Is your PC stuttering during intense gaming sessions, or are your fans constantly screaming at full blast? Your processor might be overheating.
Monitoring your processor's temperature is one of the easiest ways to diagnose performance issues. Here is how to check your CPU temperature in under two minutes, and how to know if your chip is running too hot.
The Best Free Tools to Check CPU Temperature
Windows doesn't include a dedicated real-time CPU temperature tracker in the taskbar, so the tech community relies on lightweight, trusted third-party software. Here are the two best free options:
1. HWMonitor (Best for a Complete Overview)
Developed by CPUID, HWMonitor is the gold standard for a full system health check. It shows the real-time, minimum, and maximum temperatures for every single core of your CPU, as well as your graphics card and storage drives.
- How to use it: Download the free version, open the application, and scroll down to your CPU's name. Look for the Temperatures dropdown section.
2. Core Temp (Best for Quick System Tray Monitoring)
If you want a simple tracker that stays out of your way, Core Temp is ideal. It adds a tiny, real-time temperature readout directly into your Windows system tray (bottom-right corner of your taskbar).
- How to use it: Launch the app, and you can instantly view your current processor core temperatures at a glance without navigating a wall of data.
What Is a Safe CPU Temperature for Gaming?
Once your software is open, you need to know what those numbers actually mean. CPU temperatures fluctuate based on workload and ambient room temperature. Use this quick reference guide to evaluate your system:
| CPU Load State | Temperature Range | Is It Safe? |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Idle (Web browsing, media) | 30°C to 45°C | Perfect. Your CPU cooler is functioning normally. |
| Normal Gaming Load | 65°C to 80°C | Great. Standard operational temperature under heavy workloads. |
| Heavy Load / Stress Testing | 80°C to 89°C | Acceptable. Your CPU is pushing hard. Safe, but approaching thermal limits. |
| Critical Danger Zone | 90°C+ | Too Hot. Your CPU will start thermal throttling and may cause game crashes or shutdowns. |
Processor running hot or constantly throttling?
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If your software shows your processor hovering in the 90°C+ danger zone under load, take action to lower your operating temperatures:
- Clean Out Internal Dust: Over time, dust cakes onto the metal fins of your CPU heatsink, blocking airflow. Power down your PC, pop open your side panel, and use compressed air to blow out trapped debris.
- Replace Your Thermal Paste: Thermal compound bridges the surface gap between chip and cooler. Over 2 to 3 years, it dries out and stops conducting heat efficiently. Cleaning off old compound and applying a fresh £5–£7 tube of high-performance thermal paste can drop temperatures by 10°C or more. You can find premium thermal compound right here in our shop.
- Upgrade Your CPU Cooler: If you are still using a stock boxed cooler, it may struggle under modern gaming demands. Upgrading to an aftermarket tower air cooler or Liquid AIO cooler will permanently resolve heat issues while keeping fan noise down.
Restore Your System’s Peak Performance
Don't let high temperatures choke your frame rates. Whether you need fresh thermal paste, a cooler upgrade, or a health-checked processor replacement, every component at PC Power Up undergoes 100% thermal and functional testing before listing.
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