Test 11 CPU Temp Monitor Tools: PC Temperature Monitor 2026

Review of the Top CPU Temp Monitor Tools With Features, Pricing & Comparison to Select the Best Computer Temperature Monitor Software per your Requirements:

CPU Temperature Monitor is an application that will help you to check the CPU temperature by collecting the data from various sensors. In a complex technological environment, hardware resources are important, and monitoring them can give you continuous uptime, maintain peak-performance, and minimize the business risks.

Hardware Monitor provides the values of specific physical properties like temperature & voltage for physical components like CPU, battery, fans, motherboard, etc.

PC Temperature Monitoring Solutions

Puget Systems has done the testing and found that CPUs can adjust their frequency according to temperature and hence you don’t get the maximum performance. There can be very little performance difference between a CPU running at 30 degrees Celsius and 95 degrees Celsius.

The below graph shows you a CPU frequency based on cooling. For testing, it has used Intel Core i7 4790 and Gelid Silent Spirit Rev.2 CPU Cooler.

Who Needs CPU Temperature Monitoring

Gamers and Graphic Designers are high-performance users. They use to replace parts so that the PC would run fast. Gamers used to overclock the PC so that the online games will run smoothly but overclocking can increase the CPU temperature.

Reasons that can raise the CPU temperature:

There can be several reasons for the high temperature of CPU like dust, fan speed, or overclocking. Also, Malware attacks can make the CPU work harder and this will raise the CPU temperature.

Viruses (like system infectors, file infectors, & macros), Trojans (like Backdoor, Rootkit, etc.), and Worms (Email, Internet, Network) are the common types of malware infections that can make the CPU temperature rise.

Some programs have higher CPU requirements. Example, Video and Graphics editing programs, Games with high-resolution graphics, DVD burning programs, etc. Autostart programs can affect CPU usage. Sometimes browsers also use the CPU’s processing power as plugins and add-ons run undetected in the background.

What is Normal CPU Temperature

The CPU temperature should be 45 degrees to 50 degrees Celsius when it is idle. When you are playing a game, rendering a video, or doing some other intensive tasks then there will be a higher load and temperature could be around 70 to 80 degrees Celsius. CPU temperature between 80 to 100 degrees Celsius is the maximum. At this high temperature, the clock speed will reduce.

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Also Read =>> Basics Of Microprocessor – How It Works

Measures to be taken if the CPU temperature is high:

Here is the list of measures that you can take if your CPU temperature exceeds 80 degrees Celsius under load.

• Check if the PC is clean and dust-free.
• Check if the fan is spinning under the load.
• Keep the computer in a cold environment.
• Applying a thermal paste between the CPU and CPU cooler. It is recommended to reapply the thermal paste after three years.
• By stopping the overclocking. Overclocking means increasing the CPU’s clock/speed rate. It can be increased through BIOS settings. Overclocking increases the overall performance of your computer but it generates more CPU heat.

Further reading =>> How to update BIOS

Importance of Monitoring Computer Temperature

The high temperature of the CPU can damage the motherboard or other devices. To avoid thermal damage, the CPU temperature should be monitored if you are using the CPU-intensive programs. Also, monitoring the CPU temperature will help you to maintain peak performance.

Temperature is one of the major factors that can affect a server room. If the temperature is too high then the servers can get damaged. Overheating can cause permanent damage.

To ensure the overall reliability and uptime within the data center it is important to maintain the recommended environmental levels such as temperature, humidity, power, etc. So server rooms need to be monitored with internal and external sensors. Almost all computers and processors contain integrated internal sensors.

List of the Best CPU Temp Monitor Tools

1. Site24x7
2. ManageEngine OpManager
3. HWMonitor
4. Open Hardware Monitor
5. HWiNFO
6. Core Temp
7. NZXT CAM Software
8. Speccy
9. Real Temp
10. Speed Fan
11. AIDA64 Extreme
12. SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor

Comparing the Top PC Temp Monitors

#1) Site24x7

Best for providing smart, user-friendly solutions to monitor your devices’ CPUs.

