How to Check CPU Temp

CPU or central processing unit is the brain of your PC. Everything and anything that happens or you do in your computer runs and processes because of this. But sometimes, due to many reasons, the CPU tends to heat up, causing lag during gameplay or even the whole system freezes. So, the fact is How to Check CPU Temp?

The CPU overheating could be caused by lack of ventilation in the casing or dust, or overclocking. So, you need to monitor and keep that in check to keep your CPU performance high.

How to keep your CPU cool and to check its temp is what we are writing about that. Checking your CPU temp and overheating; moreover, keeping the temp at normal for better performance from your PC.

Table of Contents

When &Why It Happens

Overclocking – Overclocking is common today. Many gamers or programmers try to boost their CPU performance by overclocking it. But without any proper air cooler overclocking, your CPU will cause it to heat up. As you tell your CPU to push more than it was initially meant to, it will heat, and if you do not have an excellent cooling system to back that up, the CPU generally will heat up like a furnace.
System freezing – Sometimes, your system will shut down. This situation does not happen for any software or hardware issues. It is because the CPU shuts down the PC to protect it from getting any further damage. CPU does this because it is overheating. If you have a lot of information on your PC, the CPU must work more and more to keep up with all that. So, the CPU starts to heat up, and when it reaches a point where it seems to harm your device, the CPU shuts down automatically. We suggest not to clutter your pc to get better performance.
Old PC – After using your device for a long time, dust can build up in the fans, making the inside of the casing very hot. Thus, causing the CPU to overheat and reduce its performance and sometimes crashes automatically. That is why you need to clean the dust at least once every six months to 7 months.
Thin computers – Thinners computers such as slim laptops do not have a fan in them, but they still made with a powerful processer. As there is no fan and less space for airflow, the CPU receives overheated and hampers your computer’s performance. Some users also buy exterior fan to reduce this issue.

What Temp Should the CPU be?

In an ideal pc, the CPU’s healthy temperature is 50 degrees Celsius. The CPU is more relaxed when you are not doing any stressful work; however, the temp will rise during any load, but you have to keep checking it to ensure that you are not overheating your CPU.

When your CPU is under loads such as gaming, video editing or rendering, and intensive tasks, then your CPU needs more power to perform; moreover, in this situation. The CPU runs at a higher temp, causing it to heat very quickly; however, you need to ensure that it is cooling entirely even under load. Under load, CPU temperature should be around 80 degrees Celsius.

Although so CPU’s such as laptops or small form factor or SFF computers can run even hotter when doing intensive work.

You do get some room to wiggle around; for example, the CPU temp can be slightly above 80 degrees Celsius, but if it reaches more than 95 degrees Celsius, then it is critical, and you will start to see some lag and reduction in the performance. The CPU at this point will slow down clock speed to ensure that it does not overheat and damage your PC; moreover, the CPU might turn off your PC in this case.

A couple of methods with which you can check if your CPU is overheating or in average temp so that you can keep it in check.

There is a way called BIOS and some other features for Windows users that we will talk about the guide you through it. BIOS is the first software on windows for decades, and it helps make sure everything in your pc is running smoothly without any issues.

You can quickly check CPU temp and CPU health from BIOS’s UEFI software. This software relatively new and runs much faster than before with almost zero limitations.

Checking CPU temp from BIOS

– UEFI software in BIOS allows you to check your CPU health and temperature.

First, go to the setting from the start menu on the taskbar, which looks like a gear.
When in setting scroll down and locate update & security option
Select it then you will direct me to a page where you will find a recovery option on your PC’s screen’s left-hand side.
When you choose recovery, the computer will give an option to restart your pc, then click the restart now button.
Then the PC restarts, and you will see a screen, there find and select troubleshoot
You will see advance options; select that, and you will see UEFI firmware settings.
When you choose the UEFI firmware setting button, you will be prompted to restart your PC. When you restart your PC, you will be taken to a screen where you can quickly check CPU temp and even your CPU’s health.

