mechanisms to measure temperature. So, there just isn’t a temperature metric to pick up from switches or routers. However, heat is usually only generated by these devices when they get overworked and the electronic elements that will create heat when overloaded are the CPU and the interfaces. The CPU Load Monitor measures these components and tracks their activity live in the Engineer’s Toolset’s dashboard.
The CPU Load Monitor starts its service by searching the network for all connected devices and lists them in an inventory. Once that autodiscovery phase has been completed, each listed device will automatically be monitored and one of the tracked factors in the CPU load. The CPU load monitor also records interface statistics and memory utilization, so all of the elements inside a network device that could overheat are watched by the CPU Load Monitor.
The monitor automatically sets threshold levels on all of the performance statuses that it tracks. These can be adjusted manually. When a threshold is crossed, the CPU Load Monitor generates an alert. This alert is shown on the dashboard and is also sent out to key personnel as an email or SMS message. This facility means that technicians don’t have to sit watching the panel always for signs of overheating. The threshold levels should be set so that the warning gives staff enough time to take preventative measures before any physical damage or performance impairment occurs.
Who is it recommended for?
The CPU Load Monitor is most suitable for the administration of large networks. Although the managers of all sizes on networks need to watch over the CPU utilization of all routers and switches, that task becomes impossible to perform manually when you have many devices to watch.
Pros:
- Utilizes simple yet effective alarms for long-term proactive CPU temperature monitoring
- Part of a larger toolset specifically designed network admins and IT technicians that contains tons of additional troubleshooting tools
- Alerts can be set to email, SMS, or webhook to fit into virtually any alerting platform
- Uses autodiscovery to find new devices on a network automatically
- Can accurately measure the temperature of PC, server, or server host
Cons:
- Would like to see a longer trial period to test all of the tools
The Engineer’s Toolset, including the CPU Load Monitor, is available from SolarWinds on a 14-day free trial.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
The CPU Load Monitor is part of the Engineer’s Toolset, a one-stop-shop for all network troubleshooting needs. You can monitor multiple routers concurrently and set warnings and alarm thresholds with ease. One of the best options available today.
Download: Get 14-day Free Trial
solarwinds.com/engineers-toolset/use-cases/cpu-monitor: solarwinds.com/engineers-toolset/
OS: Windows
While this package gives you all of the tools that any network manager would need, you can expand your toolset further by investing in the SolarWinds 5 Essential IT Tools. This package gives you the Engineer’s Toolset along with Dameware Remote Support, which gives your support technicians all the tools they need to do their work. It also includes the Web Help Desk to enable users to open support requests. The other two tools in the bundle are the Serv-U FTP Server, which can create task automation workloads, and the Kiwi CatTools, which gives you network device configuration management. The whole package runs on Windows Server and you can get it on a 14-day free trial.
2. Paessler CPU Monitoring with PRTG (FREE TRIAL)
Paessler PRTG is an all-in-one infrastructure monitor that covers networks, servers, and applications. When looking for a temperature monitor, there are several different systems that you could choose. The PRTG service is a bundle of sensors and every customer gets shipped the full set. When starting up the software, the systems device manager has to decide which sensors to turn on and so is able to tailor the system to adjust the necessary monitors.
Key Features:
- SNMP manager
- Reports on device conditions
- Uses WMI
- Live device load tracking
Why do we recommend it?
The Paessler PRTG CPU Monitoring tool will watch over the CPU utilization of all of the devices connected to your network, which includes endpoints, switches, and routers. A system of alerts means that you don’t even have to look at the console of the monitor in order to catch problems with CPU availability.
The PRTG package of sensors includes several monitors that can pick up temperature information either from servers or network devices. Temperature performance is one of the factors that can be reported through SNMP and PRTG has a sensor for that. However, not every hardware provider implements procedures to report on temperature by that method.
PRTG includes monitors that pick up CPU performance data on Windows servers through WMI. A sensor for Linux servers also monitors CPU performance managed by that operating system. PRTG has a total of nine different sensors that are capable of looking for temperature information gathered on servers and network devices. If none of your equipment has an actual thermometer inside, there is no way for any system monitor to collect temperature information. However, in those cases, monitoring CPU load on all devices acts as a proxy statistic for temperature statuses.
Who is it recommended for?
As with the SolarWinds tool, the PRTG CPU Monitoring service is a bidder help to the managers of large networks. However, the free tier of PRTG makes this assistance accessible to small businesses as well.
