How to Check CPU Temperature (And Lower It If It's Too Hot)

The Short Answer

You can check your CPU temperature in seconds using Windows Task Manager, your motherboard's BIOS, or a free monitoring tool. A normal CPU idles around 30-50°C, runs at 60-80°C while gaming or under load, and becomes a concern above 90°C. If your CPU regularly runs hot, the usual fixes are cleaning out dust, replacing the thermal paste, improving case airflow, or undervolting. This guide walks through all of it.

How to Check Your CPU Temperature

Windows Task Manager

The easiest way is built into Windows. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, click the Performance tab, then select CPU. Your current temperature is displayed in the bottom-right of the CPU graph. No extra software needed. The one limitation: Task Manager only shows the current temperature, not a history or per-core breakdown — but for a quick check, it is all most people need.

BIOS / UEFI

For a temperature reading outside Windows, restart your computer and enter the BIOS (usually by pressing Delete or F2 during startup). Most motherboards display the CPU temperature on the main screen. This is useful for checking temps when Windows will not boot, or when you suspect software is misreporting. The downside is that the BIOS reading shows an idle temperature, not the temperature under load.

Third-Party Monitoring Software

For detailed tracking — per-core temperatures, history graphs, and load testing — a dedicated monitoring tool is the best choice. These free utilities show real-time temperatures for every core, track minimum and maximum values, and can log data while you game or render. They are the standard choice for anyone troubleshooting overheating or testing a new cooler.

What CPU Temperature Is Normal?

There is no single "normal" temperature — it depends on what the CPU is doing. Here is a practical reference:

These ranges assume a typical air or AIO cooler in a reasonably ventilated case. A laptop or compact PC will often run a little hotter because of the tighter space, which is normal for that form factor.

Is 90°C Too Hot?

This is the question that comes up most often, so let's be precise. 90°C is the threshold where you should start paying attention. Most modern CPUs are designed to run safely up to 95-100°C — that is the point where they begin throttling (slowing down) to protect themselves, and 100°C is where they will shut down rather than sustain damage. Running at 90°C for short bursts under heavy load is not dangerous. But running at 90°C or above constantly — day in and day out — shortens the CPU's lifespan and often indicates a cooling problem worth fixing. In short: a brief spike to 90°C is fine, a permanent home at 90°C is not.

What Causes High CPU Temperature?

Before you can fix an overheating CPU, it helps to know why it is running hot. The causes almost always fall into a handful of categories: dust buildup blocking airflow through the heatsink, old or dried-out thermal paste that no longer transfers heat effectively, a poorly ventilated case, a cooler that is undersized for the CPU, or simply a warm room. Less commonly, the culprit is a failing fan or a heatsink that has come loose. Identifying which one applies to you points you to the right fix.

How to Lower Your CPU Temperature

Work through these fixes in order — they go from easiest to most involved.

Clean the Dust

The simplest and most common fix. Over time, dust clogs the heatsink fins and fans, choking airflow. Power down the PC, open the case, and use a can of compressed air to blow dust out of the heatsink, fans, and vents. Do this outdoors if possible. For a laptop or compact PC, blowing compressed air through the vents can make a surprising difference. Regular cleaning every few months keeps temperatures in check.

Replace the Thermal Paste

Thermal paste sits between the CPU and the cooler, filling microscopic gaps so heat transfers efficiently. It dries out over several years, and once it degrades, temperatures creep up. Replacing it is a straightforward job: remove the cooler, clean the old paste off both surfaces with isopropyl alcohol, apply a pea-sized dot of fresh paste, and re-mount the cooler. This single fix often drops temperatures by 10-20°C on an older system.

Improve Case Airflow

Even the best cooler cannot work if the case is starved of air. Make sure intake fans at the front bring cool air in and exhaust fans at the back or top push hot air out. Avoid blocking vents against a wall or in an enclosed cabinet. If your case has only one fan, adding a second — one intake, one exhaust — is the cheapest meaningful upgrade you can make for temperatures.

Adjust Fan Curves

Your motherboard controls fan speed based on a curve that maps temperature to RPM. The default curve is often too conservative — fans stay quiet but let temperatures rise. In the BIOS, you can set a more aggressive curve so fans spin up earlier and keep the CPU cooler under load. The trade-off is noise, but a moderate adjustment usually delivers lower temperatures for a small increase in fan sound.

Undervolt the CPU

Undervolting means reducing the voltage supplied to the CPU, which lowers both heat and power draw without hurting performance. Most CPUs have some headroom, and a mild undervolt can cut temperatures by 5-10°C while keeping stability. It is done through the BIOS or a utility, and it requires a bit of trial and error to find the stable sweet spot — but for a laptop or compact PC with limited cooling, it is one of the most effective tricks available.

FAQ

Is 70°C bad for a CPU?

No. 70°C is a perfectly normal temperature under load, especially while gaming. You only need to worry when temperatures climb past 90°C.

Is 80°C too hot for a CPU?

80°C is warm but safe. It is a normal peak temperature during heavy workloads. Sustained 80°C is acceptable, though if you hit it constantly, the cooling fixes above are worth trying.

Will 100°C damage a CPU?

Modern CPUs throttle and eventually shut down to protect themselves before sustaining permanent damage. A brief spike to 100°C is survivable, but running at 100°C regularly will shorten the CPU's lifespan.

Can I see CPU temperature in Task Manager?

Yes. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Performance tab, and select CPU — the current temperature is shown in the bottom-right.

How do I stop my CPU from overheating?

Start with the easy fixes: clean out dust, ensure the case has good airflow, and check that the cooler fan is spinning. If temperatures remain high, replace the thermal paste or consider undervolting.

What are the signs of a dead CPU?

A dead CPU usually means the PC will not power on or POST at all — often with no display and no beep codes. However, an overheating CPU that throttles or crashes under load is rarely dead; it just needs better cooling.