To ensure smooth and efficient operation of your network devices it is necessary to monitor the CPU temperature. It generally comes with network monitoring tools. Site24x7 provides the CPU temperature monitoring services with integration to its network monitoring tools. 

Site24x7 provides real-time temperature tracking, customisable alerts, detailed reporting, support from multiple vendors, multi-system compatibility, a user-friendly interface and network optimization all in a single platform to ensure the CPU stays healthy and performs well.

Features:

• Real-time temperature tracking to keep your informed. 
• Generates instant alerts when the temperature crosswa the threshold limit. 
• Provides comprehensive reports on temperature trends. 
• Provides user-friendly and intuitive dashboards. 
• Facilitates network optimization by identifying unnecessary energy consumption areas. 

Verdict: Site24x7 is highly recommended for monitoring CPU temperature as it comes with a network monitoring solution and easily keeps a track of the CPU’s temperature in real-time and avoids system instability, reduced performance, or even permanent damage of the device that can occur if the CPU temperature is not properly monitored. 

Price:

• Pricing plans are as:
  • Website monitoring- Starts with $9 per month. 
  • Infrastructure- Starts with $9 per month. 
  • APM- $35 per month 
  • All-in-one- Starts with $35 per month.
  • MSP- Starts with $45 per month. 
• A 30-day free trial is available.

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#2) ManageEngine OpManager

Best for network monitoring.

ManageEngine OpManager can monitor routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and VMs for faults and performance. Its physical and virtual server monitoring feature can monitor the CPU, memory, and disk utilization of Windows and Linux servers. It has the functionality of a multi-vendor hardware performance monitor.q

Features:

• ManageEngine OpManager provides graphs, alerts, and reports on the performance of your server and network hardware.
• With the help of OpManager, you can automate the remote troubleshooting tasks if a hardware error is detected.
• It can monitor hardware like servers, routers, firewalls, storage devices, etc., and will provide real-time information on their status and availability.
• You will get insights on temperature, fan speed, power supply, processor clock speed, etc.

Verdict: ManageEngine OpManager is a network monitoring software. It is easy to use and an affordable solution. It can perform physical and virtual server monitoring to monitor CPU, memory, and disk utilization of Windows and Linux servers.

Price: ManageEngine OpManager is available in three editions, Standard Edition ($245 for 10 devices), Professional Edition ($345 for 10 devices), and Enterprise Edition ($11545 for 250 devices).

Read our ManageEngine OpManager Detailed Review

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#3) HWMonitor

Best for real-time monitoring of temperature.

HWMonitor is a tool for monitoring voltages, temperatures, and fan speed. The most common sensor chips, Winbond ICs, etc. are supported by the program. HWMonitor can read CPUs on-die core thermal sensors, hard drive temperatures, and video card GPU temperature. It reads the hard drive temperatures through S.M.A.R.T.

HWMonitor Pro provides additional features to HWMonitor. Also, it has an improved interface.

Features:

• HWMonitor Pro provides the features of remote monitoring. This will help you to watch the sensors of one or several distant PCs or Android devices through a simple TCP/IP connection.
• It has added a graph generator. You can save monitoring data and generate logging graphs. You can create these graphs as bitmap files.
• It supports Interface customization like editable labels, adding a sensor in the System Tray, and choosing a display mode by sensor type.

Verdict: This hardware monitoring program can read the PC’s main health sensors i.e. voltages, temperatures, and fan speed.

Price: HWMonitor is available for free. HWMonitor Pro is available in two editions, Standard ($22.48) and Extended ($39.40). It can be tested for 30 days.

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#4) Open Hardware Monitor

Best for a free tool to monitor temperature, voltage, and fan speed.

Open Hardware Monitor is free software that supports Windows and Linux systems. It can be run on the Windows System with the .NET Framework version 2.0 and above and on the Linux systems that have Mono with WinForms. It will be easier to install, just unzip the archive and run the .exe file. The source code of the application is hosted on GitHub.

Features:

• Open Hardware Monitor can monitor temperature sensors, fan speeds, voltages, load & clock speeds of a computer.
• Most of today’s hardware monitoring chips are supported by Open Hardware Monitor.
• It reads the core temperature sensors of Intel & AMD processors to monitor the CPU temperature.
• It can display the temperatures of the SMART hard drive.