Pros:
- Allows admins to scale their monitoring efforts easily using the PRTG ecosystem
- Can be configured to measure only temperature, and then easily modified to expand that scope
- Pricing is based on the number of sensors, giving it scalability and flexibility for any size network
- Features a number of pre-configured sensors that are ready to use out-of-box
- Allows users to build their own sensors based on their individual needs
- Uses CPU load monitoring for devices without thermometers
Cons:
- Is a feature-rich platform so be prepared for a learning curve
Paessler makes PRTG available on a 30-day free trial. This is the full version of the monitoring system and you can activate all of the sensors you want during the trial period
Read More: Best Hardware Monitoring Tools
3. HWMonitor
HWMonitor is a hardware monitoring tool for Windows that monitors computer temperatures, voltages, and fans. The software monitors the hard drive and video card GPU temperature. These metrics give you a strong indication of the overall health of a device.
Key Features:
- Temperature, fan, and voltage monitors
- Free version
- Low CPU usage
Why do we recommend it?
The big advantage of HWMonitor is that it has a free version and the paid options are very cheap. You can centrally monitor the CPU availability of all of your hosts. A demerit of this system in comparison to higher-placed services on this list is that it doesn’t monitor network devices.
There is also an extended version of HWMonitor called HWMonitor PRO, which costs $22.10 (£17.08) for 10 remote connections or $38.71 (£29.92) for up to 20 remote connections. HWMonitor Pro adds remote monitoring, graph generation, and an improved user interface.
Who is it recommended for?
The free service is a good option for very small businesses and the paid editions are good options for SMBs that run a fleet of endpoints. Larger organizations would be better off with a system monitor that includes CPU monitoring along with server and network monitoring.
Pros:
- Freeware, with paid options for remote monitoring
- A great option for home labs and smaller networks
- Available for both Linux and Windows
Cons:
- Interface isn’t customizable making it difficult to track only the metrics you want
- Could use better visualization features when reporting over longer periods of time
When using the PRO version you can monitor multiple PCs in a list view. Next to each device you can view the Value, Min, and Max temperatures of hardware components. The list perspective makes it easier to monitor multiple devices at once. You can download the program for free.
4. NZXT CAM
NZXT CAM is a free onboard system monitoring tool that is provided by a self-build games PC components producer. It is possible to set up a login account for the tool but it isn’t necessary. You can use the system as the Guest account for free straightaway. CPU temperature, clock speed, and fan status are three of the metrics that are available on the PC Monitoring screen.
Key Features:
- Easy to install
- CPU statistics
- GPU information
Why do we recommend it?
NZXT CAM has the most attractive interface of all of the CPU monitoring systems on this list. The first two tabs of the tool show useful system information and all of the subsequent tabs display advertisements for NZXT products. The advertising is not intrusive.
Not all of the statistics in the utility will have values. For example, if your PC doesn’t have a graphics processing unit, threw is a whole action of the screen that will be useless and very few fans include status reporting processes. However, you will get CPU temperature. The tool is only available for Windows and you can download it for free.
Who is it recommended for?
NZXT CAM is an onboard tool, so it reports on the device on which it is installed – it can’t report across a network. You would have to install the software on every PC, which would be tedious for system administrators of large businesses and not ideal for managed service providers.
Pros:
- Live hardware statistics
- Attractive and well-laid-out display
- Free to use
Cons:
- Can’t be accessed remotely
This tool is most suitable for small businesses and home use.
5. Open Hardware Monitor
Open Hardware Monitor is an open-source hardware monitoring solution that monitors the temperature, fan speed, load, voltage, and clock speed of computers. The tool supports common hardware chips meaning it can be deployed in a range of environments. The user interface displays the data pulled from temperature sensors in a list format – making it easy to find mission-critical devices and maintain them.
Key Features:
- Free to use
- Monitors temperature, voltage, clock speed, and fan speed
- Runs on Windows and Linux
Why do we recommend it?
Open Hardware Monitor tracks issues with the device that hosts it, so this isn’t a networked solution. However, its good points are that it monitors many hardware aspects, not just CPU, and that it is free of charge.
Open Hardware Monitor is recommended for those users who want to use a low-cost, open-source temperature monitoring platform. Open Hardware Monitor is available for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and Linux. You can download the program for free.
Who is it recommended for?
The Open Hardware Monitor is a great choice for home computers and very small businesses that have individual PCs rather than networked systems. A good feature of this package is that it is available for Linux as well as for Windows.
Pros:
- Is a free open-source transparent project
- Can measure other metrics like fan speed, clock speed, and voltage alongside temperature readings
- Better suited for home PCs and enthusiasts
Cons:
- Only available for Windows
- No management console, cannot monitor multiple machines at the same
- Not ideal for a business environment
6. Core Temp
Core Temp is a temperature monitoring tool that can monitor Intel processors, AMD, and VIAprocessors in real-time. The program uses data taken from the Digital Thermal Sensor(DTS) of each processing core. The software collects the data and then displays it on the screen so the user can take an accurate temperature reading.
