While doing multi-tasking on your computer or laptop your computer gets heat and its cooling fan starts moving quickly which leads to heavy noise on your computer. At that moment, you obviously want to find out the temperature of your laptop/computer.
Keeping your CPU temperature cool is one way to take care of your pc. CPU is the brain of your computer, through which millions of tasks, calculations, and turning data into information to present it to users.
The performance of your computer depends on three main things: CPU, Memory capacity, and Input/output devices. If the CPU gets too hot, then your computer performance gets impacted by it. It happens because of many reasons like poor ventilation, dust, etc, we look into it at the end of this guide. Let’s start our guide on How to check CPU temperature on Windows 10 with or without using any external software.
Table of Contents
What temperature is Bad for your CPU?
Your processor must not exceed 75 degrees C( 167F), 60-74c is a normal range for your CPU temperature but if it becomes hotter than 75c then you have to worry.
If you want to know more about your CPU’s optimal temperature, then you have to search on the precise product page of your CPU and find out your processor’s optimal temperature. Now let’s see How to check CPU temperature in your Windows.
How to check CPU temperature in Windows
- Using BIOS
- Using Command Prompt
- Using third party
How to Check CPU temperature using BIOS
The power consumption is very tiny when your computer gets turned ON. So, the temperature which is viewed on the BIOS is not reflecting the normal temperature of your CPU while performing multi-tasking. BIOS is firmware that is used to perform hardware initialization during the booting process.
BIOS comes with pros and cons. Once you open BIOS on your computer, it shows the temperature right on the main screen of BIOS.
Also read: How to open BIOS in windows 2023
Step 1: First you have to open BIOS.
Step 2: After opening BIOS, select power, and you are easily able to view CPU temperature, Fan RPM, and other stats on your screen.
Check CPU temperature on windows using command prompt
Manufacturer provides many tools in-built for their users to check the temperature, rpm, etc. It includes tools like overclocking, checking temperature, etc. However, if you want to check temperature via tools provided by the manufacturer (command prompt):
Step 1: Click on the ‘Start‘ menu, type cmd, and press ‘Enter‘ to open a command prompt.
Step 2: Now in the command prompt, type the below command and press ‘Enter‘.
wmic baseboard get the product, manufacturer
Now, in your command prompt, you get the model name of your computer motherboard.
Step 3: Now, you have to search for that on the official website, then you can see tools that are provided for your motherboard. Select your tool and download them to check the CPU temperature of your tool.
Check the temperature of your windows computer using Third-party software
In the Internet market, there are various tools to measure CPU temperature but finding out the best, safest, most accurate, and the most affordable tool becomes difficult. You don’t have to worry below you going to see the best tools that take care of all concerns.
You also going to see how to see reading from your taskbar, it is very useful when you do some-intensive tasks and wants to keep eye on your processor temperature without opening third-party tools again and again.
Core Temp
This is one of the tools that many people used and trust in it, it is freeware you don’t need to pay. It focused more on the processor side, if you want to check your CPU temperature on windows 10 then this is a good choice. It also informs your processor’s T junction, power details, processor model, specs, TDP, min/max temperature, and load at each core…
- Download and install Core Temp.
- After installing, run, Core Temp
- Now you can see your processor status with temperature and core temperature at the bottom.
- Now for customization, click on settings then go to the Display tab. There you can set the color as per your wish.
- Now minimize the app and then open the system tray. There you can see CPU temperature.
That’s it for Core Temp on your Windows 10 computer.
HWMonitor
HWMonitor is a freeware tool for Windows 10, it is a hardware monitoring program that reads your PC system stats like voltages, temperatures, fan speed, etc. This software provides a lot of information including the temperature of each core of the CPU along with other parameters.
- Download HWMonitor on your computer.
- Now install it and allow it admin access when it asks for it.
- Now open the HWMonitor tool, it shows you a table of temperatures.
- Now for CPU temperature, expand your processor. There you can see CPU core temperature.
- That’s it!!
HWMonitor is loaded with other exciting features. You can also switch to dark mode.
MSI Afterburner
MSI Afterburner is an excellent tool to monitor your CPU temperature. It is designed by taking gamers in mind, that’s why this is a very good tool. In MSI Afterburner you can see a graph that shows GPU temperature, CPU, and various other data.
- Download MSI Afterburner and install it on your computer
- Now open it, and select the Monitor icon. It will open a usage graph showing GPU usage, CPU usage, etc.
- At the bottom of the screen, you will see CPU usage and shows the temperature of your CPU on the bottom right side.