Verdict: Without installation, Open Hardware Monitor can run on 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10 & x86 based Linux OS without installation. You can download and use the application but it is in the Beta status.

Price: Free and open source.

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#5) HWiNFO

Best for getting the overview as well as detailed information about the hardware components of your system.

HWiNFO is diagnostic software for comprehensive hardware analysis, monitoring, and reporting. You will get in-depth hardware information. It can perform real-time system health monitoring for system and hardware parameters like CPUs, GPUs, mainboards, drives, peripherals, etc. It is freeware and supports Windows and DOS.

Features:

• HWiNFO can detect overheating, overload, performance loss, or failure prediction.
• You will get a detailed hardware inventory report.
• Extensive reporting with full hardware hierarchy or quick summary overview can be exported into XML, CSV, and HTML.
• It will let you customize the alerts on any parameter that is monitored with user-defined actions.

Verdict: HWiNFO will help you with the checking of various hardware-related parameters. It provides exhaustive information about hardware components. It can be used in high radiation fields to monitor computer systems.

Price: Free

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#6) Core Temp

Best free tool to record and display temperature.

Core Temp is a simple, compact, and powerful tool that can monitor processor temperature and other important information. It supports Windows OS and Intel, AMD, & VIA x86-based processors.

All the major processor manufacturers have included Digital Thermal Sensors in their products which gives more accurate and higher resolution temperature information. Temperature readings will be correct, as there will be a direct collection of data from Digital Thermal Sensors.

Features:

• Core Temp will let you know the temperature of each core of every processor in the system.
• Temperature fluctuations can be monitored in real time with varying workloads.
• It provides a mobile app for Android and Windows phones so that you can monitor your systems while you are out of the office or at home.

Verdict: The tool is motherboard agnostic. It is highly customizable, expandable, and easy to use. It can record and display temperature-related statistics. It will not take up much space on your hard drive.

Price: CoreTemp is available for free. You can get a quote for CoreTemp’s commercial licenses.

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#7) NZXT CAM Software

Best for tracking every aspect of your computer.

NZXT CAM is free software for PC monitoring. This fast and efficient solution will let you control every aspect of the computer. It will give you detailed information about your computer from the processor load to bandwidth consumption.

Features:

• NZXT CAM will provide information on applications that are making use of every part of the machine.
• It can perform In-Game monitoring for current FPS, CPU/GPU temperatures, time played, battery level, CPU/GPU load, etc.

Suggested Read => Easy Methods to check FPS on PC

Verdict: NZXT Cam is a complete PC monitoring solution. It is easy to use. CAM-supported NZXT RGB products are AER Fan, Lighting Strip, Cable Comb, etc.

Price: NZXT CAM software is available for free.

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#8) Speccy

Best for revisiting the data captured at a particular time.

Speccy is an advanced system information tool for PCs. It is a fast and lightweight application. It can provide advanced hardware and software information for your PC. It provides software updates and priority support for the pro version. You can view a quick summary of your PC’s hardware or can deep dive into every aspect. This will help you with upgrading or purchasing decisions.

Further Reading => Simple Steps on how to check your GPU Temp

Features:

• Speccy provides detailed reporting and you will get detailed information on every piece of hardware.
• You will be able to see the real-time temperatures of critical components.
• It will let you save your scan results directly as a snapshot, XML, or text file. This feature makes it easier to share the results.

Verdict: Speccy is available in three editions, free, professional, and professional bundle.

Price: Its free version is available to download. Its pro version is available for $19.95 for a one-year subscription.

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#9) Real Temp

Best for all Intel Processors and provides good customization features.

Real Temp is a tool for CPU temperature monitoring. It is designed for all Intel Single Core, Dual Core, QuadCore, and Core i7 processors. There are Digital Thermal Sensors (DTS) on every core of these processors. These sensors will report temperature data relative to TJMax. This program stands on the temperature data gathered using a Fuke 62 IR Thermometer.