Using Core Temp

– This is software available for Windows and Mac pcs. You can download and use it the check the temp of your CPU

First, download the software and open it from the desktop shortcut icon.
Then locate the option called temperature of your processor, which can be found on the bottom.
Then go to the bottom right of your desktop taskbar and choose the show hidden icons option. This feature allows you to manoeuvre your way to check your CPU core temp quickly.
If you are a Mac user, you can download the Fanny widget to quickly monitor your PC’s fan check temp with Core Temp. You can also use SpeedFan for manual control of the PC’s fan.

Using NZXTcam

– This software is manufactured by NZXT and works well with NZXT tools; however, you can use it without any issues if you do not use any of them.

First, you have to download the software and open it from the desktop.
When opened, you will find its full interface in front of you, and it is straightforward to navigate.
In the interface, the first block has a CPU’s status in which you will find clock speed, load, and temperature.
Click on this block, and you will see further details about the temperature of your CPU
CAM also offers an overlay feature with which you can see your CPU status while you are in-game.

AMD Processor Temp Check

Checking AMD processor temp is not so easy as an Intel processor. AMD reports only CPU temperature and core temperature.

The CPU temp is the temperature inside the socket, and on the other hand, core temperature is not a temp. It is designed to mimic a temp sensor; moreover, it is just an imaginary scale in degree Celsius. You can check it from the BIOS, but it differs from some other programs such as core temp; however, other software such as HWMoitor shows both core and CPU temp.

In an Intel processor, you get the accurate CPU temp at low levels like when your PC is ideal, but on AMD, when it is not doing anything, it might show 15 degree Celsius; however, when it starts to heat up, this CPU tends to show actual readings that matter.

How to Control CPU Temp

When CPU temp rises, it may cause damage to your system. So, you need to keep checking it and also do what is necessary to the temperature of the CPU in control to get the maximum performance out of your device possible.

Keeping your PC clean

– After using your PC for an extended period, dust tends to collect on the parts, which hampers hardware functions. As a result, the CPU has to deal with extreme pressure to keep your system running, causing it to heat up. So, it would help if you keep your PC’s interior clean. Try to clean once every six months or so to keep everything in check.

Thermal paste

–. This liquid keeps the transfer heat generated from the CPU while working to the cooler on top. You can easily keep the CPU temp at low or average by removing the old thermal paste and applying the new paste and then the cooler fan, making it work almost like new.

New CPU cooler

– Sometimes there is nothing wrong; instead, your CPU cooler is not working or is not powerful enough to keep such a high-end CPU cool. In that case, changing the old cooler with something robust is probably a good option. You can get some fantastic CPU coolers at a low cost in today’s market as parts are now readily available.

Keep your PC malware-free

– malware’s primary purpose is to harm your PC. Usually, malware is a written code in software that can access your PC if you download it from an unsecured website.

Using an external cooler or a laptop stand

– Sometimes nothing works, and you are stuck with your CPU heating up. In this case, you can use an external fan, or if you use a laptop, you can get a laptop stand. This stand increases airflow to the system’s interior, and the CPU can also emit the hot air efficiently if there is continuous airflow. You can keep the frame on a flat surface and the laptop on top of that; moreover, this also reduces the computer’s suffocations while working.

If you have a somewhat old PC and the CPU is overheating, you can try some of these methods; however, we recommend getting some newer parts as it will help reduce your CPU’s overheating issues more efficiently. But if you want to go with this PC that you have, we recommend trying some of these out.

Conclusion

Your CPU is the brain of all the operations in your PC. Everything you do, such as playing games, watching a movie, video rendering, coding, opening a file, moving your mouse, and a lot more, happens because the CPU is programmed to do it when you command it.

But the CPU gets hot when it has to work or when you put a load on it. When the CPU cannot get enough airflow, it will get overheated, and that causes much more issues. So, it would be best if you kept that in check to maximize your CPU’s performance.

That is why we wrote an article about this issue and how you can reduce it and also know how to check your CPU temp, which will help you see the status of your CPU and act accordingly.

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How to Check CPU Temp

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When &Why It Happens

What Temp Should the CPU be?