How to check CPU and GPU temperature easily

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(Pocket-lint) A hot PC is an unhappy PC. Monitoring your CPU and GPU temperatures can be a good way to see if there is a problem. But how do we do that? Well, it’s a lot easier than you think.

Modern computers are cleverly designed with sensors that allow for self-monitoring of temperature. This means that your computer knows the temperature and can use this information to prevent overheating. Modern components are subject to temperature limits to prevent self-destruction.

So you can be sure that it is practically impossible to completely jailbreak your device if it is too hot. Two things will happen before that, one of which is thermal throttling and the second is a power cut.

What is thermal suffocation?

CPUs and GPUs heat up when they are under heavy load. If you are doing intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, rendering, etc., both CPUs can heat up very quickly.

To prevent components from breaking down when the temperature reaches nearly the maximum, thermal throttling is triggered, then the CPU and GPU intelligently reduce their performance to boost cooling. When the operating temperature returns to a safe level, the components can then be increased to give you the performance you need.

As you understand, a device with a low temperature will not work either. This will have a negative impact on the performance of your computer, which you can see in different ways. It may feel slower or you may experience a huge drop in FPS when playing.

If the temperature is really too high, you may experience bigger issues, such as game crashes or inexplicable visual glitches.

How to Easily Measure CPU and GPU Temperature

There are several ways to monitor the temperature and monitor your regimen. Most motherboards come with software that can provide you with the data you need. Asus Armory Box And MSI . Center Especially effective in this regard.

However, if you want more details, we highly recommend HWMonitor. This is a free tool that you can easily download and install. HWMonitor is great because not only does it give you temperature readings for your various components, but it also does so on a granular basis.

For multi-core processors (like an Intel Core i9-12900K for example), you can get readings for all cores individually and for the entire processor. The advantage is that you can diagnose problems this way. If some cores are particularly hot while others are not, this could indicate a problem with thermal paste spreading or the contact between the processor heatsink (IHS) and the cooler of your chosen processor.

We love HWMonitor because it also records the maximum temperatures of all the elements. So if you’re worried about your PC overheating, but once you’ve done what you’re doing or ALT + TAB and find that the temperature seems to be fine, this can bring you relief. Open this program before you start playing or a heavy workload, and it will tell you how hot it is.

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See the temperature at a glance

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If you want to be able to see temperatures in a jiffy more easily, there are other options.

There are many CPU coolers that you can buy that have built-in displays. models like NZXT Kraken Z73 The Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD has screens capable of displaying CPU and GPU temperatures all the time.

So you just have to turn your head to see if your system is working properly. Of course, it’s not a free solution and it’s not as accurate as HWMonitor, down to certain core temperatures. But there’s definitely something pleasing about turning your head to see the screen without disturbing what you’re doing.

The temperature is too high?

Are you worried that your device is too hot? What’s so hot?

This may vary from component to component. For example, Nvidia’s RTX 3090 has a maximum operating temperature of 92°C. Intel Core i9-12900K can reach 100 degree max. Getting too close to this temperature may result in thermal throttling, but these components can also work in the 80s and 90s without a problem. In fact, some high-end components have been known to heat up, even with excellent cooling.

It is best to check online the maximum temperature of your components and try to decipher the recommended optimal temperatures.

Cooling improvement

There are some steps you can take to improve cooling if you’re concerned about overheating:

1. Clean the fan and case filters to remove dust blockages and improve airflow.
2. Replace CPU (and GPU) thermal paste on aging components.
3. Upgrade your CPU cooler to an all-in-one liquid cooler or consider upgrading a dedicated ring liquid cooling.
4. Buy a box with better airflow and move your components there.
5. Adjust the fan curve in your motherboard software to make your fans spin faster and earlier to prevent overheating.
6. Open a window and let more air into your room.

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Written by Adrian Wellings.