{"id":3529,"date":"2020-05-27T15:43:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T15:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviancetechnologies.com\/blog\/blog\/how-to-check-your-pcs-cpu-temperature\/"},"modified":"2020-05-27T15:43:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-27T15:43:00","slug":"how-to-check-your-pcs-cpu-temperature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviancetechnologies.com\/blog\/how-to-check-your-pcs-cpu-temperature\/","title":{"rendered":"How to check your PC’s CPU temperature"},"content":{"rendered":"

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How to check your PC’s CPU temperature<\/h2>\n

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Is your computer\u2019s CPU too hot? If your PC starts spontaneously shutting down, locking up, or acting sluggish during intense tasks, overheating could be the issue. Keeping tabs on your CPU temperatures is crucial when you\u2019re overclocking your PC\u2019s processor, too\u2014you don\u2019t want to accidentally push the performance pedal too far<\/em> to the metal when you\u2019re supercharging your pricey Core i9-10900K.<\/p>\n

Bizarrely, Windows doesn\u2019t offer any way to check your computer\u2019s CPU temperature. You could dive into your system\u2019s BIOS to find the information, but that\u2019s a lot of hassle to find a simple sensor reading. Fortunately, several free programs exist that make it easy to see your processor\u2019s temperature.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: We updated this article to include modern processors and updated cooling hardware recommendations throughout.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to check your CPU temperature<\/h2>\n

The fastest, easiest way to check your CPU temp is using the aptly named Core Temp<\/a>. Be mindful during installation though! Like many free programs, it tries to install bloatware unless you uncheck some boxes during setup.<\/p>\n

Once installed, open Core Temp to see a no-frills look at the current state of your CPU, including an average temperature reading at the bottom of the window. If you want even more detail, click the Show hidden icons<\/em> button in the system tray located at the right edge of your Windows taskbar. You\u2019ll see a temperature listing for every individual CPU core in your computer.<\/p>\n

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Per-core CPU temperature readings provided by the Core Temp app.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Core Temp\u2019s Settings menu allows you to tweak exactly what you\u2019ll see in the system tray, and how you\u2019ll see it, but the default configuration makes it dead-simple to see if your CPU is overheating or performing as expected.<\/p>\n

Core Temp isn\u2019t the only option though. HWInfo<\/a> is an in-depth system monitoring tool that provides deep details about every piece of your PC\u2019s hardware. If you choose to run it in sensors-only mode, scrolling down to the CPU section\u2014the dedicated section, not<\/em> the CPU temperature portion of the motherboard listing\u2014reveals current temps and other nitty-gritty details.<\/p>\n

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NZXT\u2019s Cam monitoring software.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NZXT\u2019s Cam software<\/a> is another popular option with a diverse skillset. Its slick interface is easier to read at a glance than those on most other monitoring tools, and the program shows all sorts of useful info about your CPU, graphics card, memory, and storage. Cam also includes an in-game FPS overlay and overclocking tools, among other features. You can use NZXT\u2019s Cam mobile apps to keep tabs on your software when you\u2019re away from your PC, too.<\/p>\n