To see CPU temperature in Taskbar:
Go to MSI Afterburner Setting menu, their select “Monitoring” from the top pane
Then scroll down to the “CPU Temperature” option in the “Active hardware monitoring graphs” section
Now tick on “show in-tray icon” or “show in on-screen display” and then click on the “OK” button
That’s it!
Open Hardware Monitor
Open Hardware Monitor is a nice solution to get all CPU statistics, CPU temperature, GPU temperature, the voltage used by your computer, and even how fast your fans are moving. It keeps a keen eye on all your system temperatures.
You get your CPU temperature under the category of CPU’s section which shows all core temperatures. Now to see these temperature stats through the taskbar.
- Do right-click on the temperature and select “show in Tray“
Tip: Open tool with administrator rights it shows you more information in the result as compared to normal users.
That’s it!
Speccy
Speccy comes as a nice package of various systems, including checking the temperature. As you open Speccy you get all temperature information on-screen which your system needs to make your computer or laptop healthy. It is a great tool to dig more information about your system, gives all information about your operating system and motherboard.
If you want more focused information about each section just click on it which is present on the left pane of Speccy. That’s easy to use. If you want to see the temperature in your taskbar, just follow:
- Click on the “view” section, then “Options“.
- Click on “System tray“, then “Minimize to tray“, “Display metrics in tray“, then select CPU in the drop-down menu and click on the OK button.
Now you can keep an eye on your CPU temperature easily through the taskbar.
That’s it!
These are some best tools to check CPU temperature on your computer or laptop. If you want to try other tools also then below are some more:
Real Temp
Ral temp is a tool that is built to monitor the temperature of various components. It is easy to use, it didn’t give you detailed information but you get temperature details of dual and quad-core processors on a single screen. It also shows the load on the processor.
GPU-Z
It is a good tool to use but occupies a little more memory which makes us to not include it in the best CPU temperature tools list. Open GPU-Z click on the “sensor” tab, there you can see the real-time temperature of the CPU as well as the max temperature for your CPU.
CPU Thermometer
CPU thermometer is lightweight and very easy to use, it shows you all temperatures of each core. The good thing about a CPU thermometer is that you can switch temperatures between Celsius and Fahrenheit as well.
AIDA64
It is a good tool that shows you detailed information about each core, processor, etc. It is compatible to use in Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS, and Android systems. It comes with a different version to use with 30-days free trial, which means it is not a freeware tool. You have to pay to use it and it’s all features like a system stability test.
How to manage High CPU temperature?
If you feel continuously high-temperature reading on the CPU temperature on the above tools, then you have to find out a permanent solution for it. Let’s see some ways to maintain your CPU temperature in a specific range. Just try all one by one:
1. Have a Better Airflow
This is one of the simplest and main solutions to maintain a good temperature, you need to adjust airflow to keep your system cool. The proper placement of the exhaust and intake fan helps you. Make sure more air goes out and less goes in because it leads to burning your system.
2. Remove Dust
Dust on the fan makes your fan a bit slower, resulting in a high-temperature rise. That’s why you have to keep your fan, other internal parts, and heatsink clean.
3. Virus
sometimes viruses can also cause a heating problem in your system because they consume CPU power. Regular scan for viruses and malware leads to removing viruses from your system.
4. Apply Thermal Paste
Thermal paste or grease is used to fill the gap between the processor and the heatsink. Less thermal paste leads to heating your processor quickly. Hence, thermal paste is used to face and reduce CPU temperature in your system.
5. Disable Overclocking
Overclocking is definitely is used to increase CPU capability to perform tasks. When the CPU works more than its capability, increases the temperature. Good heatsink, CPU coolers, and fans do not cause any issues.
Conclusions
Thus by using the above ways, tools you can easily keep your CPU healthy. Avoid high multi-tasks on your system when your computer or laptop starts heating or stop using your system for some time until it comes back to its normal temperature. What do you do? when your system gets heated? Let us know in a comment box.
FAQs on How to check CPU temperature
What is idle CPU temperature?
Idle temperature is a temperature in which your computer runs under normal circumstances is known as normal or idle temperature.
Why should you monitor and maintain CPU temperature?
Maintaining CPU temperature and monitoring it is a good habit to make your computer or laptop healthy. Like your brain when you worked for a long time without taking rest leads you to not working task properly. CPU is the brain of your system when it gets heated it may shut down or shows BIOS failure in your computer.
What is the common CPU temperature range?
Normal CPU temperature is different for different processors, so it depends on the manufacturer and models. Generally, the CPU temperature range is between 45-70C. If the temperature gets over 70c you must have action to lower it.
Which software or tool is used to cool down your CPU?
Throttlestop, is lightweight software, it helps you to cool down temperature and prevent throttling, which turns your CPU function more effectively. It is also used to see CPU temperature.
I hope this article helped you!
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