Key Features:
- Focused on temperature
- Reports metrics measured by the core
- Extensible
Why do we recommend it?
Core Temp is easy to install and it is free to use. The tool will warn you if your PC is getting to the point of overheating but it also provides a range of live hardware status reports.
There are multiple add-ons available for Core Temp so the user can add additional capabilities. For example, the Core Temp Monitor app allows users to monitor devices on Windows and Android phones. The Core Temp Grapher plug-in creates a visual display that creates a graph for each processor core showing load percentage and core temperature.
Who is it recommended for?
Core Temp is a good tool for people who run older PCs that need closer monitoring than new computers that have sophisticated hardware monitors built into them. The tool is more appropriate for home use than for businesses.
Pros:
- Supports an Android and iPhone app for remote monitoring
- Is completely free for personal use
- Barebones interface makes the tool very lightweight and resource conservative
Cons:
- Relies on a plugin for additional functionality for visuals, would like to see this built into the product itself
- Great for home use, but not detailed enough to support a large network
- Lack alerting features
Core Temp is available for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8,10, 2003 Server, 2008 Server, 2012 Server, and 2016 Server. For commercial use, you have to purchase a commercial license. You can request a quote from the company directly. Download Core Temp for free.
7. HWiNFO
HWiNFO is a real-time system and temperature monitoring solution for Windows. With HWiNFO you can monitor hardware elements like CPUs, GPUs, drives, mainboards, and more to discover performance issues. The user interface is easy to navigate and you can view in-depth performance data by clicking through the infrastructure hierarchy.
Key Features:
- Free to use
- Always on
- Provides a Desktop sidebar
Why do we recommend it?
HWiNFO is free for home use and it can monitor a range of hardware factors on Windows PCs, such as temperature, CPU activity, and RAM. The tool can be networked and when implemented in combination with Lansweeper can provide automated monitoring for a fleet of endpoints.
Customizable alerts help to keep track of overheating and performance degradation. There are also add-ons you can use to augment the monitoring experience. For instance, the HWiNFOMonitor plugin adds a customizable sidebar which displays CPU performance with bars and graphs.
Who is it recommended for?
The basic, free HWiNFO is intended for home use. The paid versions are designed for small businesses. Medium-sized and large enterprises would be better looking for a combined system monitoring package for networks, servers, and applications.
Pros:
- Extremely detailed, includes metrics not found in other tools like cache sizes, ratio, clocks speed per core, and timing information
- Can track other metrics such as GPU and disk utilization
- Is fully customizable
- Offers built-in visualizations
Cons:
- Cluttered interface makes it difficult to track metrics on devices with many parts like servers or hosts
- Only available for Windows
- Not for non-technical users
- Lack proactive features like robust alerting options and inventory management\
HWiNFO is ideal for enterprises that require a free CPU monitoring solution. The tool is available HWiNFO32 for Windows 32-bit and HWiNFO64 for Windows 64-bit. You can download the program for free.
Read more: Step-By-Step CPU Benchmark Test
8. Atera
Atera is a cloud-based platform that includes all of the software that a managed service provider (MSP) needs to run its business. The remote monitoring and management (RMM) module of the system includes monitoring screens for networks, servers, endpoints, and applications.
Key Features:
- Designed for MSPs
- Monitors multiple sites
- Tracks device capacity utilization
Why do we recommend it?
Atera is a system that has been designed for use by managed service providers – although it is also available for use by in-house operations teams. In this package, which is called a Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) system, you get a collection of automated monitoring services that include CPU monitoring, so you get real value for money.
The home screen of the monitoring dashboard gives a system overview. Atera employs an alert-based system that notifies an administrator if there is anything wrong on the monitored system. So, it is easy to spot problems at a glance. From the summary screen, the operator can click through to see details of individual pieces of equipment.
The device, endpoint, or server monitoring screens include a range of statuses, including CPU performance data. These categories of feedback are all live and they include CPU temperature, utilization, and capacity. Other factors shown in the screen include fan performance, memory usage, disk activity, and I/O throughput rates.
Who is it recommended for?
The Atera package is best for managed service providers. Each account is multi-tenanted and includes server space that is similarly segmented.
