How to Check Your Computer Temperature

Level of difficulty: Intermediate

It is important to monitor the amount of heat being generated inside your computer. This heat is produced by electricity that powers the microprocessors every time a computer is turned on and run. A computer that gets too hot may suffer from damaged circuits, resulting in frequent system crashes, and a slowing down of system processes. There are several options you can take to check the internal temperature of your computer. This may involve utilizing sensors already built in the system or installing additional software and/or hardware.

Materials Needed:
- Computer
- temperature sensor (optional)
- third-party software (optional)
Step 1
The first way is to access the system’s BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). This can be done by pressing F2, F8, or the Delete key (Depending on the Motherboard Manufacturer) before the Operating System starts to load.
Step 2
You will see a main screen that may contain the following headings on top: 'Main', 'Advance', 'Power', 'Boot', and 'Exit'. Using the right arrow key to navigate, go to 'Power'. On the frame to the left, you will see the categories under this heading. Scroll down using the arrow keys once again until 'Hardware Monitor' is highlighted. Press 'Enter'.
Step 3
This will take you to a screen that shows your CPU temperature as well as other options for cooling. Be mindful of the fact that the reflected temperature will be lower if you have just started your computer after a long period of being shut down. To get a more accurate reading, restart the computer after it has been used for some time with a lot of applications having been run and then access the BIOS.
Step 4
Another method of checking computer temperature is by installing third-party software. These applications may be able to access the sensor chips on the system’s motherboard and sense and measure the heat coming from the CPU, GFx, the motherboard, and the hard drive. Some applications do not only monitor the CPU temperature but also the fan speed. You can also schedule regular system temperature checks. All of these programs, however, still rely on sensors already built into the system.
Step 5
The last method is probably the most effective. It involves installation of a digital monitor, which will require affixing temperature sensors and probes into crucial spots in the system. Some versions even have the ability to control the computer’s fans based on how much heat is being generated in the system. If the system is under a lot of stress, all the fans will automatically be turned on. Have a professional install the probes if you are not familiar with the internal workings of a computer as they may come near delicate parts of your system and you may risk damaging the computer if handled improperly.