How to check CPU temp in Windows 10

How to check cpu temp in windows 10
Checking and regulating your CPU temperature is one of the easiest ways to avoid any potential damage and malfunctioning of the system. If you’re willing to learn how to check CPU temp in Windows 10, this guide describes some of the best methods and tools that you can use to monitor your processor temperature in a Windows 10 device. Like all electronic machines, CPUs also radiate some amount of heat, which is a perfectly normal thing. However, if your computer is heating way beyond its normal operating temperature, it will ultimately take a toll on your computer’s performance or worse, result in damaged hardware. Therefore, it’s essential to keep a check on your CPU temperature to minimize heat strains caused by worn-out hardware, dust collection, and intense CPU usage. Although there are tons of methods that you can go through to monitor your CPU temperature, we have only described the most used ones in this guide. So take a look at them and check which one works the best for your PC!

How to check CPU temp in Windows 10

What is the ideal/normal CPU temperature?

Knowing the ideal CPU temperature is crucial in pinpointing any overheating issues in the system. The CPU temperature primarily depends on its specification and the work it performs. Generally, a CPU can fall in the following three temperature ranges: Ideal Usually, the ideal CPU temp is between 35 to 50 °C. So, if your processor is running at this temperature, you don’t have to worry about overheating issues. Nonetheless, keep doing regular temperature checks to eliminate any future risks. Moderate CPU temperatures between 50 to 80°C fall in the moderate range. Although your PC may be working fine, you will feel a significant amount of heat emitting from its base. Mild heating could be a result of dust-choked fans or video gaming for long hours. To minimize this type of heating, remove the case from the fan and clean it with a soft towel or a vacuum. High Temperatures above 80°C indicate overheating of the processor. So, if the CPU temperature monitor tool shows you this reading, it’s high time to clean your CPU or get it checked by a professional. At this PC temperature, the computer slows down the CPU performance, drains the battery faster, and produces rattling noises.

Checking CPU temperature using BIOS/UEFI settings

Nothing could be easier than monitoring your CPU temperature without downloading any third-party software to your computer. And that is why using BIOS/UEFI is the safest and most affordable option to start with. Here’s what you’ll need to do to monitor CPU real temp from BIOS/UEFI:
  • Press the “Windows key” and type “Settings” in the search box;
  • Open the “Settings” app;
  • Select the “Update & Security” option;

  • Switch to the “Recovery” tab in the left pane of the window;
  • Under “Advanced Startup“, tap on the “Restart now” button. Your PC will turn off and undergo the restarting operation. However, just before the sign-in option, you will get a screen featuring some advanced options. If you don’t get the screen automatically, press the F11 key on your Windows 10 PC to get to the screen;

  • Now, click the “Troubleshoot” option. Here you will see some more advanced options;

  • Next, click on the “Advanced options“. Here you will find some system repair & restore settings;

  • Finally, tap “Restart“, which will take you to BIOS/UEFI screen, which contains the temperature readings for your system and CPU.
Using this method will not only save you some time and money, but it’ll also protect your system against possible malware downloads. Furthermore, you can also review and manage other system settings in the BIOS menu. While the method is reliable and safe, it has its downsides. The overall process is quite complicated and takes a long time to complete. You will have to restart your system every time you want to monitor your CPU temperature. Also, you can only note the processor temperature reading until you exit from the BIOS settings. That means this method doesn’t allow consistent monitoring of your system.