Pros:
- Lightweight cloud-based monitoring application
- MSP/reseller focused, making this a great option to provide temperature readouts as a part of your service offering
- Offers some of the best visual dashboards and reporting capabilities compared to its competitors
- Can also list disk I/O, memory usage, fan speeds, disk capacity, ect, making this a more holistic tool for device health monitoring
- Product is a subscription service, making it affordable for any size network
Cons:
- Atera is an in-depth all-in-one product, it could take time to learn all of its feature and options
Atera is a subscription service with a rate per technician per month. The cloud-based dashboard is accessed through any standard browser, so you don’t need to host the Atera software on-premises. You can get a free trial to experience the platform for yourself.
9. SpeedFan
SpeedFan is a hardware monitor that monitors: temperature, fan speed, voltage, and hard disk temperatures. The software can also display S.M.A.R.T data from hard disks. With SpeedFan you can configure the program to change fan speeds remotely according to the system temperatures. For example, you can choose a minimum and maximum fan speed.
Key Features:
- Temperatures, voltage, and fan speed
- CPU and disk monitoring
- Free to use
Why do we recommend it?
SpeedFan is a free system that not only monitors fan speed but it can also intervene and change it. This is a great help if you have an older PC that tends to overheat. The system also monitors CPU activity.
The user interface is simple to use, and the platform automatically detects temperature sensors so you don’t need to waste time creating extensive configurations. However, if you want to engage with more complex configurations you can do so on the Advanced page. Here you can offset inaccurate temperature readings and control fan speed.
Similarly, if you want to view visual displays then you can do so through the Charts window. The Charts window displays performance charts that allow you to choose what metrics you want to monitor. Simply enter the start and end time of your reading, what elements you want to monitor, and the values you want to see.
Who is it recommended for?
This tool runs on Windows and it monitors the computer on which it is installed. The system is free to use and it isn’t really suitable for business use.
Pros:
- Simple installation that begins pulling metrics immediately
- Built for individual machine monitoring with a simple interface
- Collects S.M.A.R.T data as well as detailed metrics about the status of your machine’s fans
- Helps users correlate fans speed with temperature
Cons:
- Not for larger networks
- Lacks long-term monitoring features
- Reporting features could use improvement
SpeedFan is available for Windows 9x, ME, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Windows 7, 2008, Windows 8, Windows 10, and 2012. You can download the tool for free.
10. AIDA64 Extreme
AIDA64 Extreme is a device monitor that monitors temperature, voltage, fan speeds, and power. AIDA64 supports over 250 different types of sensors meaning it works with most IT assets. The user interface is simple with a SensorPanel where you can build a custom panel to monitor temperature data and other information.
Key Features:
- Customizable dashboard
- Extensive device monitoring capabilities
- Version available for 32-bit systems
Why do we recommend it?
AIDA64 Extreme provides monitoring of a number of hardware features and a notable advantage of this tool is that it is available for macOS, Android, and iOS as well as Windows. However, it isn’t available for Linux.
One feature that is particularly useful for enterprise users is external display support. You can view hardware data on over 50 external LCD/VFD screens, including smartphones and tablets. Display support makes sure that you can see all of the information that you need.
Who is it recommended for?
The AIDA64 Extreme system provides processor diagnostics and so it is particularly useful for use with mission-critical hardware.
Pros:
- Monitors temperature as well as virtually all aspects of a devices performance and hardware specifications
- Designed for technicians, outputs very detailed measurements and incredibly detailed with over 250 sensors
- Supports external displays, ideal for network operation centers, or smartphone apps
Cons:
- Only available for Windows
- Licensing is marketed towards smaller networks, not enterprise companies
- Interface can feel overwhelming without customization
- Would like to see better-alerting features with more options
AIDA64 Extreme is available for all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. The tool is useful for users who want a low maintenance temperature monitor. You can purchase AIDA64 Extreme for home users from $39.95 (£30.87) for three PCs. You can download the 30-day free trial.
11. Rainmeter
Rainmeter is a free, open-source CPU temp monitor for Windows. Rainmeter can monitor data on temperature, CPU, RAM, disk usage, and more. There is a range of skins that make this possible. Skins are essentially small tools that you can customize the layout of. The user can create monitoring skins, use one of the starter packs or install a plugin.
Key Features:
- Attractive interface
- Free to use
- Reports on resource utilization and temperature
Why do we recommend it?
Rainmeter provides an attractive display of system hardware statuses for Windows PC. The great feature of this tool is that it is free to use.
For example, the CoreTemp plugin allows the user to pull information from the CoreTemp application. The advantage of doing this is that you can use skins to control how you see information on the screen.
Skins are drag-and-drop so you can create a custom monitoring panel for better visibility. You can also use one of the starter skins so you don’t have to create any if you don’t want to.
