Check and Monitor CPU Temperature on Windows 10/11 with Best Methods

This tutorial intends to show you how to Check and Monitor CPU Temperature on Windows. CPU temp is the temperature of a technological device’s central processing unit. These processors are arguably the most important parts of any device because they process requests and information so the device works properly.

CPU temps can run high if the processor is being used over a long period of time or for multiple high-maintenance tasks. If a CPU’s temperature is too high for too long, the processor can overheat which could lead to slower processing or system failure. It is important to be aware of the CPU temp in order to keep a computer running at its best. Monitoring CPU temperature is vital for maintaining system stability and preventing potential hardware damage.

Now follow the steps below on the Orcacore website to learn how to do a Windows CPU TEMP monitor.

To complete the Windows CPU TEMP monitor, you can log in to your Windows Client and follow the steps below.

You can use one of the following methods to check and monitor your CPU Temp:

Method 1. Check CPU Temperature with Core Temp

Core Temp is a compact, no-fuss, small footprint, yet powerful program to monitor processor temperature and other vital information.

What makes Core Temp unique is the way it works. It is capable of displaying the temperature of each individual core of every processor in your system.

First, you need to download and install the Core Temp from the Official Page.

When your download is completed, open your application.

Look for the Temperature Readings. From there, you can monitor the temps for each CPU core.

In the Load column, you can see the current CPU load of each core. In the Max column, you can monitor the highest processor temperatures.

Windows CPU TEMP Monitor with Core Temp

Core Temp offers an easy way to monitor your CPU temperature at all times, across multiple cores. By default, the information stays hidden, but you can make the CPU temperature monitor visible. To do this, follow the steps below:

First, from the notification area of your taskbar click the arrow. You will see four numbers that are the four core temperatures.

Click each number and drag it to your taskbar. Now, the processor temperatures are pinned to your taskbar, allowing you to monitor them constantly.

Also, you can display only the highest temperature of any of the cores. Within the Core Temp app, click Options > Settings and navigate to the Notification Area. Switch the view to the Highest temperature per processor.

Method 2. Check CPU Temp with Windows’ built-in BIOS/UEFI

If you’re running Windows 11, Windows 10, or an earlier version, it includes its own temperature check built into the BIOS/UEFI.

To access it, turn on your PC and press a specific key during startup – usually F12, ESC, F2, or DEL.

Once BIOS/UEFI is open, it shows you the CPU temperature right on the main screen.

This thermometer feature is part of the core software of your motherboard.

It only allows you to check the current temperature of the PC. It does nothing to monitor the temperature over time as you use Windows, particularly when your PC or laptop is busy with heavy loads.

How To Reduce CPU Temperature?

If your CPU temp is too high, you can do the following tips to slow down your CPU temp:

Ensure proper ventilation around your computer.
Clean the dust from your computer’s fans and heat sinks.
Reapply thermal paste to the CPU.
Close unnecessary programs running in the background.
Upgrade your CPU cooler.

Alternative Methods for Monitoring CPU Temperature

While the methods described above offer effective ways to Check and Monitor CPU Temperature on Windows, there are alternative approaches that might be more suitable depending on your needs and technical expertise. Here are two such alternatives:

1. Using Open Hardware Monitor

Open Hardware Monitor is a free, open-source hardware monitoring application that supports a wide range of hardware sensors, including CPU temperature. Unlike Core Temp, Open Hardware Monitor can also monitor other components like GPU temperature, fan speeds, and voltages.

Installation and Setup: Download Open Hardware Monitor from its official website. Install the application and run it. It automatically detects the hardware sensors on your system.
Monitoring CPU Temperature: Once the application is running, navigate through the sensor list to find the CPU temperature readings. Open Hardware Monitor typically displays the temperature for each core, similar to Core Temp.
Customization: Open Hardware Monitor allows for customization of the display. You can choose which sensors to display, rename them, and even create graphs to visualize temperature trends over time.
Remote Monitoring: A key advantage of Open Hardware Monitor is its ability to be accessed remotely. By enabling the web server option, you can monitor your computer’s hardware sensors from another device on the same network.

