How to Check Your CPU Temperature

What’s the best temp for your CPU?

The maximum supported temperature varies from processor to processor. Most of the free monitoring software mentioned above lists the information as “Tj. Max. ” That stands for the temperature junction, or the highest operating temperature of the hardware. If you don’t see the information for some reason, search the CPU World website for your CPU’s model number to find the information. Every program listed above displays your processor’s model number, so it’s easy to find.

• Under 60° C: You’re running great!
• 60° C to 70° C: Still running fine, but getting a bit warmer. Consider cleaning the dust out of your PC if CPU temperatures continue to creep up over time.
• 70° C to 80° C: This is hotter than you want to run unless you’re pushing an overclock. If you’re not, definitely check to make sure your fans are working and there aren’t dust bunnies clogging up your system’s airflow.
• 80° C to 90° C: Now we’re getting too hot for long-term comfort. Check your hardware for broken fans or dust build-up, and if you’re overclocking, dial back your settings—especially the voltage if you’ve tweaked it. One notable exception: We sometimes see more powerful laptop processors hit the low 80s during gaming sessions when plugged in, at which point they start throttling back performance. This is expected, but if temperatures cross 85° C, be concerned.
• Over 90° C: Danger, Will Robinson!

Quick Summary of the Best CPU Temp Monitoring Software

Reboot your computer. Press the BIOS key when the logo screen comes up. Wait for the BIOS screen to come up. Find the Hardware Monitor. Check your CPU temperature.

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How to check CPU temp on Windows 10/11 from your BIOS/UEFI

Let’s start with the DIY method for checking the CPU temps on Window 10/11 PC. As the Windows OS doesn’t have built-in utility to show temps so you have to rely on your PC’s BIOS or UEFI.

Here’s how you’ll get started:

• Press Windows Logo + I to open Windows Settings.
• Select the Recovery tab in the left sidebar. The new sidebar should load alongside the Update & Recovery panel.
• Scroll down to the Advanced startup heading and select the Restart now button.
• Your device will power down as usual and begin to restart. It should interrupt just before your typical boot and login procedures, and it will provide several advanced startup options.
• Select the Troubleshoot button.
• Select the Advanced options button. This is also where you can view the system restore and startup settings, as well as other recovery options.

Although this method is very simply you don’t have to install any additional tool. But the only drawback is that you have to restart twice your PC to check CPU temperature.

What is the Ideal CPU Temp?

• Temperatures between 160°F (70°C) to 195°F (90°C) may be a cause for concern.
• Anywhere above that range? Your hardware is under serious stress at over 195°F (90°C).

What’s a Bad CPU Temperature?

It’s not possible to explain bad or normal CPU temperature because each CPU model has a different temperature range.

If you see idle CPU temperature and noticed that it is at 30 C, is that a good CPU temperature or bad idle CPU temperature? What about 40, 50, 60, or 70 C? That’s a debatable issue!

If you want to know what the max CPU temperature is, search the Web for the product page of your specific CPU, then find where it lists the max ideal CPU temperature for your processor.

If the CPU temperature is listed under something similar to “Maximum Operating Temperature” or “T Case

Then that’s the CPU temperature which you should strive to keep your processor under most of the time.

If it says “T Junction” (like above), the general advice is to keep CPU temperature at least 30 Celsius under this stated temperature.

(For the above example we’ll be striving to stay under 70 C. ) Either way, if your PC is under this CPU temp for most (or, ideally, all!) of the time, you’re doing fine.

About This Article

To find the CPU temperature on a PC, install the free Core Temp app and open it from the Start menu. If you’re using a Mac, you can use Fanny, a free widget that runs in the menu bar, to monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures.

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Why do you Need Reliable Temperature Monitoring Software for your PC?

No doubt Intel and AMD CPUs have become faster quick but at the same time problems of CPU overheating and temperature has also increased. If your CPU gets too hot then you need to take proper measures to protect your PC from the horrors of overheating.