Features:

• Real Temp can read temperature information from all Intel Core-based processors.
• It can individually calibrate Real Temp for each core of your CPU.
• Your DTS sensors will be checked by test sensors for the signs of problems.
• It will keep track of minimum and maximum temperatures along with full logging features.
• It provides a high-temperature alarm and shutdown feature based on the CPU or NVIDIA GPU temperature.

Verdict: Real Temp doesn’t support Pentium 4 processors. It doesn’t require any installation. It supports Windows OS (32 & 64 bit). No need to modify the registry.

Price: Free

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#10) SpeedFan

Best for power users.

Speed Fan can monitor voltages, fan speeds, and temperatures. By accessing the S.M.A.R.T. info it can provide the hard disk temperatures. SCSI disks are supported by SpeedFan. It supports Windows OS. Windows 64-bit is also supported by SpeedFan. It will let you configure which fan every temperature should rely on.

Features:

• Speed Fan changes the fan speed according to digital temperature sensors.
• It can handle almost any number of hardware monitor chips, hard disks, temperature readings, voltage readings, fan speed readings, PWMs, and South Bridges.
• A lot of new hardware is now supported by SpeedFan.

Verdict: SpeedFan is a useful tool for power users and is available for free.

Price: Speed Fan is available for free.

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#11) AIDA64 Extreme

Best for stress testing of main components in any combination.

AIDA64 Extreme is a system information tool that will give you detailed information about hardware. It provides the benchmarks to measure the performance of the computer. It contains a hardware detection engine. It will give you insights into installed software and provide diagnostic functions.

AIDA64 Extreme supports overclocking. It will monitor the sensors in real-time. It supports Windows OS (32 bit/64 bit) and Windows Server 2016.

Features:

• AIDA64 Extreme will provide accurate voltage, temperature, and fan speed readings.
• A couple of benchmarks are provided by the tool to measure the performance of individual hardware and the whole system.
• It supports external displays that will help you view vital system data on a variety of LCD/VFD devices.
• AIDA64 Extreme comes with various features, like stress testing, accuracy, sensor panel, software audit, etc.

Verdict: AIDA64 Extreme is an industry-leading system information tool and popular among PC enthusiasts. The tool will help you with detecting and preventing hardware issues.

Price: AIDA64 Extreme is available for $29.96. A free trial is available for the product.

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#12) SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor

Best for monitoring and graphing the load on multiple Cisco routers concurrently.

SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor comes with an Engineer’s toolset. Business networks are exposed to a large number of viruses and that can cause increased traffic load and CPU load on the routers. With the help of this tool, the load on multiple Cisco routers can be monitored and graphed concurrently. This will help you to stay ahead of problems.

Features:

• SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor will let you set the warning and alarm thresholds independently for each device.
• It can monitor and graph the load on multiple Cisco routers concurrently.
• It supports IPv6 and SNMP v3.
• The yellow load bar will represent that the load has reached the user-defined threshold for warning and the red bar will represent a critical level.
• Engineer’s Toolset will give you access to more than 60 network management tools.

Verdict: SolarWinds Engineer’s toolset is an all-in-one solution for managing the network. Just for monitoring a CPU temperature, it is an expensive tool but will be an efficient option for troubleshooting a network.

Price: SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor is a part of the Engineer’s Toolset. Its fully functional free trial is available for 14 days. The price of the tool starts at $1495.

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Conclusion

To avoid the thermal damage of the motherboard and other devices CPU temperature should be monitored. It will help you to get continuous uptime and maintain peak performance. We have chosen various kinds of tools that can help you with CPU temperature monitoring.

SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor, HWMonitor, Open Hardware Monitor, HWiNFO, and Core Temp are our top recommended CPU Temp Monitors.

SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor, HWMonitor, Speccy, ManageEngine OpManager, and AIDA64 Extreme are commercial tools. Out of these commercial tools, HWMonitor and Speccy offer a free plan. Open Hardware Monitor, HWiNFO, Core Temp, NZXT CAM, and Speed Fan are completely free tools.

We hope this article will help you with the selection of the right CPU Temperature Monitor as per your requirements.

Research Process:

• Time taken to research and write this article: 26 Hours
• Total tools researched online: 20
• Top tools shortlisted for review: 11