Who is it recommended for?
Rainmeter is a competent tool that shows an easy-to-recognize percentage utilization graphic that you can customize. The tool has a friendly user community and is a great service for home users.
Pros:
- Sleek minimalist design is both lightweight and nice to look at
- Completely free, open-source, and transparent
- Track temperature, CPU, RAM, and disk metrics
- Can apply custom skins via plugin or pre-made start pack
- Uses drag and drop menus to customize your dashboard
Cons:
- Marketed towards hobbyist and home users, not the best option for larger networks
- Great for non-technical users, but lacks detailed metrics
- Lacks a robust reporting feature for long-term monitoring
- Lacks device management capabilities for bigger networks
If you’re looking for a customizable tool that’s accessible for non-technical users then Rainmeter is an excellent choice. Rainmeter is available from Windows 7 to Windows 10. It’s available as a free download.
Which CPU monitoring software works on Windows?
| Name | Platform | Price |
|---|---|---|
| SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor | Windows | Free trial |
| HWMonitor | Windows | Free version available |
| Open Hardware Monitor | Windows, Linux | Free |
| Core Temp | Windows | Free |
| Paessler CPU Monitoring with PRTG | Windows, Linux, Mac | Free trial |
| HWiNFO | Windows | Free |
| SpeedFan | Windows | Free |
| AIDA64 Extreme | Windows | Free trial |
| Rainmeter | Windows | Free |
CPU Load & Temperature Monitors: Stop Your Devices from Overheating
CPU temperature monitors make it easier to monitor the heat of an entire network of devices. SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor (with ETS), Atera, PRTG, HWMonitor, and Open Hardware Monitor are all reliable solutions for monitoring CPU performance. Implementing regular hardware monitoring with CPU monitors will make sure your devices stay available year-round.
CPU Temperature Monitors FAQs
How do I see CPU temp on my desktop?
There isn’t a CPU temperature monitor in your operating system. In order to get information about CPU temperature, you would have to go down to the BIOS. It is much easier to install a monitoring tool. We recommend the SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor to check on heat-generating activities or the HWMonitor, which interprets BIOS data in a GUI interface.
Why is my CPU temperature 70 degrees on an idle laptop?
A CPU temperature of 70 degrees Celsius is normal when the computer is very active. However, when idle, the CPU’s temperature should be around 45 degrees. A high temperature implies that the CPU is not really idle, but has a heavy workload put on it by background tasks and services. If the CPU monitor shows that this is not the case, then the high temperature could be a sign of a broken fan.
How do I check my CPU usage?
In Windows, CPU usage is displayed as a live metric in the Task Manager.
- Right-click on the Task Bar at the bottom of the screen and select Task Manager from the pop-up menu.
- Wait for the Task Manager to open and then click con the Performance tab.
- Click on CPU at the top of the left-hand options list to see a live graph of CPU performance.
How do I monitor my GPU temperature?
If you have a graphics processing unit in your computer, you can see its temperature in the Task Manager of Windows 10.
- Right-click on the taskbar and click on Task Manager in the popup menu.
- When the Task Manager opens, click on the Performance tab.
- Scroll down the left-hand menu to find GPU. The mini display there includes the GPU temperature in Celsius.
What CPU temperature is too high?
There are many factors to be taken into account when working out what is an acceptable CPU temperature. However, as a rule of thumb, for an Intel processor, a temperature of more than 40 degrees Celsius when it is inactive is worrying and a temperature of more than 85 degrees Celsius when it is under full load is a cause for concern.
What is a normal CPU temperature at full load?
For Intel processors, generally, the normal CPU temperature at full load is between 50 and 60 degrees Celsius. Intel Celeron processors run hotter at about 65 to 80 degrees Celsius under full load. AMD processors don’t have as much variability per model as Intel processors. They shouldn’t go above 70 degrees Celsius under full load.
What do I do if I don't get a CPU temperature reading?
If you are using a temperature monitor and it doesn’t give you a reading, the chances are that the program you chose is not compatible with the status output mechanism of your CPU temperature gauge. Picking a different temperature monitoring package might solve the problem.
Can CPU temperature be wrong?
There are a number of factors in the chain of activity that goes into temperature reporting and if one of them is faulty, you will get an incorrect report, so CPU temperature monitoring can go wrong. To work out whether the temperature monitor is giving incorrect reports, look for illogical results. For example, if your CPU registers no activity and the fan is working properly but the monitor says that the temperature is high, the monitor is probably wrong.
Related post: CPU Monitoring Guide & Tools
HWMonitor is not open source.
Thanks Cem, we have corrected the error.