The free CPU temperature monitor for Windows 10 will help you find when your CPU gets too hot. So that you can instantly see your current temperature and cool it down if needed.

Why is my CPU Overheating?

You will only encounter intense heat when you are running multiple programs or games at once. The temp spikes are linked with the heavey tasks or the CPU that is overclocked.

There are also other factors that you should be aware of.

• Older hardware is more susceptible because of lower heat tolerances at the date of manufacture.
• Thinner builds with performance components can also sometimes get too hot for comfort, simply because there’s more opportunity for heat to travel.

What are the Best CPU Temperature Monitor Software For Windows 10 PC?

You will also feel that each PC monitoring software has its bells and whistles. So, it will be up to you to decide which CPU temp monitoring software for Windows you like the most.

Core Temp

Starting with the list of best CPU temp monitoring software we have placed AlCPU Core Temp in the first place. Why because it’s a lightweight, compact, yet powerful tool that will help you monitor your PC’s CPU temp. This tool is designed to perform only one task and that is to display individual CPU core temp, voltage, model, frequency, and TJ. Max ratio.

This tool displays the most accurate temp readings without any fuss. Just download and install Core Temp’s latest version on Windows 10 and open it (During installation makes sure that you uncheck all unwanted bloatware). It will add up in the system tray to keep you on top of your temp readings. This temp monitor support all x86-based processors of Intel and AMD.

To show you quick and accurate readings Core Temp utilizes Digital Thermal Sensors (DTS) that all x86 CPUs placed on them. You can also download Core Temp on Windows 11, 10, 7, 8, Vista, and XP.

HWMonitor

HWMonitor is the most popular CPU temperature monitoring tool cum system hardware monitor. Not only you can monitor what your current CPU temp is, but you can also get a complete picture of your PC’s internal hardware. At a glance, you can see core voltage, operating frequency, load, GPU temp, fan speed, storage devices, and many more.

If you are confused about what readings are useful and which to ignore then read our post on how to read HWMonitor. If you are new to this software then that post will help you understand HWMonitor.

We are a big fan of this computer temperature monitor because once you download HWMonitor you won’t need to ask that old rusty question that how to check CPU temperature on Windows PC.

SpeedFan

SpeedFan may be older than Windows XP still it’s the best CPU temperature monitor software in 2021. Not only does it gives you accurate temp readings but it also lets you control PC fan speed. You can easily increase the CPU fan speed of your desktop PC or laptop so that it remains within the ideal RPM range. The whole purpose is to prevent overheating and enhance PC performance.

You can set up a warning in case the CPU temperature gets high. This way it will send you an email or pop-up notification to let you know that the computer temperature is getting high.

Download ALmico SpeedFan’s latest version, it is one of the best fan speed control software for windows. With this PC temp monitor, you can easily set up RPM to 100% under extreme circumstances.

To show accurate readings SpeedFan uses digital temperature sensors (DTS) placed on processors and provides reliable temperature readings. This free tool also supports Windows 7, 8, Vista, and XP.

MSI Afterburner

If you are a gamer and you want to push your gaming experience to the next level then MSI Afterburner is the best CPU temp monitor. It’s a PC overclocking tool with a built-in ability to monitor CPU, GPU, and fan speed.

If you know what you are doing then you can push your system’s graphical performance beyond its limit. MSI afterburner can help you to keep in touch with your system’s overall performance. Its new beta version is highly compatible with the windows 10 64-bit version.

MSI Afterburner also lets you monitor FPS while playing games. If you are new to this tool then you can enable the FPS counter in MSI Afterburner and constantly monitor the frame per second while playing your favorite games. Although Microsoft has introduced a built-in FPS counter in Windows 10 it’s not catchy as compared to this tool.

Read Also: Solved: MSI Afterburner Can’t Change Fan Speed

HWiNFO64

If you need a robust temp monitor that gives you tons of information instantly then HWiNFO64 is the best choice. It’s a complete system hardware monitor that not only displays CPU temp but also shows you GPU temp, drivers, mainboards, frequency, voltage, CPU and GPU model, Fan speed, and many more.

