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Does Windows provide a means to check my CPU temperature natively?

If not, are there any software tools which can reveal this information?

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    I'm sure somebody's going to vote to close this as a duplicate, but while I found a bunch of questions asking what software to use I didn't actually find any specifically asking "Can Windows do this on its own?" which I think is novel enough to a potential searcher to keep.
    – Shinrai
    Commented Feb 29, 2012 at 19:16
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    PowerShell can access WMI info that includes temp if the manufacturer exposes it (and you run PowerShell as Administrator). I have a script on my blog to do so: ammonsonline.com/is-it-hot-in-here-or-is-it-just-my-cpu or just the script itself as GitHub Gist: gist.github.com/jeffa00/9577816. Good if you want something you can script yourself rather than downloading an app.
    – jeffa00
    Commented Mar 16, 2014 at 15:28
  • Similar question (with answer) on stackoverflow.com: Get CPU temperature in CMD/POWER Shell
    – sleske
    Commented Nov 2, 2020 at 8:20
  • You can get it with WMI : stackoverflow.com/questions/45736193/…
    – user2728841
    Commented Mar 15, 2022 at 17:39

10 Answers 10

Reset to default
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Actually this information is given to OS by the BIOS, but you will need an application to expose the information. You can find a lot of applications to do this:

  1. Realtemp.
  2. CPU thermomether.
  3. Core Temp
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    CoreTemp is nice, but beware of InstallIQ crap (installs toolbars/ads in browser) when downloading CoreTemp, use the standalone version.
    – Aleix Mercader
    Commented Dec 11, 2013 at 14:33
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    As of May 2016: To download the Core Temp standalone, click "More downloads". Only then will the link become visible.
    – Leo
    Commented May 7, 2016 at 14:36
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    I would like to add "NZXT Cam Software" also in the list as it gives in depth analysis of temperature and doesn't have to install ad on for this nzxt.com/camapp found from developingdaily.com/article/how-to/…
    – Vikas Lalwani
    Commented Sep 21, 2020 at 12:42
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    CPU thermomether with virus! according to virtustotal.com
    – Alfonso Nishikawa
    Commented Apr 5, 2021 at 15:16
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    Realtemp with virus too (virustotal.com) :P
    – Alfonso Nishikawa
    Commented Apr 5, 2021 at 16:40
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Windows doesn't expose this information out of the box - you need to install any of a myriad of tools to find it. (For something lightweight, I like Open Hardware Monitor.)

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    Open Hardware Monitor is open source software. It has gui but is able to create a log as well.
    – Jarekczek
    Commented Aug 21, 2015 at 20:54
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    Remember to run Open Hardware Monitor as an administrator. Running it as a normal user you could end up with missing temperature info, especially for the CPU.
    – falconepl
    Commented May 9, 2016 at 10:59
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    Libre Hardware Monitor is an Active fork of OpenHardwareMonitor
    – Pau Coma Ramirez
    Commented Sep 4, 2018 at 16:18
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There is no built-in Windows utility to do this, so you need to use another tool.

My personal favorite is SpeedFan. SpeedFan can monitor CPU temperatures, GPU temperatures, S.M.A.R.T. data, hard disk drive temperatures, and more; and if you want to you can also adjust fan speeds with it too.

Screenshot of Speedfan

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    SpeedFan is very powerful, but it's very clunky IMO. I don't like it even for serious technical use. The interface is just so awful!
    – Shinrai
    Commented Mar 27, 2012 at 14:27
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    sadly the download site now doesn't actually give you the program but a load of malware/adware/crap/junk instead.
    – jwenting
    Commented May 20, 2013 at 17:31
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    @jwenting: Don't click on the large green button that says "Start Download", but scroll down to the Download section and click on the direct link to the executable... eg. "The latest version is SpeedFan 4.49"
    – MrWhite
    Commented Sep 28, 2013 at 21:28
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    It crashed my Win 8 OS immediatelly
    – Pavel K
    Commented Mar 13, 2014 at 8:27
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    Says my 5820k is at 127C ... Seems legit.
    – Vlad Schnakovszki
    Commented Nov 3, 2015 at 21:39
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You might want to take a look at HWMonitor, which shows a wide variety of system sensors.

In addition to temperature, it also shows system voltages, fan speeds, and power consumption - not only for your CPU, but all the hardware connected to your computer that has sensors (including your graphics cards and hard drives).