Code Example (C# – reading CPU temperature using Open Hardware Monitor’s API):

While Open Hardware Monitor doesn’t have a dedicated API, you can access its data using WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation). The following C# code snippet demonstrates how to read CPU temperature using WMI, assuming Open Hardware Monitor is running and exposing the data:

using System;
using System.Management;

public class CPUMonitor
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        try
        {
            ManagementObjectSearcher searcher = new ManagementObjectSearcher("root\WMI",
                "SELECT * FROM MSAcpi_ThermalZoneTemperature");

            foreach (ManagementObject queryObj in searcher.Get())
            {
                double temperatureK = (double)queryObj["CurrentTemperature"];
                double temperatureC = (temperatureK - 2732) / 10.0; // Convert from Kelvin to Celsius

                Console.WriteLine("CPU Temperature: {0:F2}°C", temperatureC);
            }
        }
        catch (ManagementException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("An error occurred: " + e.Message);
        }
    }
}

Note: This code requires the System.Management reference to be added to your C# project.

This code retrieves the CPU temperature from the MSAcpi_ThermalZoneTemperature WMI class, converts it from Kelvin to Celsius, and displays it on the console.

2. Utilizing PowerShell Scripts

PowerShell, a powerful scripting language built into Windows, can also be used to Check and Monitor CPU Temperature on Windows. This method is particularly useful for automating temperature monitoring and logging data over time.

Accessing CPU Temperature Data: PowerShell can access hardware sensor data through WMI or other system APIs. Similar to the C# example, we can use the MSAcpi_ThermalZoneTemperature class to retrieve CPU temperature information.
Scripting for Monitoring: You can write a PowerShell script to periodically check the CPU temperature and log the data to a file or display it in the console.
Alerting: PowerShell scripts can be configured to trigger alerts (e.g., send an email) if the CPU temperature exceeds a certain threshold.

Code Example (PowerShell Script to Monitor CPU Temperature):

# PowerShell script to monitor CPU temperature

$WMI = Get-WmiObject -Namespace rootWMI -Class MSAcpi_ThermalZoneTemperature

if ($WMI) {
    $TemperatureK = $WMI.CurrentTemperature
    $TemperatureC = ($TemperatureK - 2732) / 10.0 # Convert from Kelvin to Celsius

    Write-Host "CPU Temperature: $($TemperatureC)°C"

    # Optional: Log the temperature to a file
    # $TemperatureC | Out-File -FilePath "C:tempcputemp.log" -Append
} else {
    Write-Host "Unable to retrieve CPU temperature."
}

# Optional: Set an alert threshold
$Threshold = 70 # Degrees Celsius
if ($TemperatureC -gt $Threshold) {
    Write-Host "WARNING: CPU temperature exceeds threshold of $($Threshold)°C"
    # Optional: Send an email alert
    # Send-MailMessage -To "youremail@example.com" -From "server@example.com" -Subject "CPU Temperature Alert" -Body "CPU temperature is $($TemperatureC)°C" -SmtpServer "smtp.example.com"
}

This script retrieves the CPU temperature, converts it to Celsius, and displays it in the console. It also includes optional code to log the temperature to a file and send an email alert if the temperature exceeds a specified threshold. Remember to adjust the email settings if you choose to implement the email alert functionality.

These alternative methods provide more flexibility and control over CPU temperature monitoring compared to using dedicated software like Core Temp or relying solely on BIOS/UEFI. Open Hardware Monitor offers a comprehensive hardware monitoring solution with remote access capabilities, while PowerShell scripts allow for automated monitoring and alerting based on custom criteria. The best method depends on your individual needs and technical preferences. The key is to Check and Monitor CPU Temperature on Windows regularly to prevent potential hardware damage.

Conclusion

At this point, you have learned to Check and Monitor CPU Temperature (CPU Temp) on Windows.

Hope you enjoy it. You may also interested in these articles:

How To Check RAM Capacity on Windows

How To Check PC Specs on Windows

Install and Use Scoop on Windows