Read Also: HWiNFO64 Review: The best System Information Utility

NZXT CAM

Another best CPU temp monitoring software that gives you the complete package. It can monitor CPU temp, GPU temp, RAM usage, voltage, frequency, and fan speed. You can also run a stress test using its benchmarking features and overclock PC.

NZXT CAM’s latest version supports all kinds of intel and AMD CPU and GPU hence it shows accurate readings without eating up your RAM or Disk usage.

Just like MSI Afterburner, CAM also has an in-game FPS counter that gives you real-time readings on your FPS while running the game. This tool also has overheating alert feature that gives you an instant notification in case your CPU temp is rising unexpectedly.

Corsair Link 4

Corsair Link 4 software allows you to check your PC’s CPU temperature while giving complete control over your case fans, lighting, compatible Corsair power supplies, and Hydro Series liquid CPU coolers that work together for optimal cooling and performance.

Corsair Link 4 gives you an instant summary of how your system is performing, and you can monitor the temperature of your components. You can also allow this tool to automatically adjust cooling to meet your demands without even opening your case.

There are five main panels in Corsair Link: System, Groups, Graph, Power (AXi or HXi only), and Options. You can choose a variety of modes available that easily configure a custom fan curve for you.

Read Also: Fixed Corsair Link Not Controlling Fans

AIDA64 Extreme

Most professionals prefer AIDA64 Extreme because it’s not just a monitor temperature of your CPU but it’s a complete system hardware monitor cum benchmarking tool.

The latest version of AIDA64 Extreme is compatible with all Windows OS and Intel AMD CPUs. The AIDA64 Extreme is a free temp monitoring tool that gathers accurate reading and displays the result in detail. AIDA64 is a smart software that requires less space than average programs in your system’s hard drive.

The interface of this free monitoring tool is not stunning, but this free gadget is certainly appropriate for a system information utility.

It can monitor voltage, CPU temperature, and fan speed readings. You can run a CPU stress test on all AMD, and Intel 7 series chips. AIDA64 Extreme can support over 250 various sensor devices to measure temperatures, voltages, fan speeds, and power draw.

Real Temp

Real Temp is another free CPU temperature monitor software that shows you the real core temp of your processor. This lightweight tool is specifically developed to monitor the accurate temperature of Intel single Core, Dual Core, and Quad-Core CPUs.

It’s a free temp monitoring software for Windows PC. You can download Real Temp 3. 70 which is the latest version that is compatible with all Windows OS.

This CPU temp monitor gathers data using digital thermal sensors which are placed on each CPU core. RealTemp shows accurate information about the system’s main health. This CPU temperature monitor software tells you the capacity of the CPU being used, and the default maximum CPU temperature e. TJMax.

Unlike, other free CPU temperature monitoring tools the Real Temp portable version is also available. You can also set up an alarm that will notify you when the CPU starts overheating. It will ask you to take proper action.

Read Also: Real Temp Review: Best Tool For Intel CPU’s

Open Hardware Monitor

There are three types of tools available for Windows PC according to their needs. These are system hardware monitors, system information tools, and PC temperature monitors. The Open hardware monitor is the best combination of all those three tools.

It’s an advanced program that not only helps you see the system’s main health at glance. You can also use its temp readings to cool down the system. This tool can provide an accurate result of fans speed, voltages, CPU load, Clock speed, and CPU/GPU temperature simultaneously.

Open hardware monitor is free to download and it supports Windows 10 including its preceding versions.

With the open hardware monitor installed on your PC, you easily explore what computer hardware is installed. It can display the live CPU temperature and speed of internal fans.

not only it’s available in an installable version but you can also download open hardware portable version. It starts automatically with Windows so that you can always have the information before you.

Speccy

The best system information tool for Windows that can monitor CPU temperature accurately. If you want to know what specs your PC has then you should download Speccy.