Using third-party software to check CPU temperature

Fortunately, there is a lot of software you can install on your PC and monitor real-time CPU temperature. So if you ever feel that your system is overheating, you can quickly tap on the “CPU Temp” bar to have a quick look at the stats instead of restarting your PC a couple of times. Unlike the BIOS/UEFI method, these applications are easy to operate and provide continuous monitoring of your computer health status. In addition, they feature an interactive user interface and a variety of other monitoring options, which make them a great alternative to BIOS settings. As far as the cost is concerned, you will find a range of free and paid CPU temperature monitors on the internet. Many of them work fine and include premium features too. Yet, the chances of you downloading malware on your PC are pretty high. Therefore, we encourage you to download monitoring software only when you have researched a bit about it and are sure about its security. Below, we have described some tried and tested CPU temperature monitoring tools that contain several exceptional features. Core Temp Core Temp is an excellent CPU temperature monitoring tool that not only displays the processor average temp reading but also highlights the temperature of individual processor cores. The software is light on the system and shows real-time updates of fluctuating core temperature with activity. Core Temp is equipped with an advanced heat-sensing system located inside each CPU core. Therefore, it gives quick and accurate results compared to other software using traditional heat sensors. Another thing you will appreciate about Core Temp is its outstanding customizability. You can also install your favorite features from Core Temp’s website and enhance its functionality. The user-friendly and clean interface of the program will not clutter your computer screen with irrelevant numbers and percentages. You can download Core Temp on your Windows 10 using the steps below:
  • Go to Core Temp’s official page and hit the “Download” link at the top of the page;
  • After downloading the program, follow the instructions and click “Next” until the “Finish Setup” screen appears;

  • On the “Additional Tasks” window, remember to uncheck the second box to prevent downloading any bloatware to your device;

  • Lastly, open the software after proper installation and view the processor temp. It will be displayed on the notification or system tray of the Windows 10 taskbar.

HWiNFO HWiNFO is another worth-mentioning temperature monitor tool that allows users to get a detailed look at their system’s performance. The powerful software is packed with tons of features like Add-ons, export options, and hardware monitoring. On top of that, it also displays the GPU temperature and can detect excessive CPU load. The software is completely reliable and the fact that it’s utilized by Nasa is proof of its credibility. Fortunately, HWiNFO is compatible with all kinds of processors and cards, and you can effortlessly download this free utility from here. Open Hardware Monitor If you are looking for temperature monitor software that can check multiple processor parameters at once, Open Hardware Monitor makes a great choice. The software displays clock speed and fan speed along with CPU core temp readings.

Furthermore, it also supports GPU monitoring and is highly customizable. Once you download Open Hardware Monitor, you can view the CPU current temperature in the system tray or through the program window. Speecy Speecy is popular software that offers several PC diagnostic tests. The interface displays values for GPU, Motherboard, and CPU temperatures. The tool is well-built, free to use, and doesn’t clutter your Windows PC with bloatware programs. The best part about Speecy is that it comes with a simple interface and only shows relevant information on the screen. Follow these steps to check CPU temperature via Speecy:
  • Switch to the “CPU” tab in the left pane of the window;
  • The extended tab will show more details regarding your CPU’s performance;
  • Depending on the CPU temp value, the CPU temp reading will be either written in green or red color;

  • You can also view this temperature reading in the notification area by tapping the “View” option from the topmost white tab;
  • Now, click “Options” and switch to the “System Tray” tab;

  • Check the “Minimize to tray” and “Display metrics in tray” options;
  • Finally, choose “CPU” from the dropdown menu, and now you will be able to view the selected hardware temperature in the notification area.

Note: Besides the above four software, you can also explore other popular options like NZXT Cam and HWMonitor. Moreover, you can subscribe to the paid version of this software to unlock advanced features.

Wrap up

Monitoring your CPU temp is necessary to detect any overheating problem before it’s too late. For this, you can take advantage of any of the above-discussed CPU temperature monitors as they all are free and reliable software. In case you find your processor’s operating temperature is way above the normal range (>80 °C), you can utilize some conventional cooling methods to reduce it. If you live in an abnormally hot region, we recommend you keep your PC in a cool or air-conditioned room to prevent further heating. Also, clean the CPU fans and evenly spread some thermal paste between the CPU and its fans. Hopefully, these techniques will bring your computer temperature down to a tolerable limit.

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