For a more "advanced" tool (showing much more information), you may want to use HWiNFO.

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    This one is the most decent one in this thread
    – shoosh
    Commented Jul 17, 2013 at 20:46
  • @LeaHayes Could you please indicate which one is the right download link please? I don't see any way to discriminate the non-adware one...
    – Martin
    Commented Jul 13, 2016 at 19:50
  • @Martec it seems like they have changed their webpage; if I remember correctly; there was one of those dodgy adverts with a big green "Download" button. I think the purple download links are probably fine; just run it through your virus checker before using. I hope that this helps.
    – Lea Hayes
    Commented Jul 14, 2016 at 13:28
  • They are all purple buttons. You guys are not mistaking HWMonitor with Open Hardware Monitor, are you? -Did you removed the comment because of not being sure that it actually had both bloated and clean versions?
    – Martin
    Commented Jul 18, 2016 at 10:08
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*** First note that I have only used NVIDIA System Monitor and have no user-knowledge of other tool software for this purpose.

If your PC has an Nvidia graphics card, or installed monitor software, their System Monitor tool is available at nvidia.com. IT IS AMAZING!!!

Add the program to your desktop and you can open the program and instantly know CPU, GPU, and hard disk drive temperatures, as well as memory % in-use, vital multi-core CPU % in-use for each, net data transfer speed and identifies CPU clocking speeds and more.

It also shows fan speeds and allows you to change their settings from auto to manual control easily (I use this feature as a temperature spike preventive on hot Summer days).

I physically clean the inside of my pc more often since I used this program to record a 30° CPU average temperature drop after a good cleaning.

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I'm really surprised that MSI Afterburner has not been mentioned. Downloads from the offical MSI website and is the most trustworthy I can see in the list above. It's a really great tool and does lots of monitoring, not only GPU but CPU and other temperatures as well. Nice system tray icons.

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No, there is no native Windows 7 method to monitor temperature; a third-party utility is required. Coverage of all temperature sensors (CPU, graphics, motherboard, and hard disk drive) woule be ideal.

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Windows does not provide the necessary tools for monitoring your CPU temperature.

For third-party applications I recommend Core Temp. It displays the current, minimum and maximum temperature for every core. It also includes an "always on top" mode or it can display the current temperature from your system tray.

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  • System Information Viewer can check the temperature of each CPU core along with the temperature of other devices that report their values such as memory controller hub, HDD, SSD, GPU, UPS, etc. SIV is designed for Windows 10, 8.1, 8.0, 7, Vista, XP, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2003, 2000 and NT4. Windows 95, 98 and Me are also supported. Most processors that can run Windows are also supported including AMD, Intel, Itanium, DEC Alpha, VIA. Enormous menu has search function to locate which system information value you want to inspect. Rated 4.2/5 on Softpedia.

    SIV Menu

  • MooO System Monitor lets you choose by checkbox what to display allowing you to create a desktop widget that can sit off to the side. Was a Softpedia Editor's Choice when it was reviewed long ago, it's on its 64th update (2019/6/15) now. Most recent review (on Chip.de, in German) rates it 4.2/5 last year. Runs on Windows XP/Vista/7/8.1/10 in 45 languages. Skinable and supports up to 8K monitors.

    MooO System Monitor

  • Speccy (by Piriform/CCleaner) Something simpler from somewhere you've heard of, provides basic information in an easy to use traditional styled GUI. Online help file and Menu Find feature to locate the menu you need. There are free and paid versions (and no ADs, just that free version has no support). This is the same company that created Defraggler, arguably the best disk defragmenter (by far).

    Speccy Screenshot

  • SIW, along with a temperature display, offers a number of other functions such as displaying passwords hidden behind asterisks, NAC changer, Network Tools, Monitor tester, Browser cookie and history explorer, along access to Windows tools and settings. Available in free (Community Supported) and paid versions. Has a GitHub for viewer utilities.

    SIW Temperature Screen

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I use BatteryCare.

It shows the CPU as well as hard disk drive temperature with a simple UI. It has some really awesome features if you are using it on a laptop. To clear some myths about batteries, please read this article.

I have also installed SpeedFan, but rarely do I use it. It is pretty complicated to use plus risky if you don't know what you are doing.

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    This software install adware. Be careful!
    – adrianlzt
    Commented Oct 18, 2019 at 8:56

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