Like other system information tools, speccy lists all information regarding your CPU temp, RAM, network, motherboard, graphics card, and audio devices in one go.

You can download Speccy’s portable and installable version according to your choice. Speccy is a free windows CPU temperature monitor that gives a detailed overview of hardware and software PC components.

Speccy is quick to download and install. Display results in summary. It is a reliable computer temperature monitoring tool that you can find on the internet.

Piriform’s Speccy supports all Windows operating systems and it’s regularly getting updates so you won’t find any glitches or errors.

Read Also: Speccy Review For Windows

Rainmeter

Rainmeter is a free attractive PC temperature monitor for Windows 10. If you want to monitor your system’s main health in style then this is the best tool for you.

As a Windows monitoring tool, Rainmeter supports Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista.

Read Also: Where To Download Rainmeter CPU Temp Monitor

CPU Thermometer

With Rainmeter can check CPU temperature and usage, drive space, RAM usage, network activity, and unread emails. upon close, it hides in the system tray so that you can easily see your system temp all the time.

Last but not least we have a CPU Thermometer a free lightweight CPU temperature monitoring tool for Windows. As its name suggests this tool has the sole purpose that is to monitoring CPU temperature in live time.

This temp monitoring program can start with Windows start-up, and show live CPU temperature in your desktop tray icon, so you get this important system information at a glance. This is completely freeware, easy to install, and easy to use.

CPU Thermometer will show CPUID, Frequency, Core Number, and CPU current temperature. The program provides some useful functions, when the CPU temperature is over some value that you set, it can show a warning message, shut down the computer, or reboot the computer. You can protect your CPU if you download a CPU Thermometer on your computer.

How To Check CPU Temperature on Windows 10/11 Using Third-Party Application

Third-party software privides the easiest and fastest way to check CPU temperature on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Instead of static readings the CPU temperature monitoring tools gives you more in-depth details.

There are several options out there that we have already covered in (13 Best CPU Temperature Monitor Software) You can use lots of their resources and compare services.

Here we have listed the top 5 popular free options.

Starting with the Core Temp which has simple and easy-to-use tool with clear temperature readouts for all of your CPU cores. Be careful during Core temp download and installation.

Because as a free program it tries to install bloatware, so you must uncheck some unwanted boxes during the Core Temp installation setup.

Core temp also displays the average CPU temperature reading at the bottom of the window.

With core temp, you can easily check CPU temperature on Windows 10/11 PC.

Core Temp isn’t the only computer temperature monitor tool for Windows 10/11. You can also try the HWInfo monitor.

The HWInfo gives you more in-depth system monitoring details as compare to Core Temp. You can get full details about every piece of your PC’s hardware.

If you choose to run it in sensors-only mode, scrolling down to the CPU section, the dedicated section, not the CPU temperature portion of the motherboard listing—reveals current CPU temps and other nitty-gritty details.

The HWInfo is available in two versions called HWInfo32 and HWInfo64. The HWInfo portable version is also there which doesn’t require installation.

NZXT’s Cam software is another popular option to check CPU temperature on Windows 10. The NZXT Cam temperature monitor is equipped with diverse skillsets.

Its slick interface is easier to read at a glance than those on most other CPU temp monitoring tools.

This CPU heat monitoring program shows all sorts of useful info about your CPU, graphics card(GPU temperature), memory, and storage.

NZXT Cam also includes an in-game FPS overlay and overclocking tools, among other features.

You can also download NZXT Cam mobile apps to check CPU temperature on mobile phones. The NZXT cam software keeps tabs on your PC temp when you’re away from your system.

With NZXT cam software installed in your system, you shouldn’t worry that how hot should my CPU be?

Another great open-source option that offers monitoring for a variety of components in a streamlined and customizable interface. It’s available for free, but you can donate to the developers.

These tools can quickly track your system information. Now you’ve got plenty of options! But to simply check the computer’s CPU temperatures, Core Temp’s our choice.

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