The CPU temperature is one of those things you don't really think about unless something is wrong with your PC. When it's working, this tiny chip makes everything you do on your computer — from having multiple browser tabs open to editing photos and playing your favorite games — run smoothly. But if your PC is suddenly more sluggish than usual or your fan is starting to sound like a jet engine, there's a good chance it could be overheating and the culprit might be your CPU.
Don't panic! The CPU's temperature can fluctuate for a lot of different reasons, and there are several free tools available that can tell you how it's doing. One of the best tools you can use to check the temperature of your CPU is HWi NFO, a free diagnostic tool that gives you a ton of real-time data about the hardware in your PC or laptop. Once installed, open the program and click on the Sensors tab to bring up a new window with temperature readings (displayed in Celsius) about your CPU. There are other free apps like Core Temp and HWMonitor that can provide the same information as well.
While the exact figures vary by CPU, an average running temperature of 60 degrees Celsius or below is typically considered a good baseline for everyday use. But if the CPU is consistently hovering between 70 to 90 degrees Celsius, you should look into what's causing the spike and if it's becoming a long-term problem. Pushing 90 degrees and above could indicate some serious overheating and might reduce the CPU's lifespan if it doesn't cool down.
There are a few steps you can take if your CPU is running hotter than normal. It might be as simple as getting rid of a program that's eating up all your processing power — you can test this yourself by opening up Windows Task Manager and closing any apps that could be taxing the CPU. But if the temperature still doesn't drop, your PC might have more of a hygiene problem than a software one. You can open up your tower to see if any dust has accumulated in the fans or on the components themselves. Use a can of compressed air to push the dust out and improve the airflow in your case.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing